EAR-VOICE SPAN IN

SIMULTANEOUS CONFERENCE

INTERPRETING EN-ES AND EN-NL

A CASE STUDY

Word count: 15.984

Elisa Robbe

Student number: 01508662

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Bart Defrancq

A dissertation submitted to Ghent University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

Master in Interpreting

Academic year: 2018 - 2019

Verklaring i.v.m. auteursrecht

De auteur en de promotor(en) geven de toelating deze studie als geheel voor consultatie

beschikbaar te stellen voor persoonlijk gebruik. Elk ander gebruik valt onder de beperkingen

van het auteursrecht, in het bijzonder met betrekking tot de verplichting de bron

uitdrukkelijk te vermelden bij het aanhalen van gegevens uit deze studie.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

At the beginning of this dissertation, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone

who contributed to this study and encouraged me to successfully complete this dissertation.

First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for my

supervisor Prof. Dr. Bart Defrancq who guided me through this process and whose feedback

and advise have proven very useful. I would also like to thank Camille Collard who helped

me with the EXMARaLDA software and Mathias Seghers for his assistance with regard to

my language use.

Secondly, I am very grateful to my parents who have given me the opportunity to study and

always supported me and, in particular, to my father for sharing his statistical knowledge with

me.

Finally, a sincere thanks to one of my fellow students, Eva Debo, for encouraging me and

putting everything into perspective whenever I was in doubt and to my roommates, Marie and

Inès, for always listening and supporting me when I needed someone to talk to.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of abbreviations .................................................................................................................9

List of figures.......................................................................................................................... 11

1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................13

2. Literature study ...............................................................................................................16

2.1. Conference Interpreting ...........................................................................................16

2.2. The Cognitive load of simultaneous interpreting.....................................................20

2.3. Ear-Voice Span .........................................................................................................24

2.4. Syntactic patterns (SVO/SOV) ................................................................................27

3. Data and Methodology ...................................................................................................33

3.1. Corpus study vs experimental study ........................................................................33

3.2. EPIC Ghent ..............................................................................................................35

3.3. EXMARaLDA .........................................................................................................37

3.4. Time tags ..................................................................................................................38

3.5. Analysis of the results ..............................................................................................40

4. Results ............................................................................................................................42

4.1. Descriptive analysis .................................................................................................42

4.2. Qualitative Analysis .................................................................................................45

4.2.1 Extremely long EVS .............................................................................................46

4.2.2 Anticipations .....................................................................................................58

5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................69

References ..............................................................................................................................73

APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................79

APPENDIX 1: English Source Text ...............................................................................79

APPENDIX 2: Spanish Interpretation ............................................................................89

APPENDIX 3: Dutch Interpretation .............................................................................100

8

9

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CI Consecutive interpreting

EN English

ES Español - Spanish

EVS Ear-Voice Span

ILO International Labour Organisation

LoN League of Nations

NL Nederlands – Dutch

SI Simultaneous interpreting

SL Source Language

SOV Subject Object Verb

ST Source Text

SVO Subject Verb Object

TL Target Language

TT Target Text

VSO Verb Subject Object

10

11

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 EXMARaLDA .................................................................................................. 37

Figure 2 EVS Frequency ................................................................................................. 43

Figure 3 EVS Evolution throughout the speech .............................................................. 44

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13

1. INTRODUCTION

The profession of interpreting is often regarded as one of the world’s oldest professions

(Baigorri & Mikkelson, 2014). The first mention of interpreters dates back to the time of

Ancient Egypt – in fact, Egyptian orthography featured a number of hieroglyphs to refer

to interpreters (Budge, 1978). The simultaneous form of interpreting in international

conferences, however, is a fairly young discipline within interpreting and was only

introduced during the 1920’s at the International Labour Organisation (Collard, 2019).

Today, interpreters are increasingly present in multilingual communicative settings.

Researchers first became interested in the field of interpreting studies in the 1960’s.

Pöchhacker (2010) stresses the importance of the role of research in interpreter training

and interpreting in general. He states that research is fundamental to gain a more profound

understanding of what interpreting entails as a phenomenon, and how it provides teachers

and students access to relevant knowledge for their respective practices. By conducting

research in this field, interpreter training is not only based on professional experience but

also on evidence-based research (Pöchhacker, 2010). Studies in this particular field of

science are predominantly conducted on the basis of an experimental design. Corpus-

based approaches, however, are gradually becoming more present even though an

experimental approach remains the prevalent method for this type of studies (Defrancq,

2015).

Within the field of interpreting studies, a fair number of studies have already been

conducted on the Ear-Voice Span (EVS) or décalage, the delay between the original

speaker and the interpreter. This lag is inherent to simultaneous interpretation, which

would not be (physically) possible without it (Gumul, 2004). The majority of EVS related

studies have centred around EVS length, mental processes that are linked to it and

different variables that might influence it (Defrancq, 2015). For example, EVS is said to

be influenced, amongst other factors, by the difference in word order between languages.

Several studies have indicated that EVS can be longer in particular language

combinations and that interpreters tend to wait for the verb (Lederer, 1981; Oléron &

Nanpon, 1965; Lee, 2002). According to Gile (2009), a difference in syntactic structure

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between source and target language might increase the memory processing requirements,

which in its turn might increase EVS. Additionally, Lee (2002) found that EVS is

influenced by speaker variables such as the structure of the source language.

Previous studies that have looked into the influence of a different word order or syntactic

structure between the source and target language have mainly focused on the difference

between SVO (subject-verb-object) and SOV (subject-object-verb) structures (Lederer,

1981; Oléron & Nanpon, 1965; Lee, 2002; Collard, Przybyl & Defrancq, 2019). In this

respect, Goldman-Eisler (1972) points out that the increase in EVS when interpreting

between SVO and SOV can be attributed to the position of the verb. The verb

predominantly occurs in final position in a SOV language, such as German and Dutch,

whereas the verb is placed earlier in a sentence in SVO languages such as English,

Spanish and French.

This syntactic difference might, thus, pose a challenge for interpreters. Depending on the

direction in which interpreters are working, from SVO into SOV or vice versa, they will

have to wait for either the verb or the object before they are able to start interpreting.

Interpreters working between languages with the same syntactic structure, e.g. from one

SVO language into another, do not experience this problem – the same word order can

simply be adopted in their interpretation. As a consequence, it could be stated that EVS

will be shorter when interpreting between languages with the same syntactic structure,

which is also in line with Oléron & Nanpon’s (1965) conclusions. They pointed out that

interpreters tend to have a shorter EVS when working from English into French (SVO-

SVO) as opposed to interpreting from German into French (SOV-SVO) (Oléron &

Nanpon, 1965).

Research on this topic has mainly focused on interpretations from SOV source languages

into SVO target languages (Collard et al., 2019). Collard (2019:162), however, states that

“word order differences may pose particular challenges to interpreters in both directions.”

Therefore, the aim of this study is to fill that gap and focus on SVO input (English) and

on both SVO and SOV output (Spanish and Dutch).

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Besides the characteristics of the source language, other aspects have been proven to have

a significant influence on EVS length. In 2015, Díaz-Galaz, Padilla & Bajo (2015),

conducted an experimental study to examine the influence of previous preparation on the

interpretation performance. They concluded that the interpreter’s previous preparation

can be linked to a shorter EVS and a more accurate delivery in the target language (Díaz-

Galaz, et al., 2015). In this respect, the use of documents might be an indicator of the

interpreter’s prior preparation.

Specifically, the objective of this study is to verify whether Dutch interpreters (SOV) have

a longer EVS than Spanish interpreters (SVO) when interpreting from an English source

text (SVO). This case-study will focus on a speech delivered by the American politician

Joe Biden at a plenary session in the European Parliament, and on the corresponding

interpretations into Dutch and Spanish. This study thus centres around two interpretations

of the same source text, one in the direction English-Spanish (SVO-SVO) and one in the

direction English-Dutch (SVO-SOV).

The rest of this paper is structured as follows. Chapter 2 outlines the theoretical

framework of this study, which consists of four main parts. The chapter comprises a

general outline of interpreting and, particularly, of conference interpreting (cf. 2.1), as

well as studies conducted on the cognitive load in interpreting (cf. 2.2), on EVS (cf. 2.3)

and on differences in syntax between languages (cf. 2.4). Chapter 3 provides an account

of and a motivation for the methodology and the data that have been used to answer the

research question. Next, the results are discussed thoroughly in Chapter 4. Lastly, the

conclusion to this study is formulated in Chapter 5.

Several researchers, such as Timarová, Dragsted & Hansen (2011), have specifically

expressed a need for further studies into EVS length and possible influential elements.

This corpus-based study therefore aims to contribute to the already existing interpreting

research on this topic.

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2. LITERATURE STUDY

The aim of this study is to compare the EVS of a Dutch interpreter with that of a Spanish

interpreter. In this chapter, the theoretical framework and previous research conducted in

the field of interpreting studies will be discussed. First, I will give an elaborate definition

of the interpretation process and the difference between interpreting and translating. In

addition to this, the two main modes of interpreting, simultaneous and consecutive

interpreting, will be distinguished and outlined. Secondly, I will discuss the cognitive

effort that is associated with simultaneous interpretation. Thirdly, the findings of previous

studies on EVS will be examined. Lastly, I will zoom in on the syntactic difference

between languages, more specifically on SVO and SOV structures, as well as the possible

influence of a source and target language with a different word order on EVS length.

2.1. Conference Interpreting

In the literature, numerous definitions have been offered about the concept of interpreting.

The International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC, 2012) defines

interpreting as conveying a spoken message from one language to another. The spoken

language use immediately points out the main difference between interpreting and

translating. Contrary to interpreting, translating is the transformation of a written message

from one language to another. Kade (1968) does not focus on the spoken element of

interpretation (even though he mentions it) but makes a distinction between translation

and interpretation predominantly on the basis of the volatile nature (interpreters can only

hear the source text once), the time pressure and the fact that interpreters cannot correct

their own utterances. Strictly speaking, they can reformulate utterances and correct

themselves but this leads to confusion and annoyance for the listener and might create an

excessive delay on the original speaker.

“Unter Dolmetschen verstehen wir die Translation eines einmalig (in der Regel

mündlich) dargebotenen Textes der Ausgangssprache in einen nur bedingt

konrolierbaren und infolge Zeitmangels kaum korrigierbaren Text der

Zielsprache.” (Kade, 1968:35)

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Based on Kades definition, Pöchhacker (2016) represents the difference between

interpretation and translation with immediacy:

“Within the conceptual structure of Translation, interpreting can be

distinguished from other types of translational activity most succinctly by its

immediacy.” (Pöchhacker, 2016:10)

Both Kade’s (1968) and Pöchhacker’s (2016) definitions are more elaborated than the

definition of the AIIC (2012) since they also refer to non-oral and non-spoken forms of

interpretation such as interpretation into sign languages.

In the early days of interpreting studies, the interpreting process was tackled by adopting

a normative and cognitive approach (Gerver, 1969; Lederer, 1978; Seleskovitch &

Lederer, 1989). Interpreting was traditionally presented according to the conduit-model

which did not embed language use into a specific context. This model states that only the

sense of the original discourse (discours original) should be conveyed to obtain an

accurate interpreted discourse (discours interpretée). Structure and form of the original

should not be taken into account. This process is also known as déverbalisation (Lederer,

1978). According to this model, we can speak of a good interpretation when the process

of déverbalisation is applied by the interpreter. If an interpreter holds on to the structure

of the source text (ST), another process occurs: transcodage. According to Lederer &

Seleskovitch (1989), this is an unconscious and automatic reaction. Lederer (1981) even

argues that transcodage indicates a lack of profound understanding of the source text, as

a result of which interpreters use a word-for-word translation.

The conduit-model, is merely a textual approach to interpretation. According to this

model, the speaker of the original discourse holds a monopoly over what is being said in

the conversation (Lederer, 1978), turning the interpreter into a passive participant of the

conversation. Only the speaker determines the topic of the conversation and only the

speaker is able to control the outcome of the conversation. The interpreter simply has to

18

translate the meaning and has no influence on the conversation. A more modern

definition, however, has been constructed during the nineties.

Pöchhacker (1995) and Wadensjö (1998) look at the interpreting process from a more

social and pragmatic point of view. They regard an interpreted conversation as an

interpreter-mediated talk (Wadensjö, 1998). Interpreters have a certain influence on the

meaning of the source text and on what is being said: they are co-constructors of meaning.

In this model, interpreters are said to fulfil an additional role besides interpreting. They

are also regarded as interlingual mediators between the conversation partners with

different linguistic backgrounds and should coordinate the conversation to ensure no

misunderstandings occur. In this way, the conversation is no dialogue but an interaction

between three or more persons, a triadic conversation (Wadensjö, 1998).

The first approach or conduit-model of Seleskovitch & Lederer (1989) can be associated

with simultaneous interpretation in international conferences, whereas the second and

social approach corresponds with interpretation in social contexts such as in hospitals and

court rooms.

Depending on the mode, two types of interpretation can be distinguished: simultaneous

interpretation (SI) and consecutive interpretation (CI). Kohn & Kalina (1996) give an

extensive definition of both interpreting types. Consecutive interpretation is a form of

interpretation in which interpreters first listen to the entire discourse or complete

segments of a discourse of approximately three to ten minutes. After the source text

production, interpreters will render their interpretation. They can apply certain

instruments to facilitate this process: their memory and notes. In brief, the interpreter does

not produce the target text (TT) immediately. In simultaneous interpreting, interpreters

produce their interpreted version while listening to the source text, in other words, while

the source text is still being produced. Between the original discourse and the utterance

of the interpreter, a time lag of approximately two to three seconds can be observed: the

so-called Ear-Voice Span (EVS) (cf. 2.3). A similar lag can also be found in CI, the Ear-

Pen Span (Setton & Dawrant, 2016). In that case, the delay is defined as the lag between

the onset of a ST item and the moment when interpreters write down a symbol,

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abbreviation or word in their notes referring to that ST item. This dissertation will focus

on EVS in simultaneous interpreting, more specifically in conference interpreting in the

European Parliament.

The beginning of SI can be situated along with the rise of conference interpreting. After

the first World War, English emerged as a global language besides French. Therefore,

conference interpreters worked mainly between those two languages. In the aftermath of

the first World War, the conference speeches at the International Labour Organisation

(ILO) and at the League of Nations (LoN), the precursor of the United Nations, were

interpreted consecutively. Conference interpreters in those days such as Paul Mantoux,

started practicing this profession by chance and came from many different backgrounds.

