Piloting an Assessment Model of Interpreting Quality

Abstract

Abstract: How to assess interpreting quality in conferences remains a question not yet satisfactorily answered. When disputes arise upon interpreters’ performance in conferences, the related parties do not have a consistent ground to base their assessment on. This research, completed under the sponsorship of the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS, VNU) in the VNU research grant No QG.15.35 “Models for English-Vietnamese translation assessment”, has piloted Kurz’s model in 1989 with eight criteria in assessing simultaneous interpreting quality in three conferences. The findings show that this model allows comprehensive, accurate and objective assessment of interpreting quality. They also help pointing out interpreter’s strengths and weaknesses. However, there are certain limitations in the model, especially regarding large scale applicability and the incorporation of external quality factors.