Defeng Li is Distinguished Professor of Translation Studies and Director of the Centre for Studies of Translation, Interpreting and Cognition (CSTIC) at the University of Macau. Previously he taught at School of Oriental and African Studies of University of London, where he served as Chair of the Centre for Translation Studies. He also taught at the Department of Translation, the Chinese University of Hong Kong for a decade. He also served, in adjunct or visiting capacity, as Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, Shandong University during 2006-2011 and Visiting Chair Professor of Translation Studies at Shanghai Jiaotong University.

 

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Form-based vs. Meaning-based: A Corpus-assisted Analysis of Processing Routes in Chinese-English Consecutive Interpreting​

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Abstract

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This study explores the predominant processing routes in English-Chinese and Chinese-English consecutive interpreting, addressing the ongoing debate between form-based and meaning-based approaches. Utilizing a corpus-assisted methodology, the study examines the interpreting patterns of culture-specific items (CSIs) to identify the dominant processing strategies. The findings reveal that the preferred processing route varies depending on specific contexts. Four key factors are identified as influencing these variations: linguistic variables (such as grammatical complexity), types of CSIs, language directionality, and extra-linguistic variables (including multilateral or bilateral settings). This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in consecutive interpreting and offers insights into the dynamic interplay between form and meaning in cross-cultural communication.