The Interpreter as Actor: Towards a Theatre-Informed Interpreting pedagogy

Abstract

One of the many ways in which metaphorical language has been used to describe spoken language interpreting has drawn on the similarities the interpreters’ work shares with that of stage actors endeavouring to imitate the style and demeanour of different speakers. The parallels between interpreters and actors, however, run much deeper: both share a similar relationship with the written and spoken word; both rely on their verbal and non-verbal communication skills to encode and decode information transmitted in real time in front of an audience; both receive immediate feedback on their performance and rely on similar tools when preparing for one. By outlining the main areas in which their working and training paths intersect, it is the aim of this study to attempt to chart the interfaces between interpreters and actors and thereby contribute to the development of a theatre-informed interpreting pedagogy.