They were often natural polyglots who were deployed as interpreters during the first

World War. They already acquired the ability to speak different languages during their

childhood or during their studies and the war, thus, acted as a school to master specific

interpreting techniques (Baigorri & Mikkelson, 2014). The consecutive mode during the

conferences at the ILO and the LoN, however, was very time-consuming, not spontaneous

and rather annoying for the audience to listen to. As a result, a series of experiments with

SI initiated by Edward Filene, an American business man and philanthropist, were

conducted in 1925 at the International Labour Conference. At first, these experiments

were criticised by conference interpreters who were used to interpret consecutively.

According to some researchers, speaking and listening simultaneously was initially

regarded as impossible for the human brain and, thus, not feasible (Setton, 1999).

However, after the Second World War, during the Nuremberg trials against the Nazi

leaders, SI was preferable to CI seeing that the trials needed to be processed as quickly as

possible. The Nuremberg trials, conducted by the International Military Tribunal to hear

the Nazi leaders, all took place between November 1945 and October 1946 (Baigorri &

Mikkelson, 2014). Even though many people were still sceptic about SI, from this

moment on, SI has become ubiquitous in international and supranational institutions such

as the European Union and the United Nations. Conference interpreting is the most

common method used in these types of institutions in which

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“…interpreters in a sound-proof booth with headsets, control consoles and

microphones, and with a direct view on the meeting room, deliver versions of the

discourse in different languages ‘on line’ with a lag of a few seconds, alternating

every 20 to 30 minutes or as speakers take turns on the conference floor.” (Setton,

1999:1)

2.2. The Cognitive load of simultaneous interpreting

According to some researchers,

“the ability to listen in one language while speaking in another is usually regarded

as one of the most spectacular and mysterious aspects of simultaneous

interpreting.” (Setton, 1999:27)

Interpreting is a very labour-intensive and time-consuming task. Both students and

seasoned professional interpreters perceive interpreting as fundamentally difficult.

Omissions and errors often occur in interpreting performances of both students and

professionals (Gile, 2009). Since interpreting is so challenging, it requires, among other

components, a great effort from interpreters’ memories, more specifically from the short-

term memory. According to Lv & Liang (2019) the amount of cognitive load would be

similar in SI and CI. The concept of working memory, which comes from the field of

cognitive psychology, has become prevalent in interpreting studies (Gile, 2009). The

concept is used to describe the capacity to process information for a limited amount of

time, while simultaneously carrying out other mental tasks on the same information

(Timarová et al., 2014). The most influential working memory model in the field of

cognitive science was constituted by Baddeley & Hitch (1974). This model has later been

further elaborated by Baddeley (2000). It is a dynamic approach to the working memory

capacity.

According to this model (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974; Baddeley, 2000), four different

components can be distinguished: a central executive, a phonological loop, an episodic

buffer and a visuo-spatial sketchpad. They function independently but are still interwoven

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with one another (Timarová, et al., 2014). The central executive is situated on a higher,

comprehensive level and allocates the amount of attention that is allotted to one of the

three other segments. The phonological loop stores auditory information by letting it

resonate for less than a few seconds. The sound is than repeated by a mechanism,

articulatory rehearsal, in our brain. This function is disturbed when interpreting

simultaneously because the interpreter listens and speaks at the same time, which causes

articulatory suppression (Baddeley, 2000). The visuo-spatial sketchpad is responsible for

storing visual and spatial information and would be mainly present in the right

hemisphere. The episodic buffer is the component that was added most recently by

Baddeley (2000). It is a temporary storage system that can integrate information from

different sources into unities of meaning.

Timarová et al. (2014) investigated the possibility of a connection between the central

executive and SI and tried to “explore the relation between higher working memory

capacity and a better overall interpreting performance” (Timarová et al., 2014:160). The

study concluded that a relationship between the central executive of working memory and

SI exists. Different functions of that central executive can be linked to different aspects

of SI (EVS, syntax, speed, etc.). All central executive functions are related to the ability

to focus attention where needed. Timarová et al. (2014), thus, stress the importance of

attentional control in SI. For example, they (Timarová et al., 2014) point out that a short

Ear-Voice Span leads to a more accurate interpretation of numbers. A shorter EVS,

however, requires the interpreter’s capability to shift efficiently between several memory

tasks.

Also Gile (1995) conducted research on the working memory capacity of interpreters and

established the Effort Model for SI. He considered cognitive load as an explanation for

interpretation errors. Since interpreters usually have a foreign language as a B language,

insufficient understanding of the ST should not be regarded as the only reason for

omissions and errors in interpretation performances (Gile, 2009). Therefore, Gile (1995)

developed an Effort Model to gain a more profound insight in the reasons behind

interpreter’s errors and omissions and to find ways to help overcome specific difficulties.

The Effort Model divides the interpretation process into four different stages or efforts:

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the Listening and Analysis effort (L), the Production effort (P), the Memory effort (M)

and the Coordination effort (C). The Listening and Analysis effort entails all

comprehension processes: hearing a word that is uttered by the original speaker, the

identification of a word and attributing a meaning to it. This effort goes much further than

simple word recognition. Interpreters apply their knowledge of the world to interpret

words and phrases. That contextual knowledge is the most important difference between

human interpreters and machine interpretation. Humans are able to embed words and

phrases into an extra-linguistic context, something which machines are not (yet) able to

do. The Memory effort or short-term memory effort is regarded as a storage unit where

words or phrases can be stored temporarily until the interpreter can use them in the TL.

EVS is inherent to simultaneous interpretation. Without a delay between the original

speaker and the interpreter, interpretation would be impossible (Gumul, 2004). Due to

several elements such as language combinations and word order some ST items will have

to be stored in the short-term memory for a greater amount of time before the interpreter

will be able to use them. The Production effort refers to the production or output of a TL

item. This includes self-monitoring and self-repairs. Lastly, the Coordination effort

represents the ability to divide the available processing capacity between the three other

efforts, given that the available processing capacity is limited. According to Gile’s model,

the interpretation process should, thus, be regarded as the following equation:

“SI = L + P + M + C” (Gile, 2009:168)

Each ST item uttered by the original speaker is first analysed (L), then temporarily stored

into the short-term memory and eventually transferred into a TL alternative (or omitted).

According to Gile (1995), the availability of the total capacity and the capacity for every

separate effort are limited. The fact that interpreters constantly work close to their

saturation level, makes it more difficult to equally divide the processing capacity between

the three efforts. Interpreting problems arise when the total processing capacity surmounts

the available capacity. In that case, an excessive information load occurs, which results

in errors and omissions in the TL. This theory is also referred to as the tightrope

hypothesis. In this respect, Gile (1995; 1999) regards EVS as evidence for the existence

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of the Effort Model and how the different efforts are related to one another. The more

attention interpreters spend on one effort the lesser attention they can spend on another

effort. A longer EVS, for example, implies that interpreters are more concerned with the

Listening effort than with the Production effort (Defrancq, 2015). Evidence for the

tightrope hypothesis theory, however, is largely anecdotal and barely based on empirical

research (Gile, 2009; Collard, 2019). Furthermore, Gile (2009) states that his Effort

Model is meant for didactic purposes and that it is not a theory fit to be tested. In spite of

this critique, the Effort Model has been widely used among researchers in the field of

cognitive processes in interpreting.

Aside from the availability of processing capacity, other factors might have an influence

on the cognitive load of SI. Figures and numbers, for example, seem to be particularly

challenging for interpreters and are therefore often omitted or interpreted incorrectly

(Collard, 2019). In addition, SI does not allow interpreters to control the flow or sequence

of the source text which makes it more difficult to interpret on the spot. Interpreters are

also said to monitor their own speech even during TL production (Lee, 2002). According

to Chernov (1994), interpreters listen to the ST and produce TL items simultaneously for

almost 70% of the time during SI.

This paragraph discussed several studies and their findings on the cognitive load that SI

entails, which is particularly interesting for this study since EVS can be closely associated

to the working memory capacity of interpreters. EVS has been indicated as a possible

reflection of the mental processes taking place in the minds of interpreters from the

moment they hear a ST item until they produce a lexical equivalent in the TT (Collard,

2019). According to Gumul & Lyda (2007:165), “interpretation is inextricably linked to

and dependent on time”. The fact that interpreters cannot control the speed at which the

original discourse is delivered, adds time pressure, which affects the management of the

limited availability of processing capacity. To cope with the time pressure and the limited

availability of processing capacity, interpreters can resort to several strategies (cf. 2.4).

One of the strategies most frequently used is EVS regulation, which allows interpreters

to have a certain control over the processing capacity management (Gumul & Lyda,

2007). It should be taken into account, however, that increasing and shortening EVS

entails several risks (cf. 2.3).

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2.3. Ear-Voice Span

Ear-Voice Span (EVS) or décalage refers to the delay the interpreter builds up with

respect to the original speaker, or, in other words, the lag between the original speaker’s

words and the interpreter’s rendition. Ever since Paneth (1957) first spoke of the lag

between the original speaker and the interpreter, it has become one of the most

investigated aspects of interpreting, and more specifically of simultaneous interpreting.

One of the reasons for that is the fact that this SI variable can be easily converted into

quantitative research data (Lee, 2002). EVS is commonly measured in seconds: while

most researchers agree on a length of approximately 2 to 4 seconds (Lederer, 1978; Barik,

1973; Paneth, 1957), Oléron & Nanpon (1965) measured a longer EVS of as high as 10

seconds. EVS can also be measured in words; Gerver (1969), for example, found a lag of

approximately 4 to 5 words. The latter method, however, is not recommended due to the

large discrepancies in terms of word length and word compositions between languages

(Setton, 1999). In addition, SL words are sometimes interpreted into sentences in the TL

and vice versa (Lederer, 1981).

According to Lederer (1978), EVS is an indicator of an interpreting process taking place.

In fact, the delay between the onset of a SL item and that of an equivalent in the TL is a

reflection of the interpreter’s thought process behind the rendition of the original

speaker’s words in the TL. In terms of EVS, Chirstoffels & De Groot (2004) found a

significant difference between shadowing, the verbal repetition of what is heard, and

interpreting: in shadowing an average EVS of one second could be found whereas the lag

in interpreting was approximately two to three seconds, which is in line with the results

of other studies on EVS. The fact that interpreters have no control over the speed or flow

of the original text, combined with the heavy processing load make the process of SI

notably complicated. In comparison, shadowing does not require the same amount of

cognitive work (De Groot, 1997). The lag between the original speaker and the interpreter

is only a short period of time, in which interpreters have to carry out heavy information

processing (Lee, 2002): EVS equals the cognitive process of listening to and processing

the input of the ST and converting that into an equivalent in the TT. Therefore, measuring

25

EVS is a way of researching how interpreters deal with the SL flow and the cognitively

challenging task of SI (Yagi, 2000).

Researchers do not always coincide on the appropriate length of the EVS, which appears

to be subject to personal preference. De Groot (1997) argues that EVS should be as short

as possible, given that a longer EVS requires interpreters to remember more information,

which may cause them to lag too far behind with respect to the original speaker.

According to Timarová et al. (2014), a shorter EVS is also preferable when interpreting

numbers (cf. 2.2). Whereas longer EVS may also increase the risk of omissions (Gile,

1995; Barik, 1973; Anderson, 1994), shorter EVS might lead to a less profound

understanding of the source text, inducing transcodage and literal meaning translations

in the process. However, in a subcorpus of 150 minutes in total, Defrancq (2015) did not

find more transcodage or repairs in interpretations respectively characterized by shorter

or longer EVS. However, he did find a significantly shorter EVS in the use of cognates,

TL items similar in sound to SL items (Defrancq, 2015). EVS can also become negative

on certain specific occasions, in which case the interpreter anticipates the original

speaker’s words. Results in terms of the number of anticipations found seem to differ

across studies: while Lederer (1981), for instance, counted 78 anticipations in a corpus of

110 minutes, Defrancq (2013) found only one in a similar corpus of 150 minutes. Also

Gevaert & Vandepitte (2005), did not observe any anticipations in a corpus of Dutch

interpretations from English and Spanish source texts. Van Besien (1999), on the

contrary, observed one anticipation every 85 seconds.

Interesting to note is the discussion generated by studies conducted on the influence of

gender on EVS length. Some studies (Baes, 2012; Defrancq, 2013; Collard & Defrancq,

2016) argue that women tend to have longer EVS than men, which could be explained by

their higher scores on memory tasks (Maitland, Herlitz, Nyberg, Bäckman & Nilsson,

2004; Kimura & Seal, 2003). This theory, however, has been disproved by Collard

(2019:7), whose results “show that sex is not a significant predictor of the Ear-Voice

Span”.

26

Goldman-Eisler (1972) argues that interpreters wait for certain elements before they start

to produce lexical equivalents in the TL. In this respect, noun and verb phrases are

essential elements interpreters need to fully grasp the meaning of the ST and, thus, be

able to start producing TL items. Kade & Cartellieri (1971) point out that interpreters feel

confident enough to start interpreting once they have resolved potential ambiguities.

EVS is always embedded in a certain context, which implies that various contextual

elements can affect EVS length. These elements have been a central point of research in

EVS studies (Defrancq, 2015). Several speaker variables, such as pauses, sentence length

and density may affect EVS length, while EVS in turn influences interpreter variables. A

longer EVS, for example, might cause the interpreter to speak more quickly in order to

catch up with the original speaker and avoid excessive backlog. A longer EVS may also

lead to longer sentences, which demonstrates that the output depends on the flow of the

source text (Lee, 2002). Variables that can have an impact on EVS length itself are, for

example, speech delivery rate, information density, the discourse type, the interpreter’s

experience and idiosyncratic preferences (Yagi, 2000). In terms of speech delivery rate,

both the speech rate of the original speaker and the interpreter can have an influence on

EVS. According to Seleskovitch (1996), a speech rate of about 100-120 words per minute

is the ideal delivery rate for an interpreter. Also the language the interpreter speaks might

have an effect on EVS since the daily speech rate can differ according to the language or

dialect (Verhoeven, et al., 2004). Additionally, the interpreter’s preparation in advance

(Díaz-Galaz, et al., 2015) may have an influence on EVS length. Interpreters working for

the European Union are expected to be prepared when interpreting at a conference (AIIC,

2004) to ensure qualitative and accurate interpretations. According to Díaz-Galaz et al.

(2015), the interpreter’s preparation might even make it easier to anticipate or predict

information uttered by the original speaker. Lastly, certain language pairs (Goldman-

Eisler, 1972) are said to have an impact on EVS. When interpreters are to interpret

between languages with a different word order, they will have to implement certain

strategies (cf. 2.4) to keep up with the memory task that SI entails as well as the delivery

of an idiomatic alternative in the TL (Collard, 2019). Furthermore, Gile (1997) and

Lederer (1981) state that differences in terms of syntactic structure between two

languages may lead to an increase in the cognitive burden and the information processing

27

load, as mentioned above (cf. 2.2). This study will focus on the syntactic characteristics

of languages and language pairs, more specifically on the difference between SVO and

SOV languages.

