Mobile telephone-mediated interpreting practice in Rwanda: Opportunities, challenges and solutions.

Abstract

iv ABSTRACT Until not long ago, technological developments had an obvious impact on how we communicate, irrespective of the settings in which we are. In the same vein, the rapidly evolving communication technologies have continuously fuelled changes in the provision of interpreting services. It is in this perspective that telephone-mediated interpreting has been introduced in many parts of the globe, but with little traction by practitioners and researchers. As we know, little research, if any, has been conducted in Rwanda regarding telephone-mediated interpreting, and the purpose of this thesis is to bridge the gap by investigating challenges facing those providing mobile telephone-mediated interpreting services in Rwanda in addition to presenting opportunities arising therefrom and proposing solutions. The study relied on secondary data collected from limited research available in the area and primary data collected from a limited sample of nine telephone-mediated interpreters who completed our questionnaire. The study findings suggest that telephone-mediated interpreters in Rwanda face challenges that include, among others, the absence of necessary details ahead of the call and having a hard time managing the turn-shifting. The main research findings of the study further show that other challenges include the fact that telephone-mediated interpreting becomes more complicated when the call involves using visual materials. Also, the study suggests that telephone-mediated interpreting fuels nervousness and stress, and carries in itself inherent challenges related to technical issues arising from sound systems and background noise, contributing to hampering comprehension. According to the findings, however, most of the challenges facing telephone-mediated interpreters in Rwanda are no different from those facing telephone-mediated interpreters in other parts of the world. Along the same line of reasoning, the study identified major challenges that equally apply to other telephone-mediated interpreters, which can be described as common. According to the study findings, there is a need for telephone-mediated interpreters based in Rwanda to receive training in telephone-mediated interpreting, because this mode of interpreting has its own characteristics and practical implications. As concerns potential solutions, the study findings further suggest that it is important for those who seek mobile telephone-mediated interpreting services to be educated.