Interpreting taboo : the evaluation of practices by public service interpreters in the transfer of taboo language and the implications for professional training

This research aims to evaluate public service interpreter practices in relation to interpreting taboo, and to examine how far these practices should be reflected in their professional training. Currently, when healthcare professionals or patients turn to family members or friends to interpret for them, dire consequences have been noted, indicating the necessity of having trained interpreters. The original contribution is that as far as the author's knowledge goes, no one has carried out an evaluation of PSI and taboo across all types of taboo and across many cultures. Thanks to globalisation, there are interpreters who belong to different cultures but live in the same country and train together, which means it would be useful to know how this training needs to be tailored to simultaneously influence all cultures. The methodology used is a mixed type. Questionnaires were combined with open-ended, semi-structured interviews that allow the respondents to answer freely from their own frame of reference rather than being confined by the structure of pre-arranged questions. The sample size was chosen purposively (NRPSI Register). Descriptive, thematic analysis was followed. The theoretical framework used in the study included Nida's (2012), Newmark's (1998) and Bassnett-McGuire's (1991) functional (dynamic) equivalence, because this theory looks at the impact of texts on the audience as well as the transference of the spirit of the text. Reiss & Vermeer's Skopos theory (2015) relates to reflecting the intentions of speakers when interpreting, which is relevant as it is the intentions behind taboo that must be conveyed. For example, malicious swearing is different in intent compared to habitual swearing that carries no malice. Additionally, Pragmatics, specifically conversation analysis such as Austin's Speech Acts (2011) and Grice's Maxims of Communication (1975) are used since understanding them will lead to a more effective oral communication and interpreting. Although many interpreters state they would interpret taboo, the reality does not always match this statement and the question is, how much does the reality match the literature regarding such matters? This thesis studied this aspect and found that there were varying levels of convergence between literature and practice. From the interpreting strategies' aspect, the questionnaire results matched the top choice (equivalence) but there was a poor match with the assumed lowest theory (omission) where the study results placed it in second place. Literal translation ranked third in the questionnaire contrary to the literature where only a few advocate its use. The responses relating to the role of interpreters overall matched the literature, where the figures showed that linguistic and cultural communicators ranked highest, followed by mediators, educators and linguistic communicators only. Finally, part-time interpreters found there was a need for training compared to their full-time counterparts. Those who underwent PSI training found it had helped them when faced with taboo. Training requirements listed by respondents included terminology, strategies for interpreting taboo and analytical skills. All those listed were supported and matched by the literature. The thesis benefits readers from not just the specific findings listed, but from finding a structured piece of research on taboo in the context of public service interpreting. It opens the door to knowledge transfer into translation, for example, or cultural knowledge regarding taboo, where interpreters belonging to a culture can learn how other cultures deal with taboo, and finally, it may pave the way into considerations when new forms of taboo that were not addressed in the thesis appear, such as hate speech.