2.4. Syntactic patterns (SVO/SOV)

Syntactic structure and word order are not the same across all languages. On the contrary,

syntax and word patterns are linguistic components that can vary from one language to

another. As mentioned above, some researchers, such as Lederer (1978), have established

a link between language pairs and the length of EVS. Also Oléron and Nanpon (1965)

found a relationship between the different language structures and EVS. According to one

of their studies (Oléron & Nanpon, 1965), interpreters usually have a longer EVS when

interpreting from German (SOV) into French (SVO), two languages with a different

syntactic structure, than when interpreting from English (SVO) into French (SVO), two

languages with the same syntactic pattern. This explains why interpreters are said to need

coping strategies in the context of languages with a different word order. Also Christoffels

(2004) argues that the more languages differ from one another, the more challenging it is

to interpret between those languages. Some language combinations, thus, require more

cognitive effort.

In terms of the syntactic structure of a language, a typology has been elaborated to

distinguish languages from one another based on the order of the subject (S), the object

(O) and the verb (V) in a sentence. Greenberg (1963) argues that the most common types

characterising a language are SVO, SOV and VSO. In this study the difference between

SVO and SOV will be examined more thoroughly in relation to EVS.

Dutch (NL) generally falls under the category of SOV languages (Subject – Object –

Verb) (Stein & Gerritsen, 1992). However, it is not an easy language to classify since the

Dutch word order can be either VO, OV or even SVOV in finite clauses containing an

auxiliary (Zwart, 2011). Although the SOV structure is the most common one, the Dutch

language carries some features of SVO languages such as the fact that adjectives and

prepositions precede the noun (De Schutter, 1994). In view of these characteristics, De

28

Schutter (1994:466) concludes that Dutch is a “moderately verb-final (SOV) language”.

Finite main clauses, for example, with only one verb form do not follow the common

SOV structure. In this case, the finite verb form carries the lexical information and comes

in mid position after the subject and before the object (SVO) (see example 1). In other

cases, the SOV structure implies that, on the one hand, the auxiliary or finite verb form,

the functional part of the verb (carrying time, aspect and modality markers), and the non-

finite verb form, the lexical core, predominantly do not immediately follow each other in

a sentence (SVOV) (Vanderstraeten, 2008). In this way a discontinuous construction is

created, dividing the sentence into different fields (a pre-field, a middle field and an after

field) marked by two poles: the finite verb form or auxiliary comes in mid position (the

first pole), carrying information about the subject; and the non-finite verb form comes in

final position (the second pole), carrying the semantic information (see example 2). The

non-finite verb form containing semantic information is of crucial importance to the

interpreter (Bevilacqua, 2009). In Dutch, the middle field is the standard position for

clausal constituents. It should be noted, however, that some of these constituents can also

be placed to the after field (see example 3). This is called extraposition and is common

practice when the constituents tend to be long and complex (Collard et al., 2019). On the

other hand, the finite verb containing lexical information can also occur in final position.

This is the case in subordinate clauses in Dutch (Bevilacqua, 2009) (see example 4).

(1) (NL) Zij koopt een boek.

She buys a book.

(2) (NL) Zij wil vandaag in de winkel een nieuw boek kopen.

*She wants today in the store a new book to buy

Zij wil vandaag in de winkel een nieuw boek kopen

pre-field first pole middle field second pole after field

(empty)

(3) (NL) Zij wil vandaag een nieuw boek kopen in de winkel

*She wants today a new book to buy in the store

29

(4) (NL) Zij zegt [dat ze een boek koopt]1.

*She says[that she a book buys].

Spanish (4,5,6) (ES) and English (7,8) (EN) are mainly considered SVO languages

(Subject – Verb – Object), which implies that the auxiliary or finite verb form and non-

finite verb form usually appear together in a sentence in mid position immediately after

the subject (Vanderstraeten, 2008).

(4) (ES) La mujer compra un libro

The woman buys a book

(5) (ES) La mujer quiere comprar un libro

The woman wants to buy a book

(6) (ES) La mujer dice que quiere comprar un libro

The woman says she wants to buy a book

(7) (EN) The woman has been reading a book

(8) (EN) She says that she has been reading a book

These syntactical differences pose a challenge for interpreters (Setton 1999). If the SL

and TL have a similar syntactic structure, the interpreter can simply adapt the same

structure in the TL production. When the SL and TL have a different word order,

however, the interpreter will have to reorganise certain constituents, taking into account

the grammar of both the SL and the TL, in order to produce an idiomatically correct

alternative of the SL in the TL (Vanderstraeten, 2008). Interpreting between languages

with a different word order, such as SVO and SOV, is, therefore, also likely to increase

the cognitive load. Interpreters will need a higher working memory capacity because they

will need to hold on to certain constituents in the mind. This increases the cognitive load

for the interpreter (Lee, 2002). Plevoets & Defrancq (2018), however, found that lexical

complexity poses a greater challenge for interpreters than syntactic difficulties.

1 The clause between square brackets […] is the subordinate clause

30

Lee (2002) found an average EVS length of three seconds in interpretations in English

into Korean, respectively an SVO and an SOV language. This result is in line with

previous research on EVS. In addition, he concluded that EVS was longer in longer

sentences and shorter in shorter sentences, which could be explained by the increased

complexity in longer sentences.

Kim (2005) conducted comparative research on EVS length between two different

language combinations with a different syntactic pattern: Korean – Japanese (SOV –

SOV) and Korean – Chinese (SOV – SVO). Because of this syntactic difference and the

fact that Korean and Japanese belong to the same language family, while Chinese belongs

to another one, led to the following hypothesis: EVS of Korean – Japanese will be shorter

than that of Korean – Chinese. With a difference of only 0,2 seconds, however, the

findings, were statistically not significant. The Korean – Japanese interpretations had an

average EVS of 1,58 seconds and the Korean – Chinese interpretations had a lag of 1,78

seconds.

As Kim (2005), De Baets (2018) also studied EVS between language combinations

characterised by a different syntax and word order. She did a comparative analysis

between EVS lengths of Dutch – French (SOV – SVO) and Dutch – German (SOV –

SOV) conference interpretations at the European Parliament. The findings of her study

refuted the hypothesis that EVS would be longer in Dutch – French interpretations than

in Dutch – German interpretations. EVS was in fact systematically longer in Dutch –

German interpretations. This could be explained by the few SOV structures in the Dutch

source texts.

To overcome the difficulty of language pairs with a different syntax, interpreters can opt

for several strategies. Vanderstraeten (2008) indicates that two different strategies exist:

a form-based strategy and a meaning-based strategy. In the case of a form-based strategy,

interpreters will maintain the SL structure, whereas interpreters will focus on SL meaning

when applying the meaning-based strategy. Dam (1998) found in her study on lexical

similarity and dissimilarity that the form-based strategy is more common. This could be

explained because of the time constraint in SI. Form-based and meaning-based strategies,

31

however, did occur together in the corpus (containing texts with different difficulty levels)

analysed by Dam (1998), which demonstrates that both strategies are not completely

separated from one another but rather complement one another.

According to Collard et al. (2019), interpreters will find themselves in a quandary and

will have to make a choice between two main options: anticipation or waiting.

Anticipation increases the risk for semantic errors and for resumptions, whereas waiting

increases the risk for omissions and an excessive EVS. In terms of EVS, Krogh (2000),

states that interpreters will generally try to keep EVS as short as possible but that a longer

EVS is sometimes inevitable if they have to wait for the verb of the object and still want

to acquire sufficient understanding of the source text.

Bevilacqua (2009) identified four different strategies based on SOV input (German and

Dutch): Anticipation, reformulation, compressions and omissions. Also Seeber (2011)

distinguished four different strategies used by interpreters interpreting from an SOV

language into an SVO language: waiting, stalling, chunking and anticipating. The waiting

strategy implies that interpreters will stop producing TL items to receive more ST input.

As a result, the cognitive load will be reduced but EVS will increase. The second strategy,

stalling, is similar to waiting. While waiting results in silence, interpreters will fill the

silence by speaking without giving additional information when stalling. This strategy

also increases EVS. When interpreters apply the chunking strategy, they will divide the

input into smaller segments so that they will not have to wait for the entire sentence. The

last strategy, anticipation, refers to the fact that interpreters will predict what the original

speaker will say on the basis of linguistic and extralinguistic cues (Bevilacqua, 2009). In

that way, they will be anticipating on the original speaker. The anticipation strategy comes

with a higher risk of errors and omissions and, as stated above (cf. 2.3), this strategy will

result in a negative EVS. Lederer (1981), however, states that we can also speak of

anticipation when the original speaker and the interpreter produce lexical equivalents at

the same time. Whenever this occurs, it can be assumed that the interpreter has not had

the time to listen and process the original and produce a TL alternative. Lederer (1981)

calls this specific case of anticipation freewheeling interpretation. According to Van

Besien (1999), anticipation is a strategy linked to specific language pairs. In a corpus of

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French interpretations from German input texts, he found one anticipation every 85

seconds (cf. 2.3). Van Besien (1999) argues that anticipations can thus be linked to the

syntactic difference between German (SOV) and French (SVO). He explains this by the

fact that in the majority of the anticipations, verbs were anticipated. Apart from these

structural anticipation, as described by Van Besien (1999), anticipations can also be

triggered by certain source text items such as words and word combinations, according

to Wills (1978). Such word combinations are, for example, frequently used collocations

and idiomatic expressions.

Little research has been conducted on the use of strategies when interpreting from a SVO

language into a SOV language. It is mainly considered less challenging to interpret from

SVO into SOV than vice versa. With a SVO language as input, the interpreter only has to

remember the verb. If the input language, on the contrary, is a SOV language, interpreters

have to remember the object, which is generally longer than a verb. Collard et al. (2019),

however, state that interpreting between SVO and SOV can increase the cognitive load

in both directions. Thus, interpreting into a SOV language can pose particular cognitive

challenges as well. Interpreters, for example, will have to remember subject features to

ensure the right SO agreement (Collard et al., 2019). Collard et al. (2019) investigated

which strategies the interpreter uses when interpreting into SOV languages (German and

Dutch) with a SVO input language. They found that interpreters use extraposition to

unload their memory. Extraposition is known as the strategy to put certain constituents

after the verb and place them to the after field to produce the verb as soon as possible and

thereby hold on to the SVO word order of the source language. It is a means to shorten

the verbal brace. This strategy is more frequently used by Dutch interpreters than by

German interpreters and remains an exception to the rule.

This theoretical framework has presented the findings of previous studies on cognitive

load and working memory capacity in SI, on EVS in SI and on SVO-SOV structures.

Against this background, the hypothesis on a difference in EVS length is that the Ear-

Voice Span of the Dutch interpreter will be longer than that of the Spanish interpreter.

33

3. DATA AND METHODOLOGY

This study will compare the EVS between two different language pairs. The EVS of a

Dutch and Spanish interpreter, both interpreting from the same English input text, will be

measured. The aim of this study is to establish which interpreter presents the longest EVS

and whether the difference between SVO and SOV languages has an influence on EVS

length. This chapter will give an overview and motivation of the data and methodology

used to obtain the results.

3.1. Corpus study vs experimental study

Interpreting studies have been conducted on the basis of different types of approaches. A

large majority of interpreting studies and, more specifically, studies on EVS, have adopted

an experimental design (Defrancq, 2015). Experimental research allows researchers to

isolate certain variables and study a causal link between those variables (Collard, 2019).

Several researchers, however, have expressed their doubts and formulated a few

disadvantages of an experimental approach. Collard (2019), for example, has pointed out

that the sample sizes are often too small since it is rather difficult to find professional

interpreters willing to participate in interpreting studies. Academic researchers, therefore,

often use their students as subjects for their studies. Students can generate useful and

reliable results but differences have been identified between the performances of students

and professional interpreters (Collard, 2019), as has been demonstrated by a study of

Barik (1975). As a consequence, the findings of research carried out with students cannot

simply be generalized to professional interpreters. In addition to this, Shlesinger (1998)

stated that an experimental design implies an artificial setting. An experimental research

requires a carefully controlled setting. This requirement, however, entails that these

experimental settings in which interpreters are studied are artificial and not representative

of real-life situations. In this type of setting, interpreters are not interpreting for an

audience, which might have an influence on their performance. Moreover, interpreters

will often work alone while interpreters usually work in pairs in a booth at conferences.

In that way, they are able to help each other. Interpreters have even developed certain

34

strategies during their interpreter training to assist each other in a booth in an efficient

way when difficulties, such as the interpretation of numbers, should arise (Collard, 2019).

In contrast to experimental data that have been collected from a created setting, corpus-

data are retrieved from a naturalistic setting (Defrancq, 2015). In fact, “corpora are

typically designed to do justice to the variety of linguistic phenomena and paralinguistic

conditions that are representative of language in use” (Defrancq, 2015:29). Moreover,

those interpretations are carried out by professional interpreters and not by students.

A corpus-based approach was already adopted in translation studies during the nineties.

In interpreting studies, corpora have not yet gained the same popular status. Corpora used

in interpreting studies are still fairly small because creating such a corpus takes up a

significant amount of time. Moreover, these corpora are mainly retrieved from plenary

sittings in the European Parliament as a result of which they do not offer a representative

view of interpretation in other contexts. Many researchers, however, believe that the

interest in corpus-based interpreting research will only continue to grow (Collard, 2019).

The first corpus for SI was created at the University of Bologna (Bendazzoli & Sandrelli,

2005) based on interpretations at the European Parliament. The aim of the European

Parliament Interpreting Corpus (EPIC) was to study language combinations and

directionality as well as interpreters’ strategies and interpreting norms. This material can

additionally be used for educational and pedagogical purposes such as for listening

comprehension exercises and pronunciation exercises. Later, the universities of Rome,

Hamburg and Trieste followed the example of the University of Bologna and began

composing corpora, similarly to EPIC, for the purpose of corpus-based interpreting

studies (Defrancq, 2015).

For this study, a corpus-based approach was adopted considering several advantages.

First, this study requires specific language pairs (SVO-SVO, SVO-SOV) to compare the

languages’ structure and their influence on EVS length. Finding interpreters willing to

participate in an experimental study is not easy, let alone finding the appropriate

interpreters for the specific language combinations that this study requires. Unlike an

35

experiment, a corpus containing speeches from the European Parliament includes a wide

variety of language combinations one simply has to choose from. Second, the real-life

naturalistic setting of a corpus study is preferable to the created, artificial setting of an

experimental study, which is often not representative of the interpreting conditions in the

European Parliament. Corpus data, thus, illustrate a realistic, institutional setting in which

conference interpreters are used. Thirdly, the fact that the corpus data are retrieved from

real plenary sittings in the European Parliament ensure that the interpreters are

experienced professionals who all took an accreditation test, which in its turn ensures

qualitative interpretations.

