The Importance of Liaison Interpreting in the Theoretical Development of Translation Studies

This paper examines the distinct characteristics of liaison interpreting and explored the contribution of liaison interpreting to the theoretical development of translation studies. The historical development and theoretical themes of translation studies suggest that the ideology and codes of conduct of consecutive interpreting are heavily influenced by theories of translation and simultaneous interpreting. An overview of the theoretical development of interpretation across various disciplines (e.g., anthropology, sociology, applied linguistics, discourse analysis, psychology, and communication) suggests that the latest development of examining interpreter-mediated conversations as a communicative activity will allow researchers to explore the dynamic and interactive aspects of interpretation. I propose. a new field of investigation, liaison interpreting, in lights of its potential contributions to various disciplines. The distinct characteristics of liaison interpreting (i.e., the dynamics of interpreting activity, the mediation of roles and identities, and the contextual influences of interpreting) provide researchers rich resources to explore the complexity of interpreting as a communicative activity coordinated between mUltiple parties and to develop effective models to facilitate interpreter-mediated interactions.