Abstract:

Research Objective:
With regard to the considerable difficulty of an interpreter’s profession from the cognitive, linguistic and psychological perspectives, it is indispensable that an interpreter’s basic attribute (work tool), his/her voice, is perfectly prepared for the significant load, sometimes one-off and often under various voice-jeopardizing conditions and situations (vocal indisposition, physical environment attributes, acoustic conditions, and other). Otherwise, their profession or their overall professional existence is at risk.

Methodology:
The contribution comprises a research analysis employing the questionnaire method and observation of university interpreting students, with emphasis placed on identifying the vocal and speech difficulties and knowledge of the prevention of voice disorders. A standardized VHI questionnaire has been developed to subjectively assess the quality of voice and another questionnaire verifies the extent of knowledge concerning the prevention of voice disorders.

Results and Conclusion:
The research results serve, among other, to facilitate identification of the education and enlightenment objectives in the sphere of vocal and speech prevention in interpreting students. Lectures focused, in particular, on the issue of prevention of vocal and speech difficulties in relation to the negative impact on the future profession of a foreign language interpreter in order to compliment the quality of education for this band of students.

Keywords:

Education, university preparation, prevention, interpreter, student, voice disorder, speech disorder.