Cover not available

Introduction published In: Technology
Edited by Franz Pöchhacker and Minhua Liu
[Interpreting 26:2] 2024
► pp. 157–177

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
EPUB logo with download linkDownload EPUB
Introduction

Interpreting technologized

Distance and assistance

 | University of Vienna
 | Hong Kong Baptist University
Open Access logo
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Open Access publication of this article was funded through a Transformative Agreement with University of Vienna.

Published online: 31 October 2024
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/intp.00112.poc
Abstract
As an introduction to a selection of current research on the theme of interpreting and technology this article offers an overview of the technologization of interpreting in the course of the past century, with particular emphasis on developments during recent decades. The application of various types of technology in different professional domains and settings is discussed with reference to the main functions of technology: enabling service delivery, assisting the process and replacing human agency. A brief review of some (proto)typical applications of technology in different settings and modalities of interaction then serves as a backdrop to a summary discussion of the technology-related literature to date and an introduction to the current research presented in Interpreting 26:2 (2024).
Article outline
  • From no-tech to AI
  • Interpreting in the digital age
  • Technology use in interpreting
    • Functions
    • Applications
    • Education
  • Technology as an object of interpreting studies
    • Literature to date
    • Current research
  • Note
  • References
References (53)
References
Albl-Mikasa, M. (2012). The importance of being not too earnest: A process- and experience-based model of interpreter competence. In B. Ahrens, M. Albl-Mikasa & C. Sasse (Eds.), Dolmetschqualität in Praxis, Lehre und Forschung. Festschrift für Sylvia Kalina. Tübingen: Narr Francke Attempto, 59–92.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Amato, A., Spinolo, N. & González Rodríguez, M. J. (Eds.) (2018). Handbook of remote interpreting. Bologna: University of Bologna. [URL]
Baigorri-Jalón, J. (2014). From Paris to Nuremberg: The birth of conference interpreting (trans. H. Mikkelson and B. S. Olsen). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Braun, S. (2020). Technology and interpreting. In M. O’Hagan (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of translation and technology. London/New York: Routledge, 271–288.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2024). Distance interpreting as a professional profile. In G. Massey, M. Ehrensberger-Dow & E. Angelone (Eds.), Handbook of the language industry. Berlin: De Gruyter, 449–472. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Corpas Pastor, G. & Defrancq, B. (Eds.) (2023). Interpreting technologies: Current and future trends. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Corpas Pastor, G. & Durán-Muñoz, I. (Eds.) (2018). Trends in e-tools and resources for translators and interpreters. Leiden: Brill Rodopi. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
De Boe, E. (2023). Remote interpreting in healthcare settings. Oxford: Peter Lang.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
De Boe, E., Vranjes, J. & Salaets, H. (Eds.) (2024). Interactional dynamics in remote interpreting: Micro-analytical approaches. Abingdon: Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Defrancq, B. & Corpas Pastor, G. (2023). Introduction. In G. Corpas Pastor & B. Defrancq (Eds.), Interpreting technologies: Current and future trends. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 1–5. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ehrlich, S. & Napier, J. (Eds.) (2015). Interpreter education in the digital age: Innovation, access, and change. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fantinuoli, C. (2012). InterpretBank: Design and implementation of a terminology and knowledge management software for conference interpreters. PhD thesis, University of Mainz.
(2018a). Computer-assisted interpreting: Challenges and future perspectives. In G. Corpas Pastor & I. Durán-Muñoz (Eds.), Trends in e-tools and resources for translators and interpreters. Leiden: Brill Rodopi, 153–174.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2018b). Interpreting and technology: The upcoming technological turn. In C. Fantinuoli (Ed.), Interpreting and technology. Berlin: Language Science Press, 1–12.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(Ed.) (2018c). Interpreting and technology. Berlin: Language Science Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2023a). Towards AI-enhanced computer-assisted interpreting. In G. Corpas Pastor & B. Defrancq (Eds.), Interpreting technologies: Current and future trends. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 46–71. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2023b). Systems and methods for automatic speech translation. United States Patent No. US 11,704,507 B1.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Filene, E. A. (1932). Speech translating system and method. United States Patent No. 1,874,480.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fügen, C., Waibel, A. & Kolss, M. (2007). Simultaneous translation of lectures and speeches. Machine Translation 21 (4), 209–252. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Giustini, D. (2024). ‘You can book an interpreter the same way you order your Uber’: (Re)interpreting work and digital labour platforms. Perspectives 32 (3), 441–459. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hansen, J. P. B. (2020). Invisible participants in a visual ecology: Visual space as a resource for organising video-mediated interpreting in hospital encounters. Social Interaction 3 (3). Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
