Computer Aided Interpreting (CAI) for Conference Interpreters. Concepts, Content and Prospects

Abstract

While specific and relatively uniform software is used in translation throughout the industry, only a minority of interpreters today uses dedicated software for their assignments and even less during the creation of the final product, the interpretation. This is even more surprising as there are already solutions available today that make it possible to considerably automate an interpreting assignment. It is argued that many interpreters refuse to use computers for interpreting or have little idea of the possibilities of Computer Aided Interpreting (CAI) but there is also a certain confusion in literature as regards the usage of the term “CAI”. Therefore, in the following, an overview of major developments in this field and a comparison with translation will be given in order to derive a differentiated definition of the term “Computer Aided Interpreting”. Subsequently, a model workflow will be used to demonstrate existing computer based applications that allow already now to considerably automate a complete interpreting assignment. In a further step, these products will be critically evaluated. Finally, an outlook on future developments and trends in the field of CAI will be given. The aim of this contribution is to give a coherent overview of CAI and thus contribute to its better understanding.