The data used in this study were extracted from the EPIC Ghent Corpus, which will be

commented on in the next section (cf. 3.2).

3.2. EPIC Ghent

EPIC Ghent is an open corpus developed at the University of Ghent containing speeches

delivered at the European Parliament during plenary sessions. Every speech is

accompanied by the corresponding interpreted versions in the official languages of the

European Union. Currently, the corpus, compiled at the University of Ghent, includes

speeches and accompanying interpretations in Dutch, English, French and a few in

Spanish. The speeches and the interpretations are recorded, transcribed and time-tagged

(Collard, 2019).

For this study, a speech delivered in English by Joe Biden in 2010 was used. The speech

concerning the benefits of the cooperation between the United States of America and

Europe lasts 27 minutes and 24 seconds. The video was downloaded from the website of

the European Parliament and contains 23 audio channels, one for the original in English

and 22 other channels for the interpretations. Monolingual audio files needed for this

study were, therefore, separated from the 23 original audio channels. By using the tool,

Handbrake, an open video transcoder, three monolingual video files were extracted from

36

the original multilingual file, one for the original, English, and one for each interpretation

used in this study, Dutch and Spanish.

To obtain the audio files, VLC Media Player was used, a programme which allows video

files to be converted into audio files. Finally, to prepare the files for transcription, the two

audio files containing an interpreted version, both Dutch and Spanish, needed to be

aligned with the original English audio channel. In order to do this, the programme Reaper

was used, which allows the combination of two monolingual files to create a bilingual

file with two audio channels. At that moment, two bilingual audio files (EN – NL & EN

– SP) were ready to be transcribed by means of the programme EXMARaLDA Partitur

Editor.

As stated in the theoretical framework in chapter two, different variables can have an

influence on the interpretation performance and EVS. In this particular study, however,

speaker and discourse variables should not have an influence since they are the same for

both interpreters. Besides speaker and discourse variables, personal variables of the

interpreters, such as idiosyncratic preferences and experience can differ from one

interpreter to another. Except for gender, no meta-data of the studied interpreters were

available. In the European Parliament, however, interpreters are employed according to

specific rules of the EU institutions: all interpreters are professionals who have worked

for at least one hundred fifty days as conference interpreters, they interpret to their native

language, they all enjoyed an interpreter training and are accredited (AIIC, 2000).

Moreover, they all use the same equipment. In terms of gender, the Dutch interpreter is a

woman, whereas the Spanish interpreter is a man. Previous studies, however,

demonstrated that sex has no significant influence on EVS (cf. 2.3). The sex of the

interpreters was identified by means of their recorded voices on the audio files. In the

study of Lass & Puffenberger (1971), listeners were able to determine speakers’ gender

correctly in 96% of the cases when vowels were pronounced in isolation. Therefore, sex

identification on the basis of the speaker’s voice, can be regarded as a reliable method in

this study.

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3.3. EXMARaLDA

As mentioned in the previous section, the two bilingual audio files were transcribed with

EXMARaLDA, a set of tools to analyse and manage spoken language corpora.

EXMARaLDA Partitur Editor was used in particular to transcribe and annotate the two

bilingual audio files (EXMARaLDA, 2018). The programme allows one to align both the

original and the interpretation. The files need to be transcribed and aligned manually into

two tiers. By dividing the transcriptions into separate events, the programme can align

the original with the interpretation very precisely. After the transcription, several time tags

were added to measure the EVS lengths. The time tags will be discussed in the next

section (cf. 3.4).

Figure 1 EXMARaLDA

The figure above shows an excerpt from EXMARaLDA Partitur Editor: the two audio

files, the original and the interpretation, the transcription divided into separate events and

the time tags. The numbers between double brackets represent the length of a pause in

centiseconds between two utterances. Pauses have a length of at least 0,2 seconds.

38

3.4. Time tags

To measure EVS length, time tags were added to the original and the interpreted

transcriptions with the aid of the same programme that was used to transcribe the audio

files, EXMARaLDA Partitur Editor. Those tags are in fact attached to equivalent lexical

items in the source and target text.

As a result of the increased use of computer technology, it has become easier to measure

EVS more precisely. Even though most researchers generally coincide on the use of

methodologies to calculate EVS, differences can be noted between several studies on the

subject (Collard, 2019). The different choices made by different researchers will,

therefore, be discussed in this section.

UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Previous studies on EVS can be divided into two groups in terms of the units of

measurement used. The lag between the interpreter and the original speaker is either

measured in words or in seconds (Defrancq, 2015). Gerver (1969) and Goldman-Eisler

(1972), for example, calculated EVS in words. As mentioned in the theoretical framework

(cf. 2.3), this method is now advised against since different languages show different

tendencies in terms of word length and word compositions (Setton, 1999). Therefore,

EVS is commonly measured in centiseconds or miliseconds as demonstrated in the study

of Oléron & Nanpon (1965). Defrancq (2015), however warns that a precise and

consistent methodology should be adopted to measure EVS in seconds as precisely as

possible. Few studies specify where the measurement of the tag starts and ends. Only

Christoffels & De Groot (2004) and Ono, Tohyama & Matsubara (2008) point out where

a time tag marking EVS ends; at the start of the TL item. The studies, however, do not

coincide on where EVS should begin. According to Christoffels & De Groot (2004), EVS

should start at the beginning of the SL item, whereas Ono, et al. (2008) argue that it should

start at the end of the SL item. Both studies are two of the few that calculate EVS with

digital technology (Defrancq, 2015).

39

INTERVALS

Aside from the units of measurement, researchers adopt different approaches towards the

intervals between two time tags. Gerver (1969) opts to add a time tag every five words,

whereas Barik (1973) chooses intervals of five seconds. Christoffels & De Groot (2004)

add a time tag at the beginning and at the end of each sentence and Ono et al. (2008)

calculate EVS for every content word in the source text. Some researchers choose to only

mark specific elements that were of importance to their study. Lamberger-Felber (2017)

only marked specific parts that posed a particular challenge to the interpreters; she added

time tags where omissions occurred with at least one interpreter.

ELEMENTS TO BE MARKED

According to the aim of different studies, different approaches are adopted to choose the

words to which a tag will be attached. Timarová et al. (2011), for example, added time

tags on the grounds of semantic correspondence. Initial fillers, such as as mentioned

before, were therefore not taken into account. Oléron & Nanpon (1965) only marked

literal interpretations. Some researchers such as Defrancq (2015) and Collard (2019)

added tags approximately every ten seconds where possible taking into account certain

criteria. For example, only content words were selected to attach time tags.

THIS STUDY

This study followed the conventions from the EPIC Ghent corpus which are presented in

the EXMARaLDA Tutorial written by Collard (2016). The tutorial was used both for

transcribing the audio files and for adding the time tags. Time tags were added to lexical

items in the source text approximately every five items uttered by the original speaker,

when possible, to calculate EVS as precisely as possible. Corresponding time tags were

then attached to lexical equivalents in the target text. The target text served as the

reference text since items need to be interpreted before EVS can be calculated (Collard,

2019). The scale used for the intervals between two lexical items are centiseconds. The

time tags correspond to the beginning of a source text item and the beginning of a target

text item. Words used for the time tags could be of any syntactic category (verbs, nouns,

40

adjectives, etc.), but a source text item and the lexical equivalent in the target text had to

be from the same grammatical category. When possible, the shortest lag was chosen when

different word orders (and thus different EVS) were possible.

(1) (EN) the home of the European Union

(ES) la sede de la Unión Europea

In the example above the time tag was added to Union and Unión instead of to European

and Europea to ensure the shortest decalage.

In total, 1235 pairs of time tags were added to the entire corpus. 618 time tags were

attached to the version from English into Dutch and 617 tags to the version from English

into Spanish.

3.5. Analysis of the results

The result section comprises two main chapters (cf. 4.1 & 4.2). The first chapter presents

an overview of the descriptive analysis carried out on the corpus used for this study.

Besides the mean EVS values, the median and standard deviation were measured as well

since Timarová et al. (2011) states that mean values are influenced by extreme values and

the asymmetrical distribution of the data. In this respect, the results of this corpus-based

study were processed by means of SPSS Statistics in order to describe the results in a

transparent manner and to be able to perform statistical tests on the data to measure their

statistical significance. The data were prepared for the SPSS software by creating an

Excel sheet with the following three variables: Time tag, EVS and Language Pair (either

EN-NL or EN-ES). The second chapter of the results section analyses several sentences

containing extremely short and/or extremely long EVS lengths in order to verify the

possible causes of the results presented in Chapter 4.1. On the one hand, extremely short

EVS include all anticipations and thus negative EVS or lags of zero seconds. Those

anticipations also include freewheeling interpretation (Lederer 1981). Freewheeling

interpretation entails specific occasions at which the interpreter and the original speaker

41

utter lexical equivalents at the same time (cf. 2.4), as a result of which it can be assumed

that the interpreter has not had the chance to listen to and process the SL input. On the

other hand, extremely long EVS lengths include all EVS that have a value of at least twice

the standard deviation above the mean EVS of the entire corpus. Given this study’s focus

on SVO and SOV languages, the qualitative analysis of the results will pay particular

attention to possible differences in structure between the source and target languages as

well as dissimilarities between the two target languages.

42

4. RESULTS

In this section, the results from this corpus-based study into EVS length and the influence

of languages with different syntactic structures are presented. First, an overview of the

general data from the corpus are commented on in Chapter 4.1. Data, such as the mean

EVS values, obtained by means of descriptive statistics carried out in SPSS are the main

elements discussed in the chapter. Secondly, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on

both interpreted versions to extract extremely long and extremely short EVS lengths from

the corpus. In this way, the possible elements that might have caused the extreme EVS

values were explored in detail. This qualitative analysis is discussed in Chapter 4.2 and

will put emphasis on possible syntactic discrepancies between Dutch (SOV), on the one

hand, and English and Spanish (both SVO), on the other hand.

4.1. Descriptive analysis

The findings of this study have demonstrated that the Spanish interpreter presents an

overall shorter EVS than the Dutch interpreter. The complete corpus used for this study

contains one English source text of 27 minutes and 24 seconds and two interpreted

versions, one in Dutch and one in English. With a duration of 27 minutes and 29 seconds,

the Dutch interpretation lasts slightly longer than the Spanish interpretation of 27 minutes

and 25 seconds. The complete duration of the corpus thus mounts up to 82 minutes and

18 seconds. Moreover, the corpus consists of 11651 words, 3617 words of which belong

to the English source text and 8034 words to the target texts (The Dutch interpretation

contains 3778 words and the Spanish interpretation is 4256 words long). As stated in the

methodology section (cf. 3.4), 1235 pairs of time tags were attached to the corpus.

The longest EVS found in the entire corpus reaches 8,73 second, presented by the Dutch

interpreter, and the shortest EVS found falls back to -0,94 seconds which is presented by

the Spanish interpreter. The negative lag implies that the interpreter was anticipating the

original speaker’s words. In those cases, the words marked by a time tag occurred first in

the interpretation, the target text, and only afterwards in the original source text. Also

43

EVS lengths of 0 seconds are regarded as anticipations in this study. A lag of 0 seconds

implies that the interpreter has not had enough time to produce TL output by listening to

and processing SL input.

Figure 2 shows the EVS frequency throughout the entire corpus.

The mean EVS of the complete corpus (both interpretations) is 2,13 seconds and the

median is 1,93 seconds. The mean EVS of the interpretation from English into Dutch is

2,74 seconds, whereas the interpretation from English into Spanish has a mean EVS of

only 1,52 seconds. The mean lag of the Dutch interpreter is in line with the results found

in previous studies regarding EVS length. The lag of the Spanish interpreter, however, is

slightly shorter than the mean EVS of 2 to 4 seconds found in the majority of previous

studies (Lee, 2002; Barik, 1973; Lederer, 1978; Paneth, 1957). The median values were

lower than the mean values for both interpretations. The median of the English-Spanish

interpretation was 1,35 seconds whereas the median of the English-Dutch interpretation

Figure 2 EVS Frequency Figure 2 EVS Frequency

44

amounted to 2,51 seconds. These results clearly demonstrate that the Spanish interpreter

presents a shorter EVS than the Dutch interpreter.

Figure 3 illustrates the EVS evolution throughout the entire speech. The numbers of the

time tags are presented on the x-axis and the EVS values on the y-axis. The figure shows

that the EVS of the Dutch interpreter is longer than that of the Spanish interpreter

practically throughout the entire speech. At specific points during the speech, EVS values

are extremely long, both by the Dutch and the Spanish interpreter. The figure, however,

clearly demonstrates that extremely long lags can be observed more frequently in the

Dutch interpretation. Extremely short lags are mainly present in the Spanish

interpretation. Moreover, the Spanish interpreter even presents a negative EVS at specific

points. These extreme values will be commented on in detail in the next chapters (cf. 4.2).

The audio files of the interpretations revealed that both interpreters also use documents

in the booth while interpreting, which indicates their prior preparation. The moments at

which the interpreters use documents are indicated in the transcriptions with the word

noise between square brackets in bold: [noise]. The documents used might include

glossaries, speaker’s bios, PowerPoint presentations and even a written text of the speech

that is delivered (AIIC, 2004). Even though both interpreters seem to be well prepared,

Figure 3 EVS Evolution throughout the speech Figure 3 EVS Evolution throughout the speech

45

the use of documents as well as the interpreter’s preparation might explain why the

Spanish interpreter is able to produce an extremely short EVS at certain moments.

These results are in line with the hypothesis formulated at the beginning of this paper: the

EVS of the Dutch interpreter will be longer than that of the Spanish interpreter. This

hypothesis was made on the basis of the dissimilarities in syntactic structures between,

on the one hand, English and Spanish, two SVO languages, and Dutch, on the other hand,

an SOV language. Since English (SVO) and Dutch (SOV) have a different word order it

could be assumed that the Dutch interpreter would have to reorganise the English

sentences on certain occasions (cf. 2.4) in order to produce an idiomatic alternative in the

Dutch TL. The Spanish interpreter, on the contrary, will not have to make the same

adjustments because he can follow the SVO structure of the English ST.

