Catering for the Audience Needs in English-Arabic Interpreting: The Case Study of Arabicized Words in Conferences

Abstract

This research sheds light on whether Arab interpreters take into consideration the audience preferences when interpreting Arabicized words in conferences. The researchers selected four groups; three of them are students at Birzeit University majoring in the English language with a minor in translation or English language only, as well as students coming from different majors but not English language majors. Forty contextualized Arabicized words were used in a simulated conference situation, and students were asked to select either the loan words or the loan translations they preferred to hear for the Arabicized words. Five certified interpreters also participated in this study. The results showed that there were clear trends; the English language majors with a minor in translation, as well as the English language majors, opted for the loan translations, while the other students not majoring in English selected the loan words. Finally, the five interpreters supported the loan translation options. Thus, it became clear that those who major in language and or translation tend to prefer loan translation rather than loan words since they think these translations are more formal, more standard, and purer.