From Practice to Research, and Back Again: Why Research Matters in Translation and Interpreting Practice

Dr Jing Fang, Senior Lecturer, Translation and Interpreting Program; NAATI Examiner (Chinese); NAATI Certified Translator (English<>Chinese); NAATI Certified Interpreter (Mandarin); Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia

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Abstract

Many students of translation and interpreting see theory as distant from practice. They often feel that their main goal is to develop practical skills, and that theoretical courses are only necessary for completing a degree or pursuing further academic study. However, this perceived divide is misleading. In reality, practice and research are closely connected and mutually dependent.

On the one hand, practice exposes real problems. These problems are often complex, context-bound, and not easily resolved through intuition alone. They provide meaningful starting points for research. On the other hand, research allows us to examine these problems more systematically. It helps us move beyond immediate reactions and develop deeper understanding, which can lead to more effective and informed solutions in practice.

In this talk, I will draw on examples from my own experience as a practitioner, a trainer and a researcher. These examples will show how practical challenges can be transformed into research questions, and how research insights can, in turn, reshape interpreting practice. The aim is to show that research is not a distraction from practice, but a valuable way to understand our own practice more deeply and more consciously, and ultimately to improve it.