In order to verify the statistical significance of these results, two tests were conducted in

the SPSS software designed for statistical analysis. First, a Test of Normality

(Kolmogorov Smirnov Test) was conducted to check whether the data were normally

distributed or not. A normal distribution is necessary to perform standardised parametrical

tests such as the t-test. The Test of Normality indicated that the data used in this corpus

study were not normally distributed. As a result, the second test carried out on the data

was a non-parametric test. A Mann Whitney U test was chosen to determine whether the

findings of this study are statistically significant or not. A Mann Whitney U test showed

that a significant difference exists between the EVS values of the Dutch interpreter and

those of the Spanish interpreter (p<0.00). The result of the Mann Whitney U test,

therefore, suggests that interpreting between languages with a different syntactic structure

may result in a longer EVS.

4.2. Qualitative Analysis

The findings of this study obtained by means of descriptive statistics have suggested that

the mean EVS of an interpretation between languages with a different syntactic structure

tends to be longer than the mean EVS of an interpretation between languages with the

same syntactic structure. In order to verify the causes of extreme EVS lengths present in

46

this corpus and to check whether a longer EVS truly can be connected to a difference in

syntax, the corpus will be analysed qualitatively in this chapter.

An in-depth analysis was carried out on extreme EVS lengths in both interpretations. On

the one hand, EVS lengths who exceeded two standard deviations (SD = 1,256) above the

mean EVS of 2,13 seconds were considered as extremely long EVS lengths. On the other

hand, all negative EVS lengths or anticipations were regarded as extremely short EVS

lengths in this corpus (cf. 3.5).

The extremely long and extremely short EVS lengths are examined in the following two

segments of this results’ section (cf. 4.2.1 & 4.2.2).

4.2.1 Extremely long EVS

As stated above, extremely long EVS lengths are considered as all values in excess of the

mean EVS length of the entire corpus (2,13 seconds) with at least two standard deviations

(SD = 1,256). This results in all EVS lengths valued at 4,66 seconds or higher.

On the basis of these requirements, 55 cases of extremely long EVS can be observed in

the corpus, 49 (89,1%) cases of which belong to the Dutch interpretation and only 6

(10,9%) to the Spanish interpretation. In 28 cases (51%), all of which belong to the Dutch

interpretation, the extremity of the lag can be linked to a difference in syntax between

Dutch and English. The other 27 cases (49%) of EVS lengths of at least 4,66 seconds,

which are present both in the Dutch and in the Spanish interpretation, can be explained

by other elements such as a mispronunciation by the original speaker.

In what follows, several sentences, in which cases of a long EVS are presented, are

discussed into further detail. The analysis and discussion of these sentences provide

possible causes for extremely long EVS lengths (4,66 seconds or more). Given the focus

of this study and the fact that the majority of the higher EVS values can be explained by

a difference in syntax, the focal point of this analysis will lie on the structural

47

dissimilarities between the SVO languages, English and Spanish, and the SOV language,

Dutch.

STRUCTURAL CAUSE

As stated above, 28 EVS lengths of at least 4,66 seconds, all performed by the Dutch

interpreter, can be associated with the word order difference between the SVO source

language (English) and the SOV target language (Dutch). Several of these cases will be

analysed more thoroughly below.

(1)

(EN) It’s [it is] a euh a great honour ((0,8s)) and I might add a privilege to be able

to address such an esteemed body

(ES) desde luego me honra ((0,4s)) sobremanera e incluso un privilegio ((0,3s))

poder dirigir la palabra ((0,7s)) [breath] a esta gusta cámara

(NL) het is voor mij een euh zeer grote eer en ook een euh groot voorrecht

((0,5s)) om een dergelijke ((1,7s)) assemblee te mogen toespreken ((0,8s))

EVS (ES): 0,92s (privilege – privilegio); 0,91s (address- dirigir); 1,74s (body – cámara)

EVS (NL): 2,65s (honour – eer); 5,76s (address – toespreken); 3,5s (body – assemble)

This sentence (1) shows that the Dutch interpreter postpones the verb as opposed to the

original to address such an esteemed body. In this way, the interpreter is able to produce

the idiomatically Dutch alternative om een dergelijke assemblee te mogen toespreken. In

order to do this, however, the interpreter has to wait for the object, an esteemed body,

which follows the verb in the English ST. This results in a longer EVS of 5,76 seconds.

The Spanish interpreter, on the contrary, can simply adapt the original English structure

in his Spanish version, as a result of which he does not have to wait to produce an

idiomatically correct Spanish sentence.

48

(2)

(EN) when I chaired ((0,5s)) the United States Senate Foreign Relations

Committee for all those years ((0,5s)) I had the opportunity to meet many

European lawmakers from the national legislative bodies

(ES) ((2,6s)) cuando yo era presidente de la comisión del Senado para Asuntos

Exteriores durante mucho tiempo tuve ocasión de reunirme ((0,5s)) con

muchísimos euh legisladores y parlamentarios europeos

(NL) ((1,7s)) toen ik de commissie Buitenlandse Zaken van de Senaat al die jaren

voorzat ((0,2s)) had ik al de gelegenheid ((0,3s)) om veel Europese

beleidsmakers uit nationale parlementen en regeringen te ontmoeten

EVS (ES): 3,72s (chaired – era presidente); 1,47s (committee – comisión); 1,6s (had –

tuve); 0,74s (meet - reunirme); 1,17s (lawmakers – legisladores)

EVS (NL): 6,57s (chaired – voorzat); 0,82s (committee – commissie); 1,75s

(opportunity – gelegenheid); 1,46s (lawmakers – beleidsmakers)

The example above (2) illustrates a large discrepancy between the Spanish and the Dutch

EVS concerning the English verb chaired. As can be seen in this sentence, the Spanish

interpreter follows the English SVO structure: when I chaired - cuando yo era presidente.

The Dutch interpreter, on the other hand, has to reorganise the constituents from an

original SVO structure into an SOV structure to produce a correct Dutch alternative: toen

ik de commissie Buitenlandse Zaken van de Senaat al die jaren voorzat. This, as is the

case in the first example (1), causes the Dutch interpreter to stall and wait for the verb.

As a result of the syntax reorganisation, the object is located before the verb, closer

towards the beginning of the Dutch equivalent sentence, whereas the object is placed after

the verb in the English sentence. The interpreter, therefore, has a fairly short lag of 0,82

seconds between the nouns committee and commissie. In addition, it should be noted that

the Dutch interpreter wrongly translated the United States by European, which might be

the result of a too short EVS.

In the last part of this sentence, the same phenomenon occurs. The Dutch interpreter

places the verb ontmoeten at the end of the sentence after the object, whereas the English

49

original utters the corresponding verb meet before the object. The Spanish interpreter does

not have to carry out the same changes to render an idiomatically correct sentence in

Spanish. He can adapt the original SVO structure of the English sentence.

(3)

(EN) now we have to carry out those emission cuts the financing and the

transparency call for ((0,6s)) in that accord

(ES) ahora ((0,3s)) tenemos que poner en marcha ((0,2s)) los recortes emisiones

la financiación y transparencia ((0,2s)) que se exigen en dicho acuerdo de

Copenhagen

(NL) ((0,5)) nu moeten we inderdaad die ((0,3s)) terugdring van de emissie in

de praktijk omzetten

EVS (ES): 0,81s (carry out – poner en marcha); 0,61s (cuts -recortes)

EVS (NL): 5,87s (carry out – praktijk omzetten); 2,12s (cuts – terugdring)

This corpus extract (3) demonstrates another moment during the speech at which the

Dutch interpreter has had to change the order of the object and the verb in her

interpretation, whereas the Spanish interpreter has simply been able to follow the English

sentence construction. This, as well as the fact that the Dutch interpreter was already

lagging further behind on the original speaker in comparison to the Spanish interpreter,

may have caused the large difference in EVS between the two interpretations at that

specific moment. The Dutch interpreter’s 5,87 seconds lag might have led to the omission

of the last part of the English sentence (the financing and the transparency call for in that

accord).

(4)

(EN) we’re [we are] working together to disrupt dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda

and the Taliban fighters

(ES) trabajamos para acabar entonces destruir ((0,2s)) y derrotar Al Qaeda y el

Talibán

(NL) daar werken we samen om Al Qaeda en de Taliban strijders ((0,6s)) te

50

bestrijden

EVS (ES): 1,22s (working – trabajamos); 1,92s (defeat – derrotar); 1,81s (Taliban –

Taliban)

EVS (NL): 5,54s (disrupt – bestrijden); 1,22s (Al Qaeda – Al Qaeda); 1,07s (fighters –

strijders)

In the first part of this fragment we’re working together, the Dutch interpreter can

incorporate an identical word order as in the English ST: daar werken we samen. The

Spanish interpreter can even reformulate that first part in one single word: trabajamos. In

this way, he does not need the same amount of time as the Dutch interpreter to produce

the first part in his interpretation. The second part of the sentence is a subordinated clause

which follows an SOV structure in Dutch. As a result, the Dutch interpreter needs to

postpone the verb disrupt towards the end of the clause in her interpretation. As opposed

to the Dutch interpreter, the Spanish interpreter can adapt the same SVO structure as in

English during the second part of the sentence. This causes the Dutch interpreter to have

a larger EVS for the subordinated verb (disrupt – bestrijden) of 5,54 seconds in

comparison to the Spanish interpreter, who only has a lag of 1,92 seconds (defeat –

derrotar). In addition to this, the Dutch interpreter has omitted two verbs. She replaced

the verbs disrupt, dismantle and defeat with just one verb bestrijden.

(5)

(EN) that they cannot allow the tragedy of nine eleven to end our way of life

(ES) que no pueden tolerar que la tra/ esta tragedia ((0,5s)) acabe con nuestra

forma de vida

(NL) dat zij die tragedie van euh elf september ((0,5s)) niet ((0,2s)) mogen

toelaten hun leven laten te veranderen

EVS (ES): 1,24s (tragedy – tragedia); 1,02s (end – acabe); 1,51s (life -vida)

EVS (NL): 6,42s (allow – toelaten); 1,98s (eleven – elf); 4,22s (life – leven)

This corpus excerpt contains a subordinated clause. As could be observed in the previous

51

example (4), this type of clause triggers the Dutch interpreter to postpone the verb.

Therefore, similarly to example (4), the Dutch interpreter has quite a long lag for the verb

(allow – toelaten). As a result of the reorganisation of the verb and the object (the object

has been moved to an earlier position in the Dutch sentence), the EVS for the object

(eleven - elf) is much shorter, only 1,98 seconds. In this respect, the element marked by a

time tag (life – leven) uttered after the Dutch verb toelaten again presents a longer EVS

caused by the longer EVS between the verbs allow – toelaten.

(6)

(EN) as leaders we share a responsibility to do everything we can within the law

to protect ((0,4s)) the eight hundred million people we collectively serve

(ES) tenemos que hacer todo lo posible dentro de la ley ((0,3s)) para proteger a

los ochocientas millones de personas a los [las] que servimos

colectivamente

(NL) en ik denk dat wij samen allemaal een verantwoordelijkheid dragen ((0,3s))

om onze achthonderd miljoen mensen die wij samen dienen te beschermen

en te verdedigen

EVS (ES): 1,46s (law – ley); 1,31s (million – millones); 1,1s (serve – servimos)

EVS (NL): 4,95s (protect – beschermen); 1,33s (million – miljoen); 1,55s (serve –

dienen)

This corpus fragment demonstrates another example in which the Dutch interpreter needs

to place the verb of one of the subordinate clauses (protect – beschermen) in this sentence

towards the end of the sentence. As a result, the EVS mounts up to 4,95 seconds. It can,

however, be observed that the two other elements marked by time tags in the Dutch

interpretation present a much shorter lag than the verb protect – beschermen. This can be

explained by the fact that million and serve are placed after the verb protect in the English

original, whereas the lexical equivalents miljoen and dienen are allocated before the verb

in the Dutch interpretation. The Spanish interpreter is again able to follow the English

SVO structure in his interpreted version.

52

(7)

(EN) I'm [I am] equally convinced that the United States and Europe can meet the

challenges of the twenty first century

(ES) estoy convencido que Estados Unidos y Europa pueden hacer frente a los

desafíos del siglo veintiuno ((0,3s))

(NL) ik ben ervan overtuigd dat wij samen de uitdaging van de eenentwintigste

eeuw het hoofd willen kunnen bieden

EVS (ES): 0,79s (convinced – convencido); 0,46s (Europe – Europa); 0,97s (challenges

– desafíos); 0,27s (century – siglo)

EVS (NL): 2,55s (convinced – overtuigd); 5,31s (meet- bieden); 2,46s (century – eeuw)

In the subordinate clause of this sentence, the original English speech presents an SVO

structure (that the US and Europe can meet the challenges of the twenty first century). By

exchanging the object and the verb, the Dutch interpreter has altered this order into an

SOV structure, causing her to have an EVS of 5,31 seconds. In addition to this, the

interpreter English – Dutch uses five words in her interpretation, het hoofd willen kunnen

bieden, as an equivalent for only two words in the English original, can meet. As has been

demonstrated by the previous example sentences, the Spanish interpreter is again able to

adapt the SVO structure from the English source text into his TL production.

(8)

(EN) to deter and defend against missile attacks on this continent ((0,6s)) on this

continent ((1,2s)) [applause] ladies and gentlemen ((5,1s)) [applause]

(ES) para defendernos contra ataques de cuantos de misiles contra este

continente contra este continente def/ ((0,3s)) el problema de ((0,5s))

misiles ((0,5s)) adaptados a ataques a posibles ataques

(NL) om de landen in dit continent in dit deel van de wereld te beschermen

((5,4s)) [applause] dames en heren [noise]

EVS (ES): 2,39s (defend – defendernos); 3,34s (continent – continente)

EVS (NL): 6,66s (defend – beschermen); 2,43s (continent -continent); 6,3s (gentlemen

53

– heren)

This fragment contains two long EVS lengths, both present in the Dutch interpretation,

one of 6,66 seconds and one of 6,3 seconds. The first longer lag for the English verb

defend, can be attributed to the difference between the English SVO and the Dutch SOV

structures. The verb beschermen is again placed further backwards in the Dutch

interpreted subordinate clause. The Spanish interpreter, on the contrary, can again

maintain the English SVO order in his Spanish interpretation. The second longer EVS

present in this fragment is in fact not the result of a difference in syntactic structure. The

Dutch interpreter chooses to interpret the word gentlemen into heren only after the

applause of 5,4 seconds, causing the larger lag of 6,3 seconds between those two words.

