Differences Among English – Arabic Simultaneous Interpreters in Interpreting Trump’s Inaugural Speech in Washington

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze and describe the various techniques followed by three different skilled interpreters of the inaugural speech delivered on Friday, January 20, 2017 by former U.S. President Donald Trump on the West Front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Three separate interpretations by Arab interpreters working for three existing Arabic TV stations, Al-Jazeera, RT Arabia and France 24 Arabic, were analyzed using culture-bound elements in the speech. It is indicated by analyzing the interpreting techniques used that interpreters' wisdom performing better in their mother tongues cannot be maintained. The study also reveals that transcoding was the most commonly used technique.