“I Preach My Own Sermons” – Seeking Fidelity in the Breath of the Holy Spirit
Keywords:
church interpreting, fidelity, NPIT, service, holy spiritAbstract
Over the last decade, church interpreting (i.e. interpreting taking place during Christian services) has become the object of an increasing number of publications for its distinct setting and the peculiarity of the message it seeks to convey. Many such contributions have highlighted the religious affiliation of nearly all church interpreters and, most importantly, its key significance for Christian communities. The present study seeks to contribute to the growing field of church interpreting research by exploring the potential implications of religious faith for role identity and source-text fidelity. Data has been gathered through ethnographic methods, chiefly participant observation and focus groups, in an English-speaking evangelical church located in Northern Italy, where simultaneous interpreting of Sunday services is provided by a team of six committed but nonprofessional believers, all of whom took part in the study. Results suggest that both religious faith and secular culture contribute to the development of church interpreters’ understanding of their duty to fidelity and the ways in which it ought to be fulfilled.
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