These are eight of the 28 cases containing EVS lengths of at least 4,66 seconds that can

be attributed to the difference between SVO and SOV structures. The corpus fragments

show that the Dutch interpreter often presents a longer EVS as a result of this syntactic

difference between English and Dutch. Whereas the Spanish interpreter can align with

the English version in terms of syntax, the Dutch interpreter has to reorganise the place

of the verb in the sentence, for example, when it concerns a subordinated clause. This

creates, thus, a larger EVS in the Dutch interpreter in comparison to the Spanish

interpreter. It should also be noted, however, that in some of these cases the Dutch EVS

is fairly short between words, marked by time tags, belonging to the object. This can be

considered the result of the switch in sentence position between the verb and the object

from VO to OV. Except for the sentence illustrated in example (13), the Dutch interpreter

does not use extraposition as a strategy to overcome this difficulty. Furthermore, the

Dutch interpreter does not revert to anticipations, which has been said to be a possible

strategy to cope with syntactic differences (Van Besien, 1999) (cf. 2.4).

OTHER CAUSES

Besides the 28 Dutch cases in which the cause of an EVS of at least 4,66 seconds can be

attributed to the difference between SVO and SOV languages, 27 cases of long EVS could

be linked to other factors. Of these 27 cases, six extreme EVS lengths could also be

observed in the Spanish interpretation. Nevertheless, the majority of these lags still occur

54

in the Dutch interpretation. Five of these examples will be analysed below.

(9)

(EN) one of our most famous juris/ ((0,5s)) wh/ which one of our most ((0,2s))

famous jurists once dubbed quote ((0,5s)) [breath] the right ((0,3s)) to be

left alone

(ES) uno de los juristas más famosos ((0,4s)) lo denominó ((1,1s)) el cito el

derecho ((0,6s)) a que uno lo dejen en paz

(NL) dat is een van de m/ ((2,9s)) het recht om met rust gelaten te worden zoals

een van onze beroemde juristen dat ooit noemde

EVS (ES): 1,64s (juris – juristas); -0,56s (dubbed – denominó)

EVS (NL): 7,67s (jurists – juristen); 2,09 (right – recht)

In this corpus extract, it should be noted that the source speaker pauses without finishing

the word jurists (juris/). Immediately after the pause of 0,5 seconds he hesitates and has

a false start, he stumbles across another word, which (wh/). As a result, the original

speaker repeats what he already said in the first part of the excerpt. The second time,

however, he does this without hesitations or false starts. Both interpreters respond to this

possible challenge in a different way.

The Spanish interpreter has been able to produce a TL alternative on the basis of the

incomplete pronounced word juris/, whereas the Dutch interpreter needed the original

speaker’s repetition of the fully pronounced jurists in order to render the Dutch

alternative, juristen. The Dutch interpreter in fact had a false start. She initially started by

following the English structure. Then she paused for 2,9 seconds, after which she

reorganised the sentence by placing the part at the end that originally came at the

beginning in the English sentence, zoals een van onze beroemde juristen dat ooit noemde.

In contrast to the Dutch interpreter, the interpreter English – Spanish even anticipated one

of the verbs in this sentence (dubbed – denominó) (cf. 4.2.2 example (7)).

55

(10)

(EN) by granting access ((0,9s)) to their previously undeclared enlistment

facilities ((0,3s)) and ((0,4s)) [noise] exchanging lower and rich uranium

for fuel to power ((0,3s)) a research reactor

(ES) el facilitar el acceso ((0,2s)) a sus centrales nucleares que estaban cerradas

[noise] ((0,4s)) que ni siquiera reconocieron su existencia ((0,5s)) y

también ((1,6s)) tiene un reactor entonces en que la el de uranio se

enriquezca fuera de sus fronteras

(NL) door toegang te bieden tot de eerder niet aangegeven faciliteiten in Iran

((0,5s)) en ((0,3s)) euh ook uitwisseling van euh ((1,0s)) euh uranium voor

een onderzoeksreactor ((0,4s))

EVS (ES): 2,22s (access – accesso); -0,1s (facilities – centrales); 5,98s (uranium –

uranio); 1,04s (reactor – reactor)

EVS (NL): 1,94s (access – toegang); 2,18s (undeclared – niet aangegeven); 2,79s

(exchanging – uitwisseling); 4,53s (uranium – uranium); 2,92s (reactor –

onderzoeksreactor)

This corpus excerpt shows a longer EVS in the Spanish interpretation for the words

uranium – uranio. The same Spanish utterance contains an anticipation (facilities –

centrales) (cf. 4.2.2 example (4) ) before the lag of 5,98 seconds was produced. Since the

anticipation resulted in a mistranslation, the interpreter reformulated his words and then

took a longer pause of 1,6 seconds. The longer EVS at the beginning of the sentence

(uranium – uranio) and the mistranslation may have led the Spanish interpreter to present

an increase in EVS up to 5,98 seconds. Moreover, the Spanish interpreter translates the

word undeclared with a subordinated clause (que ni siquiera reconocieron su existencia),

which might also have attributed to extreme lag between uranium and uranio.

Even though the lag does not exceed 4,66 seconds, it should be noted that the Dutch

interpreter also presents a longer EVS for uranium – uranium. In this case, it seems that

she hesitates and takes a pause because she was looking for the right translation of the

word.

56

(11)

(EN) the visions that gave birth to a parliament and earned him the presidential

medal of freedom from ((0,3s)) President Lyndon Johnson

(ES) la visión ((0,8s)) que pergeñó entonces al parlamento y que le dieron la

presidencia entonces ((0,3s)) del congreso pa/ euh euh y euh de la libertad

por el norte que le die/ presidente esta/ estadounidense

(NL) hun visies die uiteindelijk hebben geleid tot het parlement en waardoor zij

ook de ((0,3s)) presidential medal of freedom hebben gekregen van

president Johnson

EVS (ES): 1,13s (visions – visión); 2,41s (parliament – parlamento); 5,07s (freedom –

libertad); 5,32s (President – presidente)

EVS (NL): 1,23s (visions – visies); 2,02s (parliament – parlement); 2,74s (freedom –

freedom); 2,73s (President – president)

This corpus fragment shows two longer EVS lengths produced by the Spanish interpreter,

one of 5,07 seconds (freedom – libertad) and one of 5,23 seconds (President – presidente).

The excerpt shows quite some hesitation in the Spanish excerpt, which may lead to

assume that the interpreter did not fully understand the English original. A

misinterpretation and an incomplete sentence near the end can even be observed in the

Spanish TL (del congreso pa/ euh euh y euh de la libertad por el norte que le die/ euh

president esta/ estadounidense). The Dutch interpreter, on the contrary does not seem to

have the same problems with understanding the ST and as a result she has a fairly shorter

EVS for the same SL items, respectively 2,74 seconds (freedom – freedom) and 2,73

seconds (President – president). It should be noted that the Dutch interpreter has opted

for a literal adoption of presidential medal of freedom, something which may be less

preferable for a Spanish-speaking audience.

(12)

(EN) through ((0,7s)) the will ((0,2s)) of your fellow citizens and statesmen like

((0,3s)) Jean Henri ((0,3s)) Spaak for whom this great hall was named and

Robert Schuman and Jean Monnet Jean Monnet

57

(ES) ((0,4s)) a través y ante la voluntad de sus conciudadanos y de sus estadistas

((0,6s)) Jean Henri Spaak ((1,6s)) ac/ está dedicada esta esta gran forma a

esta persona ((0,4s)) el s/ señor Schuman y Jean Monnet también

(NL) ((1,0s)) maar dankzij de vastberadenheid van uw euh ((0,5s)) euh

landgenoten en Jean ((0,2s)) J/ Henri S/ ((0,2s)) Paul Henri Spaak ((0,3s))

Jean Monnet

EVS (ES): 1,73s (will – voluntad; 1,63s (statesmen – estadistas); 0,94s (Spaak –

Spaak); 2,91s (hall – forma); 2,6s (Schuman – Schuman)

EVS (NL): 3,31s (will – vastberadenheid); 5,36s (citizens – landgenoten); 5,41s (Henri

– Henri); 1,03s (Jean – Jean)

The first and second longer EVS lengths present in this sentence of, respectively, 5,36

seconds (citizens – landgenoten) and 5,41 seconds (Henri – Henri) could be explained by

the fact that the Dutch interpreter is already lagging further behind on the original speaker.

The lag of 5,41 seconds (Henri – Henri), however, can be explained by an additional

factor. The English original speaker refers to the European politicians Jean Monnet and

Paul-Henri Spaak. However, when referring to Paul-Henri Spaak the original speaker

wrongly contracts the names of Jean Monnet and Paul-Henri Spaak into Jean Henri

Spaak. The source speaker only intended to mention Jean Monnet further downward in

this sentence. Confiding in her general background knowledge of the politicians’ names

or by using documents that she might have obtained beforehand, this leads to confusion

for the Dutch interpreter. This, in fact, causes the Dutch interpreter to hesitate and,

therefore, present an increased EVS. The Spanish interpreter, contrarily, does not seem to

be taken aback by this mistake on the part of the original speaker. He simply takes over

the wrongly contracted name Jean Henri Spaak. As a result of this time pressure, the

Dutch interpreter omits the name Robert Schuman, either as a strategy to avoid lagging

to far behind on the original or due to limited memory capacity.

(13)

(EN) to ensure that the twenty first century’s darkest chapters would not be

repeated in the remainder of that century or in the twenty first century

58

(ES) para que ((0,2s)) el siglo veinte y los capítulos más oscuros no se volvieron

a repetir en el continente europeo ((0,6s)) de lo que quedaba del siglo o el

siglo siguiente

(NL) die erop gericht waren ((0,3s)) [breath] om ervoor te zorgen dat die euh

duistere hoofdstukken van de vorige eeuwen niet zouden worden herhaald

noch in de twintigste noch in de eenentwintigste eeuw

EVS (ES): 0,5s (century – siglo); 0,85s (repeated – repetir); 2,46s (century – siglo)

EVS (NL): 3,04s (darkest – duistere); 4,14s (repeated – herhaald); 4,76s (century –

eeuw)

The Dutch interpretation of corpus fragment (13) contains a longer EVS of 4,76 seconds

at the end of the sentence (century - eeuw). This lag cannot be explained by a different

word order between English and Dutch. The Dutch interpreter, in fact, follows the

structure of the English original sentence by using extraposition as a strategy. The lag,

however can be attributed to a repetition on the part of the Dutch interpreter. She uses two

Dutch alternatives (die erop gericht waren / om ervoor te zorgen dat) for the same English

verb to ensure. This repetition generated an increase in the Dutch EVS at the end of the

sentence.

These examples from the corpus examined for this study have shown that besides the

SVO and SOV structures of the languages, other elements can lie at the basis of an EVS

value of 4,66 seconds or more.

4.2.2 Anticipations

For this study, anticipations were regarded as extremely short EVS values. This section

will, therefore, examine the anticipations present in this corpus into further detail. The

corpus contains 11 sentences counting one or two anticipations in the Spanish

interpretation. No anticipations were found in the Dutch interpretation.

59

(1)

(EN) I remember President Reagan’s speech ((0,6s)) here euh in nineteen eighty five

(ES) con el presidente Reagan me acuerdo muy bien de él y su discurso aquí en el

año ochenta y cinco

(NL) toen euh ((0,3s)) president Reagan u toesprak dat herinner ik mij nog in

negentien vijfentachtig

(ES) EVS: 1,03s (President – presidente); 1,05s (speech – discurso); -0.66s (eighty –

ochenta)

(NL) EVS: 3,51s (remember – herinner); 1,07s (nineteen – negentien)

At this moment in the speech, the Spanish interpreter anticipates the original speaker's

words, which results in a negative EVS. The original speaker mentions a date (nineteen

eighty five) at which former US President, Ronald Raegan, has delivered a speech at the

European Parliament. Whereas the original speaker states the entire year nineteen eighty

five, the Spanish interpreter only interprets the second part of the date ochenta y cinco.

By shortening the date and omitting unnecessary information for the listener (in this

context of the European Parliament, the interpreter can assume that the listener will know

it concerns the twentieth century), the Spanish interpreter has been able to catch up with

the original speaker. In addition to this, the Spanish interpreter might also have been able

to anticipate on the speaker by using his general background knowledge of the date at

which Ronald Raegan gave a speech before the members of the European Parliament.

However, it is more likely that the Spanish interpreter correctly predicted the date because

he had access to certain documents.

(2)

(EN) The United States and Europe are working to ensure that all countries and

especially ((0,4s)) [breath] the major economies ((0,4s)) are contributing to

a global solution

(ES) mi país y Europa trabajan para garantizar que todos los países sobre todo las

economías más importantes del mundo ((0,4s)) coadyuven para llegar a una

solución global.

60

(NL) de Verenigde Staten en Europa zorgen er samen voor dat alle landen en met

name de grote economieën een bijdrage leveren aan een wereldoplossing

(ES) EVS: 0,58s (States – país); 0,89s (ensure – garantizar); -0.23s (economies –

economías)

(NL) EVS: 2,23s (States – Staten); 1,58s (ensure – zorgen); 2,31s (countries – landen);

2,1s (economies – economieën)

The anticipation of economies by the Spanish interpreter could be explained by his

extralinguistic knowledge. By using the word especially, the original speaker prepares to

specify all countries, from which the interpreter hypothesized the original speaker wanted

to emphasize the major economies. It is, however, more plausible that the use of

documents facilitated an anticipation.

(3)

(EN) the United States and the European Union ((0,4s)) and its member nations

((0,4s)) are deploying significant financial resources and civilian resources as

well

(ES) los Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea los países miembros ((1,1s)) están

destacando enormes recursos civiles ((0,4s)) y financieros y militares

(NL) hebben de VS regering en de NAVO ((0,6s)) financiële middelen ter

beschikking gesteld en ook mensen ter beschikking gesteld om te helpen

(ES) EVS: 0s (Union – Unión); 0,45s (deploying – destacando); -0,34 (resources –

recursos)

(NL) EVS: 3,91s (States – VS); 4,36s (Union – NAVO); 4,18s (deploying - gesteld);

1,57s (resources – middelen); 1,72s (resources – mensen)

This corpus extract counts two anticipations in the Spanish interpretation. Besides the

negative EVS of -0,34 seconds, also the EVS of 0 seconds can be considered as an

anticipation. According to Lederer (1981), an interpreter has not had the chance to listen

and interpret a specific word when the original speaker and the interpreter are rendering

61

lexical equivalents at the same time. In this case, Lederer (1981) speaks of freewheeling

interpretation (cf. 2.3).

The first anticipation (Union – Unión) can be explained by the difference in word order

of the noun and its corresponding adjective between English and Spanish. Whereas

adjectives normally precede the noun in English, adjectives usually follow the noun in

Spanish. As a result, the Spanish interpreter has been able to render the word Unión at the

same time when the original speaker said Union on the basis of the word European in the

ST. Moreover, the original speaker frequently mentions the European Union throughout

the speech which might have made it easier for the interpreter to anticipate.

