Interpreting: an Art, a Craft or a Superpower?

Karolina Puchala-Ladzinska discusses the nature of language interpreting. First, she addresses selected theoretical issues related to interpreting and discusses the specifics of the most common types of interpreting. This is followed by an overview of an interpreter’s competencies and skills and a chapter on note-taking as an aid to consecutive interpreting. The process of interpreting is presented in detail, the success or failure of which depends largely on the choice of techniques and strategies. This part also addresses the problem of errors in interpreting as well as nonverbal elements and interpreting assessment. Finally, before presenting a selection of practical exercises for interpreting courses, the role of creative thinking in the context of interpreting is discussed.