TECHNIQUES TO INTERPRET SPEECH ACTS FROM AGHEM INTO ENGLISH FOR PEACE-BUILDING

SYLVANUS AKWA EWI

doi:10.5281/zenodo.10154268

SYLVANUS AKWA EWI PhD ASPIRANT IN TRANSLATION, INTERPRETING AND INTERCULTURAL STUDIES, ADVANCED SCHOOL OF TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS (ASTI),UNIVERSITY OF BUEA, CAMEROON

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10154268

Keywords: Interpreting,Peace-Building, Communication, Speech Acts, Techniques, Aghem.

Abstract

This paper argues that there are ways of combatting hate speech through interpreting. It proposes techniques that community interpreters should use to re-express Aghem local speech acts that contain derogatory connotations into English so that the target language receptor is not hurt by the offensive elements of the source language. Reciprocity will thus depend on the choice of words of the interlocutors and their mindsets at a particular time. The data for this study was drawn from interviews, questionnaires, participant observations and focus group discussions. 10 excerpts were taken from real life situations and have been analyzed. The collection and analysis were guided by the politeness, the communication, the interpretive, the speech acts, the sociolinguistic, and the pragmatic theories respectively. The findings demonstrate that interpreting offensive speech acts for peace-building is far from being an act of faithfulness to the source text. It requires positive manipulation by the interpreter while making sure that the essence of the source message is maintained and not completely obliterated. Techniques such as modulation, explicitation and omission were found suitable within the study. This work thus posits that interpreting should henceforth be equally viewed from and African standpoint and not only from the Western definition of the profession.

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