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Review by Sherrill J Bell Executive Director, NAATI

   "Conference Interpreting: Principles and Practice is one of the most significant contributions to the field of interpreting and translating in Australia in the past decade."
   It represents the only major publication in Australia on this specific aspect of interpreting in recent years.
   As such, it provides an all-encompassing reference work for prospective conference interpreters, for conference organisers, for interpreting and translation educators, and for individuals generally interested in the profession."
   The nineteen chapters of the book cover an exceptionally wide range of subject areas, including an historical account of the profession, information about interpreting and the various types used, conference organisation, booth etiquette and protocol, health issues for conference interpreters, copyright, and information about various organisations around the world involved with conference interpreting ..."

"In summary, Conference Interpreting is a most significant contribution to the field of interpreting in Australia and internationally."

"It should be required reading for all those involved with the profession."

Sherrill J. Bell, Executive Director, NAATI.

A PROFESSION WITH A VIEW

"These days we all recognize that interpreting is an age-old profession in essence and a very modern one in its current manifestations. The advent of simultaneous interpretation last century changed the practice of the profession and in a sense initiated a move away from the interpreter as artist to the interpreter as technician. The growth of information technology promises more change, perhaps in the way we practice interpretation, certainly in the way we communicate with each other and organize our profession. Valerie Taylor-Bouladon has seen these changes and more in her three decades as a conference interpreter. In Conference Interpreting: Principles and Practice, she brings together the lessons of her own experience with knowledge accumulated in the community of professional interpreters.

The result is a very readable summary, spiced up with anecdotes and quotes, of what it means to be a conference interpreter and how our profession has evolved over time and place. Moreover, it is a very useful book, although (as the author herself readily points out) it is not a textbook.

For more experienced interpreters it may awaken fond memories, and it certainly offers some useful reminders that we would all be advised to take into daily consideration. (So, you were pouring water right in front of the microphone again and didn't have a hand free to hit the cough button?) For newcomers, there is sound advice on conference preparation, working arrangements and ethical questions. And its balanced treatment of training, choice of languages and health concerns will be useful in helping the would-be interpreter decide if conference interpreting is really for her.

In regard to health questions, Valerie Taylor-Bouladon includes a brief section on stress in which she mentions the value of disciplines such as the Alexander technique. It should be mentioned that much of the book was written with Australia in mind. The author moved there from Geneva in 1981 and became active in establishing what was then a little-known profession down under. It may be that her efforts to inform potential clients and others about our profession, to explain what we do to the uninitiated, planted the seed that grew into this book."

From a short review of "Conference Interpreting: Principles and Practice" by Luigi Luccarelli, Editor of "Communicate!" and AIIC Council Member 2000 - 2002 for the Asia Pacific Region.