Rassistische Sprache – Eine Untersuchung zu Strategien für das Simultandolmetschen vom Englischen ins Deutsche hinsichtlich ihrer Praktikabilität

Abstract This article offers an insight into strategies in English-to-German simultaneous interpretation that can be applied when a speaker uses racist language. Six interpreters were first introduced to a selection of strategies. They were then asked to interpret a staged panel discussion in which racist language was used. Each time they recognized racist speech they were supposed to intuitively apply one of the strategies they had previously been introduced to. In a final step, all six interpreters took part in a focus group interview during which they assessed the applied strategies and discussed difficulties. The results from both the interpretations and the focus group interview illustrate how racist speech can be interpreted critically. They offer a new perspective on traditional translation and interpretation theories as well as on the role of interpreters. The article concludes with some ideas as to how the results could be incorporated into interpretation didactics. Given the fact that we live and work in a time in which power relations and the world’s landscape continue to shift and change, it appears appropriate to challenge the current self-image of interpreters.