earticle

영어

This study explores the way simultaneous interpretation is portrayed in Korean news media. Simultaneous interpretation is a complex task requiring an interpreter to master the skills of listening, production, and memory skills which need to be operated simultaneously facilitated by the right coordination skills(Gile, 2009). Thus it requires expertise, and interpreters who are well trained and, consequently, competent in both consecutive and simultaneous interpreting are called ‘conference interpreters.’ Conference interpreters are covered frequently in newspaper articles and are often called ‘simultaneous interpreters’ in Korean media. Conference interpreters are recognized as experts in the field. However recently, the words ‘simultaneous interpretation’ and ‘simultaneous interpreters’ are often used inappropriately: ‘simultaneous interpretation’ is used to describe a celebrity’s language competency; ‘simultaneous interpreter’ is often used to add glamour to a celebrity’s career profile or lifestyle; ‘simultaneous interpretation’ is also often used in names for language services provided for the general public, which requires consecutive interpretation at best. This study explores how the media uses and tweaks the concept of simultaneous interpretation and discusses implications of such misuse.