This unit describes the skills required to interpret from a source language to a target language in complex dialogue settings, preserving the communicative intent of the source language. The unit requires the ability to use a range of techniques to assist in the message transfer process and to address problems in delivery.

An interpreter in the dialogue setting is required to interpret between two languages in both directions. The physical elements of the setting, or the number of parties involved, limit the interpreter from managing the discourse. The interpreter may be required to switch modes in a challenging environment, where there is a range of participant interests and personal welfare and safety issues that need to be considered.

Interpreting in this setting typically requires high levels of accuracy and accountability and assignments involving formality, or participants with high status and accountability. The content may involve specialised subjects requiring a high level of subject knowledge, or intense assignment-specific preparation. The content of communication may not easily be predicted or planned for, and there are limited opportunities for error correction. The consequences of errors in communicative intent can have significant implications.

This unit applies to those working as interpreters working in consecutive and Auslan simultaneous modes, either alone, collaboratively in tandem, relay, or as part of a team.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and industry codes and standards for ethical translating and interpreting adhered to.

Those undertaking this unit would work independently using a broad range of support resources as required, while performing sophisticated tasks in a range of specialised contexts.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified, the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least two occasions.

applying educated native speaker language proficiency in the first and near native speaker language proficiency in the second language

applying LOTE and English language skills required to achieve message transfer and performance in complex settings, including:

conceptualising and coherently expressing complex and specialised information in the target language using special and context-specific terminology as necessary

recognising and using a broad range of specialised and context-specific registers

reproducing complex language structure and implied meaning

using correct idioms and collocations

using colloquial language as appropriate to context and register of source utterance

including non-verbal cues in message transfer

reflecting voluntary and involuntary pragmatic and prosodic features of utterances

reproducing factual and linguistic content with a high degree of accuracy

solving complex problems of equivalence in message transfer

transferring cultural concepts and cues embedded in utterances

managing sociolinguistic issues in message transfer

using interpersonal and communication skills to interpret in a professional manner appropriate to participants and under challenging conditions

using advanced memory retention strategies, including producing decipherable records of key information for self, or others when team or tandem interpreting, when working in spoken languages

managing the discourse assertively to identify and address complicated group dynamics and barriers to effective communication outcomes

recognising and resolving transfer problems and transfer errors

applying broad general subject and context knowledge, including:

community, business and diplomatic domains

systems and institutions in Australia, different language communities, countries and relevant terminology

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified, the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

cultural knowledge, including cross-cultural perspective of communication and behaviour

modes of interpreting and techniques for managing mode switches

source language regional differences, dialects and idioms

theories that have influenced current interpreting practice, including:

effort model

form based and meaning based transfer

Assessment of this unit must include use of simulations of complex dialogue settings, and consideration must be given to assessment in real interpreting settings. Evidence for assessment should be gathered to demonstrate experiences interpreting in complex dialogue settings in diverse sectors in the community, business and diplomatic domains.

Consideration must be given to holistic assessment for this unit. Refer to advice in the Companion Volumes.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

The foundation skills demands of this unit have been mapped for alignment with the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). The following tables outline the performance levels indicated for successful attainment of the unit.

Further information on ACSF and the foundation skills underpinning this unit can be found in the Foundation Skills Guide on the GSA website.

Translating and interpreting