CHAPTER SIX CONCLUSION
6.1 Conclusion
The working environment of conference interpreters, or built-in booths, is critical
to the production of “optimum quality” interpretation (Moser-Mercer, 1996).
Although ISO 2603 exists, setting a standard for booth conditions, its compliance is
not mandatory; hence it is not applied to all existing built-in booths. To explore the
possible issues related to built-in booths for simultaneous interpretation, this study
reviewed relevant research findings in standardization, interpretation studies,
workplace regulations, communication studies, ergonomics, post occupancy
evaluation, and identified the booth factors that may affect interpretation quality.
The intent of this study has been to shed light on current booth conditions,
identify issues of importance for interpreters, and provide suggestions for the
improvement of existing and future built-in booths. This study explored the factors of
booth size, access, visibility, windows, ventilation, lighting, acoustics, seating, and
working surface, and utilized common POE methods of field studies, questionnaire,
and interviews, in order to gather the relevant data needed to achieve this purpose. A
summary of the findings are as follows:
z Field studies show that none of the booths surveyed complied 100% to ISO 2603 standards. Of the nine booths from the six venues surveyed, the
overall average compliance rate was 42%;
z Factors with the lowest compliance rate are: size (17%), doors (22%), air conditioning (22%), and windows (23%);
z Factors with the highest compliance rate are: general factors (78%), access (78%), and lighting (60%);
z Factors considered by interpreters to be important are: sound transmission quality, acoustic separation, certain aspects of visibility, windows, lighting,
working surface, seating, silent operation of doors, and booth size;
z Interpreters are less than satisfied with visibility and window size in the booths surveyed;
z In addition to the booth factors specified in ISO 2603, interpreters are also concerned with booth cleanliness, internet access, and the installation of
drinking fountains.
When the data collected from the three methods were compiled and analyzed, it
was found that, according to the interpreters who responded to the questionnaire,
noncompliance did not always imply dissatisfaction with booth conditions. The
discrepancy between interpreters’ views and the booths’ noncompliance with ISO
2603 may be due to Taiwan’s interpretation industry practices and/or individual
differences. For example, the absence of booths large enough to support three
interpreters is due to few conferences employing three interpreters to a booth and the
predominance of conferences held solely in Mandarin-English or Mandarin-Japanese
languages. Another example is the lack of signage specifying assigned languages and
channels on or adjacent to doors, which is acceptable by interpreters when only one
booth is in use, as is the case in the majority of conferences in Taiwan.
According to past findings discussed in the literature review and those from the
field studies, questionnaire, and interviews of this study, an implementation checklist
for existing booths in Taipei has been provided. Some recommendations are easily
achieved, such as the replacement of tables and chairs, and the addition of work lights.
However, many of the recommendations, such as the enlargement of booths, windows,
and the improvement of the ventilation system, may require structural renovations, the
cost and time of which may deter conference hall operators from improving booth
conditions.
One of the most important implications found in this study was that conference
hall operators, architects, designers, and conference organizers have little
understanding for interpreters’ needs with regard to working conditions. Although not
surveyed by this study, some booths were reported by interpreters as being only large
enough to fit one interpreter, despite the fact that interpreters work in pairs. The field
studies show a number of booth windows that are either too small or placed at such a
height that interpreters cannot see while seated, despite the importance of visibility to
quality interpretation. The increase of communication between these parties with
interpreters, the emphasis of the importance of the role of interpreters in the
conference communication process, and the furthering of understanding for the
interpretation process may greatly improve the future design of interpretation booths
and ensure “optimum quality” interpretation.
6.2 Limitations of the Study
This study is an attempt to explore the existing conditions of fixed booths for
simultaneous interpretation in Taipei, the needs of interpreters in Taiwan regarding
interpretation booths, a comparison of the two against ISO 2603, and to recommend
possible methods to improve existing conditions. Scarce data on interpretation booths
in Taiwan, limited methods of observation in field studies, small number of
questionnaire respondents, and time constraints were the major limitations of this
study.
Field studies were limited to easily observable factors that could be recorded or
measured while the booths were not in use. Due to time limits and lack of expertise,
this study does not go in depth into technical aspects of ventilation, lighting, and
acoustics.
In addition, this study was limited by the small number of participants in the
questionnaire. Although some findings and implications were discovered, the needs of
interpreters with regard to booths for simultaneous interpretation could have been
influenced by responder bias due to the small sample size.
6.3 Recommendations for Further Studies
In this study, the focus was primarily on current booth conditions and
interpreters’ needs with regard to booths. Although this study attempted to explore the
views of other parties, such as conference hall operators, findings were limited due to
time constraints. It would be interesting to see the views of conference hall operators,
conference organizers, and designers in order to fully determine the gap of
understanding of interpreters’ needs and possible contributing factors to the
noncompliance of existing booths.
Comprehensive studies of booth conditions while in use, particularly the
“Interpreter Workload Study” (AIIC), could be reproduced to fit the Taiwan context.
Such studies could be conducted in order to raise awareness of the demands of the
interpretation process and the importance of quality booth design.
This study surveyed six venues in Taipei, the Taipei International Convention
Center, National Taiwan University Hospital International Convention Center, Grand
Hotel, GIS Convention Center/NTU, Howard International House Taipei, and the
National Central Library. Future studies could be expanded to include the POEs of
other venues in Taiwan, and possibly make comparisons to venues in Asia and around
the world. If such studies were conducted, their results could help raise awareness,
develop further recommendations for booth improvements, and create persuasive
arguments for conference hall operators and designers to adopt better designs.
Only built-in booths for simultaneous interpretation were examined in this study.
It would be interesting to see what findings would emerge when mobile booths are
studied.