The second anticipation (resources – recursos) can be explained by the repetition of the

original speaker. He had already mentioned financial resources, as a result of which the

interpreter has been able to anticipate the second time the word resources would be used,

the second time accompanied by the adjective civilian. In addition, access to certain

document might have triggered an anticipation in this case.

Also interesting to note in this extract is the large difference in EVS length between the

Spanish and Dutch interpreter concerning the word deploying. The Spanish interpreter

only has an EVS of 0,45 seconds, whereas the Dutch interpreter has an EVS of up to 4,18

seconds. Several aspects can explain this discrepancy. First, the structural difference in

syntax between Dutch and English caused the Dutch interpreter to place the verb

(deploying – gesteld) after the object (financial resources - financiële middelen) to

produce an idiomatic equivalent. As opposed to the Dutch sentence, the verb precedes the

object in the English SL. The Spanish interpreter, on the contrary, can simply implement

the same structure in his interpretation. Second, the Dutch interpreter uses three words

(ter beschikking gesteld) for the interpretation of only one word (deploying) from the

English source text. Similarly to the English source text, the Spanish interpreter also uses

just one word (destacando). Third, by looking at the preceding EVS lengths, it is clear

that the Dutch interpreter was already lagging further behind on the original speaker

compared with the Spanish interpreter. Moreover, the Dutch interpreter even

mistranslated European Union into NAVO (NATO in English).

62

(4)

(EN) with our allies we made clear to Iran's leaders ((0,3s)) how they can begin to

rebuild confidence within the international community ((0,4s)) including

((0,3s)) by granting access ((0,9s)) to their previously undeclared enlistment

facilities

(ES) dijimos a los líderes iraníes como pueden empezar ((0,2s)) a construir confianza

en la ((0,3s)) comunidad internacional ((0,3s)) e incluyendo ((0,3s)) el facilitar

el acceso ((0,2s)) a sus centrales nucleares que estaban cerradas [noise] ((0,4s))

que ni siquiera reconocieron su existencia

(NL) we hebben aan onze bondgenoten en de Iraanse leiders gezegd dat wij

vertrouwen moeten opbouwen in de euh internationale gemeenschap ((0,6s))

[breath] bijvoorbeeld door toegang te bieden tot de eerder niet aangegeven

faciliteiten in Iran

(ES) EVS: 1.37s (leaders – líderes); 1,73s (rebuild – construir); 1,34s (community –

comunidad); 2,22s (access- accesso); -0,1s (facilities – centrales)

(NL) EVS: 3,58s (allies – bondgenoten); 2,79s (Iran’s – Iraanse); 2,98s (rebuild –

opbouwen); 2,49s (international – internationale); 1,94s (access – toegang);

2,18s (undeclared – niet aangegeven)

In this corpus extract, the anticipation (facilities – centrales) has led to a mistranslation.

This anticipation and, at the same time, misinterpretation could be explained by the fact

that elsewhere in the speech, the original speaker connects the country, Iran, to nuclear

energy and nuclear power plants. In addition, this anticipation (and mistranslation) could

have taken place because the Spanish interpreter used his general background knowledge

of the relationship between the United States of America and Iran in terms of the nuclear

treaty. A little further in the speech (5), the original speaker, in fact, mentions the nuclear

non-proliferation treaty. As could be seen in the section of longer EVS values (cf. 4.2.1),

this anticipation caused the Spanish interpreter to reformulate certain elements, which

resulted in a longer EVS (cf. 4.2.1 example (2) )

63

(5)

(EN) Iran's nuclear programme violates its obligations under the nuclear non

proliferant proliferation treaty

(ES) el programa nuclear de Irani [Irán] ((0,2s)) viola su obligación de [inaudible]

de tratado

(NL) het nucleaire programma van Iran ((0,3s)) is een schending van de plichten

van het land uit hoofden van het non-proliferatie verdrag

(ES) EVS: 1,08s (violates – viola); -0,66s (tratado – treaty)

(NL) EVS: 1,36s (programme – programma); 2,43s (obligations – plichten); 2,09s (treaty

– verdrag)

The Spanish interpreter anticipated the original speaker once in this fragment. This could

be explained by the fact that the original speaker first mispronounces a word (non-

proliferant proliferation treaty), after which he corrects himself. As a consequence, the

Spanish interpreter has been able to buy himself some time and catch up with the original

speaker and, hence, even anticipate his words. The word treaty has also been mentioned

before by the original speaker during his speech. In addition, preparation and the use of

documents might have triggered an anticipation.

(6)

(EN) and we appreciate ((0,2s)) the support difficult that it has been for you to take

((0,5s)) so many of you ((0,6s)) have provided

(ES) agradecemos el esfuerzo que tantos de ustedes aunque sean muy difíciles para

ustedes que nos dieron

(NL) en ((0,5s)) wij ((0,6s)) euh waarderen ook de steun die vaak moeilijk was euh

die velen onder u ons hebben geleverd

EVS (ES): 0,61s (appreciate – agradecemos); 2,27s (difficult – difíciles); 0,75s (been-

sean); -0.79s (provided – dieron)

EVS (NL): 2,9s (appreciate – waarderen); 2,62s (been – was); 1,27s (provided –

geleverd)

64

The anticipation in the Spanish interpretation present in this part of the speech might be

a result of the interpreter's English lexical knowledge. In this case, a specific word

combination has triggered the interpreter to anticipate. The verb provide is a frequently

used verb with the word support. As a result, the interpreter might have used that linguistic

knowledge to anticipate which word the original speaker used. In this case, the documents

might also have facilitated the use of an anticipation.

(7)

(EN) one of our most famous juris/ ((0,5s)) wh/ which one of our most ((0,2s))

famous jurists once dubbed quote ((0,5s)) [breath] the right ((0,3s)) to be

left alone

(ES) uno de los juristas más famosos ((0,4s)) lo denominó ((1,1s)) el cito el

derecho ((0,6s)) a que uno lo dejen en paz

(NL) dat is een van de m/ ((2,9s)) het recht om met rust gelaten te worden zoals

een van onze beroemde juristen dat ooit noemde

EVS (ES): 1,64s (juris – juristas); -0,56s (dubbed – denominó)

EVS (NL): 7,67s (jurists – juristen); 2,09 (right – recht)

This excerpt contains one anticipation, again in the Spanish interpretation, which might

be caused by the hesitation and false start of the original speaker. This might have given

the interpreter the opportunity to buy some time and think ahead of what the original

speaker actually wanted to say. The Dutch interpreter, on the contrary, does not catch up

with the speaker but has quite a long lag of up to 7,67 seconds between the words jurists

and juristen (cf. 4.2.1 example (9) ). She seems to be taken aback by the original speaker's

hesitation. Instead of anticipating, as the Spanish interpreter did, she opts for a stalling

strategy and takes a 2,9 second pause to first listen to the original speaker. Only after

having heard the complete sentence in English she starts interpreting. This different use

of strategy clearly results in a large difference in EVS length.

65

(8)

(EN) and like the EU ((0,8s)) the Supreme Court ((0,9s)) has characterised this right

((0,3s)) as a matter of personal dignity

(ES) igual que en la Unión Europea ((0,4s)) el Tribunal Supremo ((0,8s)) lo ha

denominado esto como un asunto de ((0,3s)) dignidad personal

(NL) net als de EU ((0,5s)) heeft euh het Hooggerechtshof ((0,8s)) dit recht

((0,2s)) bestempeld als een ((0,5s)) kwestie van persoonlijke waardigheid

(ES) EVS: -0,09s (Court – Tribunal); 0,55s (matter – asunto); 0,3 (dignity – dignidad)

(NL) EVS: 1,33s (EU – EU); 2,24s (Court – Hooggerechtshof); 0,95s (right – recht);

3,06s (dignity –waardigheid)

As in example (3) of this segment, the cause of this anticipation by the Spanish interpreter

can be attributed to the different noun-adjective order between English and Spanish. Since

the adjective is placed before the noun in English and, inversely, after the noun in Spanish,

the interpreter has been able to derive that Court would follow the word Supreme. In

addition to this, the Supreme Court is a well-known judiciary institution in the United

States, information that an interpreter at the European Parliament is expected to know.

Consequently, it could be stated that the interpreter used his general background

knowledge as well while anticipating the original speaker. However, the use of documents

could have triggered an anticipation as well.

(9)

(EN) President Obama and I also believe that government's primary ((0,7s)) and most

fundamental most solemn duty is to protect its citizens

(ES) el presidente Obama y yo también creemos ((0,4s)) que la tarea fundamental

((0,5s)) la tarea más solemne de un gobierno es proteger a los ciudadanos

(NL) president Obama en ikzelf ((0,5s)) vinden het ook een van onze belangrijkste

plichten om onze burgers te beschermen

(ES) EVS: 1,11s (believe – creemos); -0,35s (fundamental – fundamental); 1,26s (protect

– proteger); 1,71s (citizens – ciudadanos)

66

(NL) EVS: 3,92s (Obama – Obama); 4,51s (believe – vinden); 2,71s (fundamental –

belangrijkste); 2,96s (protect – beschermen); 0,43s (citizens – burgers)

The Spanish anticipation of the adjective fundamental might be explained by the

repetition of the word in the ST. The original speaker used the word fundamental before.

He did this, however, in combination with a different noun (fundamental rights).

However, in this case, the Spanish interpreter has presumably been able to anticipate on

the basis of certain documents he used.

(10)

(EN) the United States ((0,2s)) needs ((0,3s)) Europe

(ES) Estados Unidos ((0,3s)) necesita ((0,3s)) a Europa

(NL) de VS hebben Europa nodig

(ES) EVS: -0,19s (States – Estados); 0,45s (Europe – Europa)

(NL) EVS: 2,54s (States – VS)

Similarly to the previous analysed sentences (3) and (8), the different order of the noun

and its corresponding adjective in Spanish have allowed the Spanish interpreter to

anticipate. When hearing United, the Spanish interpreter had been able to predict that the

original speaker intended to mention the United States, allowing him to anticipate on the

word States. In addition, the United States have occurred several times throughout the

source text.

(11)

(EN) President Obama ((0,6s)) and Joe Biden ((0,5s)) strongly ((0,5s)) support

((0,4s)) a united ((1,0s)) a free ((0,2s)) an open ((0,3s)) Europe

(ES) el presidente Obama ((0,5s)) y Joe Biden un servidor apoyamos firmemente

((3,1s)) una Europa fuerte unida y abierta

(NL) president Obama en Joe Biden ((1,0s)) er zijn fervente ((1,2s)) voorstanders

((0,3s)) van een vrij ((0,2s)) open en sterk Europa

67

(ES) EVS: 1,01s (Joe – Joe); -0,2s (support – apoyamos); 0,0s (Europe – Europa)

(NL) EVS: 1,84 (Biden – Biden); 2,33s (free – vrij);

The Spanish interpreter anticipates at two given moments in this corpus segment. The

first anticipation results in a negative EVS of -0,2 seconds, whereas the second

anticipation of 0 seconds is an example of freewheeling interpretation, as described by

Lederer (1981), in which the original speaker and the interpreter render lexical

equivalents at the same time.

On the one hand, the first anticipation (support – apoyamos) might be the result of the

different place of the adverb between the original and the Spanish interpretation. In the

English source text, the adverb strongly precedes the verb, whereas the Spanish

equivalent, the adverb firmemente, follows the verb in the interpreted version. As a result,

the interpreter has been able to anticipate the word support which is often combined with

the adverb strongly in English. The word combination strongly support can thus be said

to have acted as a cue for the interpreter to anticipate. On the other hand, the original

speaker takes small pauses between every word or every two words in this fragment in

order to put emphasis on every single word. This as well as the use of documents are

additional factors which might have given the Spanish interpreter the time to catch up

with the original speaker and even anticipate.

The second anticipation of 0 seconds (Europe – Europa) can again (cf. see examples (3),

(8) and (10) ) be explained by the different position of the adjective and corresponding

noun between English and Spanish. Three adjectives, each separated by a pause, follow

the word Europe. This, as well as the fact that Europe has been frequently mentioned

throughout the entire speech by the original speaker, might have allowed the interpreter

to anticipate.

In this corpus, anticipations could only be observed in the Spanish interpretation. As a

result, these findings refute the conclusions Van Besien (1999) has drawn in his study on

anticipation in simultaneous interpretation. He states that (cf. 2.4) anticipations are linked

to specific language pairs seeing that so many verbs were anticipated in the corpus he

68

analysed. The corpus examined in the study of Van Besien (1999) consisted of

interpretations between French and German, two languages with a different syntax (SVO

– SOV). Of the 13 anticipations counted in the corpus analysed in the present study,

however, only one anticipation concerned a verb. Moreover, the anticipations were found

in the interpretation from English into Spanish, two languages with the same syntactic

structure (SVO – SVO). The Dutch interpretation, on the contrary, did not contain any

anticipation. Following Van Besien’s (1999) assumptions, the Dutch interpretation could

be expected to contain anticipations, since Dutch differs in syntax and word order from

English (SVO – SOV). This is clearly not the case in the corpus used for this study.

Three anticipations (see examples (3), (8), (10) and (11) ), however, could be attributed

to the difference in word order of a noun and its corresponding adjective between English

and Spanish. In these cases, the adjective, which normally precedes the noun in English,

served as a trigger for the Spanish interpreter to predict the corresponding noun in

Spanish, which usually precedes the adjective in that romance language. Furthermore,

some anticipations observed in this study could be attributed to lexical cues such as words

and word combinations, a result confirmed by Wills (1978) in one of his studies, as well

as to hesitations or false starts produced by the original speaker. In addition to this, the

Spanish interpreter has a higher speech rate than both the original speaker and the Dutch

interpreter, which might have induced anticipations in the Spanish interpretation as well.

Lastly, it is also important to note that the audio files demonstrated that both interpreters

used documents while interpreting. This, as well as the professional standards required

by the AIIC (2004) for professional interpreters, indicated that both interpreters were well

prepared. Some conference organisers even provide the interpreters with texts of the

speeches that will be delivered (AIIC, 2004), which certainly facilitates the use of

anticipations. Díaz-Galaz et al. (2015) point out that the interpreter’s prior preparation

might act as a cue for accurate anticipations and predictions.

69

5. CONCLUSION

The aim of this study is to determine whether the EVS in the simultaneous interpretation

of a Dutch interpreter is longer than the EVS of a Spanish interpreter on the basis of an

English source text and whether the difference between SVO and SOV structures

influences EVS length.

