Diplomatic Interpreting and Risk Analysis: A Literary Survey

In a diplomatic setting, overcoming the language barrier is fundamental to the establishment of mutual understanding and effective communication. As a complex activity that entails mediating immediate and direct personal contact between individuals from different cultures, interpreting can sometimes be problematic. As there may be more than one way of rendering the same speech, the process of interpreting may also be seen as a process of constant decision-making. When relations of power and conflicting political standpoints are involved, the cost and benefit of each alternative must be carefully considered in order to avoid undesirable consequences. As the worldwide political landscape is becoming increasingly volatile, diplomatic interpreters and their state of art are often put under the spotlight, attracting more public attention than ever with the help of contemporary social media. In order to tackle the challenges that arise during the event, an analysis of the associated risk may help the interpreter find an optimal strategy. During the past two decades, an increasing number of researches within the field of Interpreting Studies are focused on the social and cultural aspects of interpreting. However, the area of diplomatic interpreting has not attracted much academic attention. Similarly, while risk management is not a new concept in Translation studies, it remains a territory that is largely unexplored. This essay presents a literary review that aims to serve as a basis upon which further research can be conducted on the risks involved in diplomatic interpreting. The paper begins by illustrating the history of diplomatic interpreting to explain the various roles often assumed by the diplomatic interpreter. After that, an overview of the basic concepts and theories in risk studies is given to establish a better understanding of the framework. Finally, previous research into risk in translation and interpreting is evaluated in detail, providing a sound foundation for future projects to continue analyzing risk and decision-making in diplomatic interpreting.