Community Interpreting 3200-M1-3PŚR
The presented material includes the following topics:
1. Definitions and object of community interpreting
2. Characteristics of community interpreting as compared to conference interpreting
3. Norms in community interpreting
4.History of community interpreting
5. Professional and natural interpreters
6. Sworn translators and community interpreters
7. Principles of community interpreting: codes of professional ethics and practice
8. Court interpreting
9. Police interpreting
10. Medical interpreting
11. Interpreting for refugees in crisis and conflict settings
12. Interpreters in interaction - roles and turn-taking, problems and challenges
13.Techniques and strategies in community interpreitng
14. Professional organizations
15. New technologies as a work tool for community interpreters
Student’s workload (2 ECTS), including:
- active assistance in the classes (30 hours) – 1 ECTS
- independent reading and text analysis (15 hours), preparing for class discussions (15 hours) – 1 ECTS
FORMS OF WORK:
If classroom learning is impossible, the workshop will be conducted with the help of distance communication tools, most probably Google Meet and others recommended by the University.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: The graduate knows and understands
S2_W01 – in-depth knowledge of key concepts related to the theory of community interpreting and its development trends (including the main types and varieties of interpreting, and the use of new technologies, e.g., CAI), K_W02, K_W03, K_W05, K_W11
S2_W06 – in-depth knowledge of the economic, legal, and ethical conditions of working as a community interpreter, K_W09, K_W13
S2_W03 – in-depth knowledge of the latest trends, problems, and research methodologies in the field of community interpreting, and knows the locations of the most important translation research centers in Europe and worldwide, K_W05, K_W07, K2_W11
Skills: The graduate is able to
S2_U01 – use their knowledge of community interpreting theory to solve complex translation problems through appropriate preparation to the translation task, adequately assess the translation function and select translation strategies appropriate for the context of community interpreting, K_U01, K_U03, K_U05
S2_U05 – communicate on topics related to community interpreting with clients, institutions and recipients of interpreting in a way that is understandable even to non-specialists, and adequately justify the decisions made and translation strategies used, K_U07, K_U08, K_U09
S2_U06 – lead a discussion on community interpreting, understood both as a process and a product, taking into account different points of view and the latest results of translation research. K_U03, K_U07, K_U08, K_U09, K_U11
Social competencies: The graduate is ready to:
S2_KO2 – recognize the importance of knowledge, including translation knowledge, in solving translation problems, K_K01, K_K02, K_K05
S2_KO7 – responsibly fulfill the professional role of a community interpreter, taking into account changing market needs, in particular social needs, K_K02, K_K03, K_K04
S2_KO8 – maintain the ethos of the interpreting profession and adhere to and develop the principles of professional ethics for community interpreters, K_K04, K_K05
Assessment criteria
Continuous assessment based on an active assistance in the classes (preparation for and participation in discussions).
Final written exam. Resit in September, in the same form.
Two absences are possible.
The students with an unauthorized absence at more than two classes shall not be admitted to a final test and shall not get a credit.
An exceeded limit of (be it authorized or unauthorized) absences needs agreeing on a form of passing of a learning unit covered during a particular class with the trainer.
FORMS OF WORK:
If classroom learning is impossible, the workshop will be conducted with the help of distance communication tools, most probably Google Meet and others recommended by the University.
Bibliography
Selected bibliography:
Biernacka, A. (2025). Towards ethics and best practices in distant public service interpreting in Poland. Fitispos International Journal, 12(1), 69-84.
Biernacka A., Kalata-Zawłocka A. (2024), „Etyka tłumaczy ustnych języków fonicznych i tłumaczy języków migowych. Od teoretycznych rozważań do praktycznych rozwiązań”, Między Oryginałem a Przekładem 1(63), s. 93-115, https://doi.org/10.12797/MOaP.30.2024.63.05
Biernacka A. 2019 Interpreter Mediated Interactions of the Courtroom. A Naturally Occurring Data Based Study. Berlin: Peter Lang.
Biernacka A. D., Kalata-Zawłocka A. (2019) “Techniques deployed by sign and spoken language public service interpreters: a comparative study”, Półrocznik Językoznawczy Tertium. Tertium Linguistic Journal, Vol. 4 (1), 162-192.
Fantinuoli C. (red.) (2018) Interpreting and technology, Berlin: Language Science Press.
Kodeks tłumacza przysięgłego 2018 (red. zbiorowa). Warszawa: Wyd. Tepis.
Tryuk M. 2006 Przekład ustny środowiskowy, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Tryuk M. (2012) Ty nic nie mów, ja będę tłumaczył. O etyce w tłumaczeniu ustnym, Warszawa: ILS UW.
Valero Garcés C. (red.) 2008 Crossing Borders in Community Interpreting. Definitions and Dilemmas. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: J. Benjamins.
Wadensjö C. 1998 Interpreting as Interaction. London and New York: Longman.