Team Interpreters' Diverse Strategies for Effective Collaboration

1. Different Teams, Different Working Styles(Hoza, 2010, Chapter 8) Presented By: Stephanie Weiss INT 340 - Professor Janis Cole Class Presentation April 17, 2013

2. Table of Contents • Purpose • Cognitive Process • 5 Teaming Strategies • Covey & His Six Major Kinds of Deposits • Conclusion • References • Discussion/Questions

3. Purpose • Different team interpreters have different strategies and working styles when working together. • How do they know which strategy and working style they need to obtain? • “Given that each team isunique because of the… • particular personal and professional relationship of the interpreters involved, • their experience with working together, • their philosophies of interpreting, and • their approach to the team interpreting task, • …it follows that how they function as a team would vary depending in the composition and needs of the team” (Hoza, 2010, p. 125).

4. Cognitive Process • Used by interpreters to determine message equivalence of the source language (SL) in the target language (TL) has been described by an interpreter – three step process • 1). Concentrating (C): understanding the meaning of the SL text • 2). Representing (R): mentally representing the meaning without form/words • 3). Planning (P): formulating how to express the TL rendition SL === C === R === P === TL • This framework is helpful in discussing the mental steps an interpreter undertakes to go from the SL to the TL (Hoza, 2010, p. 73).

5. 5 Teaming Strategies • Feeding Information: • 1). Target Language Feeds • 2). Confirmation • 3). Process feeds • 4). Switch Roles • 5). Collaboration • Each team interpreter has their strengths and weaknesses in each strategy; therefore, they need to work together to see which one(s) will best suite them to achieve success.

6. Feeding Information Strategies • 1). Target Language (TL) Feeds: • Monitor provides an information feed to the lead after the TL is produced • Information that needs to be corrected or added due to overlooking or not understanding • There are 2 types of TL feeds: • Corrections: monitor repairs any content in the TL rendition that was omitted, added, or skewed • Correction Example: Lead: …the Franklin School… Monitor: Fremont Lead: Excuse me, the Fremont school. • Enhancements – enriches the interpretation by assisting the lead interpreter with a more clear description • Enhancement Example Lead: …and I think Deaf children suffer from that. Monitor: a variety of methods

7. …continuation onFeeding Information Strategies • 2). Confirmation: • Am I producing and expressing the speaker’s message accurately? • Leans in, provide brief positive phrases, gestures, and head nods • Example: Lead’s voice goes up in the TL rendition, and then she leans toward the Monitor. The Monitor nods.

8. …continuation onFeeding Information Strategies • 3). Process feeds: • Monitor provides an information feed to the lead before the TL is produced • Monitor offers a process feed without being requested to do so • Any hesitation, a look of uncertainty, or even confusion… ummm, means HELP! • Example: Lead pauses after seeing a sign that she does not recognize in the SL. Monitor: Chicago

9. TL feeds and confirmations occur after the TL has been produced. Process feeds occur during the interpreting process before the TL has been produced.

10. …continuation on Teaming Strategies • 4). Switch Roles: • Known as “taking it” • Monitor and the lead exchange roles, which results in the monitor taking the lead role by completing the interpreting (CRP) process and producing the TL rendition • Information missed by the lead • Speaker’s goal becomes clearer • Example: Lead pauses briefly while producing the interpretation. Monitor (adds in the TL): And that mother was Deaf and that child could hear. • 5). Collaboration: • Discussing and making decisions about the interpreting work • Making an offer or suggestion to help team • “Will you take it?”“I missed that.”

11. Covey & His Six Major Kinds of Deposits • According to Covey (2004), he proposes six major kinds of deposits, which are essentially interpersonal features that support interdependence that can apply for team interpreters (Hoza, 2010, p. 134). • Team Interpreters… • 1). Must understand one another and appreciate each other as a person and as an interpreter • 2). Be kind, courteous, and respectful to one another • 3). Learn how to keep commitments when agreeing on a specific subject matter and not change decisions last minute

12. …continuation on Features of Collaboration & Interdependence in Team Interpretation • Team Interpreters must obtain… • 1). Relationship & Communication (45.2%) • 2). Commitment & Trust (33.5%) • 3). Personal Characteristics & Skills (17%) • 4). Philosophy & Schema ( 4.3%)

13. Conclusion • All in all, team interpreters need to determine how to best work together and to support the work of the team both personally and professionally. • Engaging all of Covey’s deposits and collaborating on what specific teaming strategies are their strengths, will make them the best team ever!

14. References • Hoza, J. (2010). Team interpreting as collaboration and interdependence. Alexandria, VA: RID Press.  

15. Discussion/Questions • Do you agree with the author's points in this chapter of the book? If not, why not? • Anything specific that may have triggered your thoughts how it applies to interpreting? • Does this chapter reflect or view the same way with the current issues today? If so, how and in what way? If not, what issues still remain today? • No More Weekly Reading Reflections! Pah…at last!