Speaker positioning in interpreter-mediated press conferences

This article investigates potential effects which (the recontextualisation of) interpreted discourse can have on the positioning of participants. The discursive event which forms the basis of the analysis are international press conferences which bring politicians and journalists together. The dominant question addressed is: (How) do interpreter-mediated encounters influence the positioning of participants and thus the construction of interactional and social roles? The article illustrates that methods of (critical) discourse analysis can be used to identify positioning strategies which are employed by participants in such triadic exchanges. The data come from press conferences which involve English, German, and French as source and target languages.

Shirley MacLaine and group at a press conference before she left for China to film "Women"

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Elaine Noble, Boston Legislator at Gay Delegates press conference

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Shirley MacLaine at a press conference before she left for China to film "Women"

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Bella Abzug at press conference after she was fired by President Carter

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Anita Bryant at press conference with Anita's Pastor, Pastor Chapman and Bob Greene

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Barbara Seaman holding vaginal cap at Pre-1980 Women's March press conference

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Inez Garcia, who killed her rapist at a press conference at NOW

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Gloria Steinem speaks to press before entering "Forum on the Future" conference

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Helvi Sipilä press conference with Betty Friedan and other women members of the United Nations and NGO conference

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Author Louise Armstrong at Women Against Porn press conference

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Phyllis Schlafly at press conference at International Women's Year

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Betty Friedan speaks to press at International Women's Year conference

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.