Sight translation between Chinese and English: an overview

This chapter provides an overview of sight translation, a hybrid mode of interpretation and translation that involves simultaneous processing of written texts and oral translation. The primary focus of this chapter is on the language pair of Chinese and English. Firstly, various perspectives on the definition of ‘sight translation’ ‘sight interpreting/interpretation’ and ‘simultaneous interpreting with text’ will be explored, followed by a refined definition of ‘sight translation.’ Then common settings where sight translation occurs will be introduced, drawing on situations in China and overseas Chinese communities to illuminate the diverse market demands for this mode of interpretation. Following this, the challenges specific to sight translation between English and Chinese will be discussed, based on which I will introduce the current practice in teaching and assessing sight translation. The discussion will then shift to the existing research on sight translation, with a focus on studies related to sight translation between English and Chinese. Finally, the chapter will explore the evolving needs for sight translation in the digital age, outlining the future directions for this mode of interpretation.