非本族语英语口音程度与熟悉度对英汉交替传译质量的影响——以东南亚英语口音为例

Effects of the degree of and familiarity with non-native English accents on English-Chinese consecutive interpreting performance:A case study of the Southeast-Asian English

本研究以我国两所高校48名翻译本科专业学生译员为对象,通过不同程度东南亚英语口音的英汉交替传译测试,考察非本族语英语口音程度与熟悉度对英汉交替传译质量的影响。研究发现:(1)非本族语英语口音程度显著影响英汉交替传译质量,中度以上口音造成不熟悉口音译员口译质量显著下降,重度口音造成熟悉口音译员口译质量显著下降,且该效应主要体现于译语的准确性和流利性,对及时性则影响不大;(2)非本族语英语口音熟悉度对英汉交替传译质量不产生显著影响,但影响效应随口音程度而变化,该效应在中度口音语境下最明显,且主要体现于译语的准确性和流利性。研究结果对世界英语变体语境下的口译教学和测试具有一定启示意义。

With 48 undergraduate interpreters from two Chinese universities as the subjects,this study probes into the effects of the degree of and familiarity with non-native English accents on English-Chinese consecutive interpreting performance through interpreting tests with different degree of the Southeast-Asian English accent. The findings are as follows:( 1) the degree of non-native English accents has a significant effect on interpreting performance. The moderate and severe accents cause significant decrease in interpreting performance of the interpreters unfamiliar with the accents,and the severe accent causes significant decrease in interpreting performance of the interpreters familiar with the accents. The effects are mainly on accuracy and fluency rather than promptness of interpreting.( 2) Familiarity with non-native English accents has no significant effect on interpreting performance,but the effects vary with the degree of accents,which are most obvious in the context of the moderate accent and are mainly on accuracy and fluency of interpreting. The findings of the study would provide implications for interpreting teaching and testing in the context of world English varieties.