The chimera of interpreting humour in simultaneous conference interpreting: improbable, unnecessary or a methodological gap?

Abstract

As interpreting studies advance, research on quality standards, and encountered difficulties tocomply with it, abounds. However, one topic has been but fleetingly treated: humour. Translationstudies, our next of kin, has been studying the translational problems posed by humour fordecades now, and this proves at least two aspects: first, translators are aware they can brushshoulders with humour, and second, research is necessary to (as a minimum) discuss the suitabilityof the not always coinciding translational options. Is there a reason why we, interpreting teachers,should think this could not be the case for simultaneous conference interpreting? Which are thetheoretical approaches, if any, currently existing in our field? Is interpreting humour considered asrare as to be worthless of any theoretical-practical reflection? The present paper supports thehypothesis that if junior students are trained to interpret humour, we might be helping them indesigning better management strategies.