PRAGMATIC SHIFTS IN SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING

The article examines pragmatic shifts in simultaneous interpreting (SI). It emphasizes how interpreters adjust meaning, tone, intent, and cultural subtleties in real time. It incorporates traditional translation theories, including John Catford's categories of shifts (structural, unit, class, and intrasystem) and Vinay and Darbelnet's techniques, before transitioning to contemporary pragmatic concepts, such as Ernst-August Gutt's Relevance Theory and Juliane House's perspectives on cultural disparities. The study used a mixed-methods approach to analyze 20 hours of audio from international summits and EU meetings between 2019 and 2024. Annotations utilize Mona Baker's shift classifications and Cecilia Wadensjö's interactional framework. Shifts are categorized into four types: explicitation (clarifying concepts, such as transforming "progress" into "concrete results"), attenuation (reducing intensity, e.g., "unacceptable" to "needs further review"), modulation of illocutionary force (altering speech acts, such as converting a question into a direct command), and cultural adaptation (incorporating culturally specific terms like "struggle" or "family" for resonance).