ISO (2022). ISO 24019:2022. Simultaneous interpreting delivery platforms — requirements and recommendations. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Jumpelt, R. W. (1985). The conference interpreter’s working environment under the new ISO and IEC standards. Meta 30 (1), 82–90. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kalina, S. (2002). Quality in interpreting and its prerequisites: A framework for a comprehensive view. In G. Garzone & M. Viezzi (Eds.), Interpreting in the 21st century: Challenges and opportunities. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 121–130. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2005). Quality assurance for interpreting processes. Meta 50 (2), 769–784. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lewis, W. D. & Niehues, J. (2023). Automatic speech translation in the classroom and lecture setting: Challenges, approaches, and future directions. In G. Corpas Pastor & B. Defrancq (Eds.), Interpreting technologies: Current and future trends. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 241–276. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lightfoot, M. H. (2005). Close encounters of the 2-D kind. Views 22 (6), 1, 25, 30.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2006). Video remote interpreting: It’s a good thing! Views 23 (6), 1, 7, 30.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mellinger, C. D. & Pokorn, N. K. (2018). Community interpreting, translation, and technology. Translation and Interpreting Studies 13 (3), 337–341. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Moser-Mercer, B. (2005). Remote interpreting: Issues of multi-sensory integration in a multilingual task. Meta 50 (2), 727–738. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Napier, J., Skinner, R. & Braun, S. (Eds.) (2018). Here or there: Research on interpreting via video link. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nestler, F. (1957). Tel-Interpret. Begründung und Grundlagen eines deutschen Telefon-Dolmetschdienstes. Lebende Sprachen 2 (1), 21–23. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ozolins, U. (1998). Interpreting and translating in Australia: Current issues and international comparisons. Melbourne: Language Australia.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pöchhacker, F. (2004). Introducing interpreting studies. London/New York: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2020). “Going video”: Mediality and multimodality in interpreting. In H. Salaets & G. Brône (Eds.), Linking up with video: Perspectives on interpreting practice and research. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 13–45. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2022). Introducing interpreting studies. Third edition. London/New York: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2024). Is machine interpreting interpreting? Translation Spaces (online-first). Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rodríguez Melchor, M. D., Horváth, I. & Ferguson, K. (Eds.) (2020). The role of technology in conference interpreter training. Oxford: Peter Lang.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sandrelli, A. (2015). Computer-assisted interpreter training. In F. Pöchhacker (Ed.), Routledge encyclopedia of interpreting studies. London/New York: Routledge, 75–77.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Seeber, K. G. (Ed.) (2021). 100 years of conference interpreting: A legacy. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Seeber, K. G., Keller, L., Amos, R. & Hengl, S. (2019). Expectations vs. experience: Attitudes towards video remote conference interpreting. Interpreting 21 (2), 270–304. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1968). L’interprète dans les conférences internationales: Problémes de langage et de communication. Paris: Minard Lettres modernes.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Spinolo, N. & Amato, A. (2020). Technology in interpreter education and practice: Introduction. inTRAlinea 22. [URL]
United Nations (2024). Speech bank for interpretation training. United Nations Department of General Assembly and Conference Management. [URL] (accessed 26 August 2024).
Wahlster, W. (Ed.) (2000). Verbmobil: Foundations of speech-to-speech translation. Berlin: Springer. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Will, M. (2009). Dolmetschorientierte Terminologiearbeit: Modell und Methode. Tübingen: Gunter Narr.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Winters, M., Deane-Cox, S. & Böser, U. (Eds.) (2024). Translation, interpreting and technological change: Innovations in research, practice and training. London: Bloomsbury. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ziegler, K. & Gigliobianco, S. (2018). Present? Remote? Remotely present! New technological approaches to remote simultaneous conference interpreting. In C. Fantinuoli (Ed.), Interpreting and technology. Berlin: Language Science Press, 119–139.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (3)

Cited by three other publications

Cai, Zhiyu & Yizhu Li
2025. Rethinking translation and interpreting technology in the AI era. Translation and Interpreting Studies DOI logo
Guo, Zidian & Ketong Li
2025. Limitations and Best Practices for the Design of Computer-Aided Interpretation Tools. In Artificial Intelligence in HCI [Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 15819], ► pp. 319 ff. DOI logo
Khumalo, Dumisani Ephraim
2025. Izinselelo eziphathelene nomsebenzi wabantu abangotolika emihlanganweni yokucobelelana ngolwazi. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 17 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue