Interpreters and interpreting: shifting the balance?

Abstract

The role of interpreters has been shaped by changing social contexts throughout the millennial history of this occupation, but demographic, educational, legal and technological developments have accelerated since the late 20th century and given rise to new forms of interpreting with the potential of reshaping the way interpreting is conceived. This essay aims at providing a broad-based overview of major changes (‘shifts’) with regard to such features as social status and domain, mode and modality as well as process-related characteristics like human agency, immediacy and the nature of the language(s) involved. In particular, the looming transformations engendered by technological progress will be analysed with regard to the interplay between humans and machines. Under the headings of immediacy, linguality and agency, new forms of technology-based interpreting will be discussed and seen to challenge deeply rooted assumptions about interpreting as a task, with far-reaching consequences for the role of the human agent.