English and Spanish are both SVO languages and Dutch, on the contrary, is commonly

regarded as a SOV language. As a result, English and Spanish do not share the same

syntax as the Dutch language. Several studies conducted on this topic have indicated that

a difference in syntax triggers a longer EVS. Oléron & Nanpon (1965), for example,

identified a longer EVS in interpretations from German into French (SOV-SVO) than in

interpretations from English into French (SVO-SVO). Given the syntactic similarities

between English and Spanish and the syntactic difference between English and Dutch, as

well as the findings of previous studies (cf. 2.4), the hypothesis formulated in this study

was that the EVS of the Dutch interpreter would be longer than that of the Spanish

interpreter.

The data used in this case study were drawn from a speech delivered during a plenary

session at the European Parliament, belonging to the EPICG corpus. A corpus-based study

allows for research based on real-life data, representative of the European Union context.

The corpus used in this study consists of one English ST and two interpretations, one from

English into Spanish and one from English into Dutch.

To be able to answer the research question and to verify the hypothesis, the Spanish and

Dutch interpretations of the English source text were analysed into detail. The two

interpretations, as well as the original speech, were transcribed. Subsequently, time tags

were manually added to precisely measure the EVS.

The EVS values found in the complete corpus range from -0,94 seconds to 8,73 seconds.

A mean EVS of 2,13 seconds could be observed, a result which is in line with the findings

70

of previous research. The mean EVS for the interpretation from English into Spanish was

calculated at 1,52 seconds, whereas the mean EVS found for the interpretation from

English into Dutch amounted to 2,74 seconds. The median value of the Spanish

interpretation (1,35 seconds) was also lower than the median of the Dutch interpretation

(2,51 seconds). These findings support the hypothesis formulated at the beginning of this

paper. The Dutch interpreter presents a significantly longer EVS than the Spanish

interpreter practically throughout the entire speech.

In order to establish whether interpreting from an SVO language into an SOV language

truly triggered a longer EVS, an in-depth analysis was conducted on extremely long and

short EVS lengths produced by the interpreters.

The majority of extremely long EVS lengths could be attributed to the discrepancies

between SVO and SOV language structures. In these cases, the different syntax between

SVO and SOV languages, in fact, caused the Dutch interpreter to reorganise certain

constituents to be able to produce an idiomatically correct Dutch alternative. Contrary to

the Dutch interpreter, the Spanish interpreter did not have to carry out such changes since

Spanish usually follows the English SVO structure. However, other elements could be

linked to extremely long EVS lengths as well, such as hesitations, mispronunciations,

pauses and false starts both produced by the original speaker and by the interpreters.

Moreover, an excessive lag presented by the interpreter throughout the entire sentence led

to an increase in EVS in some of these cases.

Extremely short lags include all anticipations and are only present in the Spanish

interpretation. First, the difference in the noun-adjective order between Spanish and

English could be associated with the use of anticipations. Contrary to English, the

adjective follows the noun in Spanish. As a consequence, the English adjective might

have acted as a trigger for the Spanish interpreter to predict the noun. Second, some

anticipations might be explained by the interpreter’s general background knowledge.

Third, the audio files have demonstrated that both interpreters used documents while

interpreting, which might include glossaries and even a transcript of the speech. It is likely

71

that the Spanish interpreter has been able to make some anticipations by means of these

documents.

In conclusion, the results presented in this dissertation suggest, on the one hand, that

interpreting between languages with a different syntactic structure generate a longer EVS

and, on the other hand, that interpreting between languages with the same syntax triggers

a shorter EVS. However, since this study focussed on one case, the findings are restricted

to this speech only. As a result, the conclusions drawn should be treated with some caution

and can therefore not be generalised to all interpretations from English into Dutch or

English into Spanish. In addition to this, it should be taken into account that Dutch is not

a strict SOV language and in some cases follows an SVO word order (cf. 2.4).

Therefore, further research is required to confirm the findings presented in this study.

Future studies could elaborate on this research by analysing a larger sample, as well as by

investigating more and different language combinations than the ones investigated in the

present study. In addition, this study calls for further research into the influence and

possible benefits of the use of documents by conference interpreters in the booth while

interpreting simultaneously.

72

73

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APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1: English Source Text

parliament ((1,5s)) the floor is yours ((16,9s)) [applause] mister president ((1,3s)) thank

you for that welcome ((0,3s)) it was a delight to have you in Washington and at the White

House ((1,0s)) [breath] and euh ((0,2s)) it's [it is] a euh a great honour ((0,8s)) and I might

add a privilege to be able to address such an esteemed body ((1,3s)) I served in a euh

((0,3s)) a parliament that only had four hundred and thirty five members total ((0,8s)) euh

this is even a greater honour [laughs] ((1,3s)) I euh ((2,3s)) when President Reagan I

remember President Reagan's speech ((0,6s)) here euh in nineteen eighty five ((1,1s)) and

euh to quote ((0,4s)) an Irish poet William Butler Yeats speaking of his Ireland ((0,9s)) in

a poem called easter sunday nineteen sixty he said ((0,6s)) all's [has] changed ((0,8s))

changed utterly ((0,9s)) a terrible beauty has been born ((0,9s)) much has changed ((0,6s))

since nineteen ((0,3s)) eighty five ((0,9s)) much has changed ((0,6s)) and a terrible beauty

has been born ((1,5s)) as euh you euh ((0,6s)) already know ladies and gentlemen euh

((0,5s)) not only am I pleased to be back here in Brussels ((0,4s)) for the second time as

vice-president as you probably know ((0,4s)) some American politicians and American

journalists refer to Washington DC ((0,5s)) [breath] as the capital of the free world ((0,9s))

but it seems to me that euh in this great city which boasts one thousand years of history

and which serves the capital of Belgium the home of the European Union and the

headquarters for NATO ((0,7s)) [breath] this city has its own legitimate claim to that title

((1,4s)) as a lawmaker for more than ((0,4s)) [breath] thirty six years in our parliament

((0,6s)) I feel particularly honoured to address the European Parliament ((0,8s)) President

Obama and I were euh ((0,4s)) the first running mates in the last fifty years in America

((0,7s)) to make it to the White House from ((0,5s)) our legislative bodies ((0,5s)) so we

both come to our ((0,5s)) executive jobs with a deep appreciation ((0,7s)) for the work

you do here ((0,4s)) in the bastion of European democracy ((0,7s)) together euh ((0,2s))

with my former colleagues in the United States Congress ((0,7s)) you and I represent

more than eight hundred million people ((0,9s)) stop and think about that for a moment

((0,7s)) two elective bodies that shaped the laws for almost one eighth ((0,6s)) of the

planet's population ((1,0s)) that's [that is] truly remarkable ((0,9s)) and now under the

Lisbon Treaty ((0,4s)) [breath] you've [you have] taken on more powers and a broader

80

responsibility ((0,4s)) that comes with that increased influence ((0,5s)) and we welcome

that ((0,5s)) we welcome that because we the United States need [nee:d] strong allies

strong allies and alliances ((0,4s)) to help us tackle ((0,6s)) the problems of the twenty

first century ((0,6s)) many of which are the same ((0,7s)) but so many are different ((0,3s))

than the last century ((0,9s)) let me state it as plainly as I can ((1,3s)) [breath] the Obama

Biden administration ((0,6s)) has no doubt about ((0,6s)) the need for and strongly

supports ((0,4s)) a vibrant ((0,2s)) European Union ((0,9s)) we believe it's [it is]

absolutely essential ((0,6s)) to American prosperity ((0,5s)) and long-term security

((0,4s)) so have no doubt about that ((0,8s)) when I chaired ((0,5s)) the United States

Senate Foreign Relations Committee for all those years ((0,5s)) I had the opportunity to

meet many European lawmakers from the national legislative bodies ((0,3s)) including

some of you who are in this room today ((1,1s)) so I appreciate ((0,6s)) after all those

years I appreciate what a consequential step it has been ((0,6s)) to build the only

multinational parliament in the world ((0,4s)) elected by universal suffrage ((0,5s)) so

much has changed ((0,8s)) and I'm [am] pleased ((0,5s)) that through this/ through the

transatlantic legislative dialogue ((0,5s)) [breath] you're [are] building a strong

relationship ((0,6s)) with the United States Congress and I hope ((0,4s)) that the office

you opened in Washington last month ((0,4s)) [breath] is going to enhance those ties

((1,4s)) folks sixty five years ago this week ((0,6s)) less than two hundred kilometres

south of here ((0,6s)) Nazi leaders signed an unconditional surrender ((0,4s)) that brought

an end to the Second World War in Europe ((1,0s)) the next day ((0,6s)) celebrations

erupted in Time Square and Piccadilly Circus ((0,3s)) cheering crowds danced along the

Champs Elysees ((0,3s)) and the town squares throughout the allied world ((0,5s)) and

here in Brussels ((0,5s)) a Thanksgiving service at a Thanksgiving service ((0,4s))

churchgoers sang the national anthems of Britain ((0,4s)) Belgium and the United States

((1,2s)) on that joyous day May ((0,4s)) eighth nineteen forty five ((0,7s)) this continent

lay in ruins ((0,7s)) ravished twice by total wars ((0,4s)) in less than thirty years ((0,9s))

at that moment ((0,9s)) a peaceful united Europe ((0,7s)) a European Parliament ((0,9s))

must have seen like a fantasy ((0,6s)) to anyone ((0,5s)) alive ((0,6s)) and yet ((0,7s))

through ((0,7s)) the will ((0,2s)) of your fellow citizens and statesmen like ((0,3s)) Jean

Henri ((0,3s)) Spaak for whom this great hall was named and Robert Schuman and Jean

Monnet Jean Monnet and the visions that gave birth to a parliament and earned him the

81

presidential medal of freedom from ((0,3s)) President Lyndon Johnson ((0,4s)) here we

are ((0,9s)) assembled in this hall ((0,3s)) here you are ((0,9s)) what began as a simple

pact ((0,5s)) [breath] among half a dozen nations to create a common market ((0,3s))

[breath] for coal and steel ((0,4s)) grew into an economic and political power house

((0,6s)) a community dedicated to free thought free movement and free enterprise ((0,4s))

a Europe ((0,4s)) that one historian has called ((0,3s)) not so much a place ((0,7s)) but an

idea ((1,2s)) and I am here to reaffirm that President Obama and I believe ((0,4s)) in this

idea ((1,2s)) and in a better world and better Europe ((0,3s)) it has already helped ((0,3s))

to bring about ((1,2s)) a Europe where all member states benefit by negotiating trade

agreements and fighting environmental degradation with one unified voice ((0,4s))

[breath] a Europe that bolsters the cultural and political values ((0,7s)) [breath] that my

country shares with all of you ((0,8s)) a Europe that is whole ((0,7s)) a Europe that is free

((0,4s)) and a Europe that is at peace ((1,5s)) [applause] ((8,3s)) as President Obama said

in Prague a little more than a year ago a strong Europe ((0,4s)) makes a stronger partner

for the United States and we need strong partners ((0,7s)) that is why we will do

everything we can ((0,6s)) to support this great endeavour of yours ((0,8s)) because the

past sixty five years have shown ((0,6s)) that when Americans and Europeans devote their

energies to common purpose ((0,7s)) there's [there is] almost nothing ((0,5s)) we are

unable to accomplish ((0,6s)) together to the Marshall plan ((0,3s)) we rebuilt Europe and

made perhaps the greatest investment in human history together ((0,5s)) we built ((0,4s))

the world's most enduring security alliance NATO and a military and political force

((0,4s)) [breath] that tied America and Europe together ((0,5s)) and brought us even closer

((0,6s)) in the ensuing decades ((0,4s)) together ((0,5s)) we established the greatest

commercial relationship in the world's history ((0,5s)) comprising about forty per cent

((0,4s)) of global trade and helping usher in the narrative of unprecedented prosperity and

technological innovation ((0,7s)) and together ((0,7s)) we have provided relief and hope

for those suffering humanitarian catastrophes in more places than I can mention ((0,5s))

from the Western Balkans to the Congo to our ongoing work in Haiti today ((1,3s)) to

those sceptics ((0,4s)) who in spite of all these accomplishments continue to question

((0,7s)) the state of transatlantic relationships or my country's attitude toward a united

Europe my answer is this ((0,9s)) even if the United States ((0,2s)) and the nations all of

you represent ((0,3s)) were not united by shared values and common heritage ((0,3s)) of

82

many millions of our citizens myself included ((0,3s)) our global interest alone would

inextricably ((0,6s)) bind us together ((1,8s)) the relationship between my country and

Europe is today as strong and as important ((0,8s)) as all of us ((0,6s)) to all of us as it

has ever been ((1,1s)) this century has unleashed new challenges ((0,5s)) no less

dangerous than those that came before ((0,3s)) in the twentieth century and together

((0,5s)) together ((0,4s)) we're [we are] taking them on one by one they are difficult

((0,9s)) there will be disagreement but we are taking them on jointly ((1,0s)) climate

change ((0,3s)) one of the greatest threats our planet faces ((0,6s)) the United States and

Europe are working to ensure that all countries and especially ((0,4s)) [breath] the major

economies ((0,4s)) are contributing to a global solution ((1,2s)) we all look ((0,6s)) we all

look to and we did take ((0,4s)) a major step forward in Copenhagen ((0,5s)) now we have

to carry out those emission cuts the financing and the transparency call for ((0,6s)) in that

accord ((0,5s)) and we must help the most vulnerable nations ((0,6s)) [breath] from the

Arctic North to the Pacific Islands ((0,6s)) that are the harbingers of this looming crisis

((1,0s)) across the troubled landscape of Afghanistan and Pakistan ((0,3s)) we're [we are]

working together to disrupt dismantle and defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban fighters and

((0,5s)) and ((0,5s)) to train an Afghan army and police force so that their government

can eventually protect its own people ((0,6s)) and not be a threat to its neighbours ((0,9s))

in order to build Afghanistan's governing capacity ((0,6s)) the United States and the

European Union ((0,4s)) and its member nations ((0,4s)) are deploying significant

financial resources and civilian resources as well ((1,2s)) while sustaining these important

missions has not always been popular ((0,9s)) you all know ((0,3s)) as I do it's [it is]

required ((0,7s)) as leaders ((0,6s)) we have an obligation ((0,4s)) to make the case to our

populations that this is necessary for our collective security ((0,9s)) although believe me

((0,9s)) as a politician who has stood for office for the last thirty eight years ((0,6s)) I

understand ((0,5s)) it is not easy ((0,7s)) I assure you ((0,6s)) it is no more popular in my

country ((0,6s)) than it is in any one of yours ((1,6s)) that is also why the United States

and Europe are standing side by side ((0,6s)) to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear

weapons ((0,4s)) a development that would endanger the citizens and menace its

neighbours ((0,6s)) including ((0,2s)) some of our closest allies ((0,7s)) together ((0,8s))

together ((0,2s)) we embarked on an unprecedented path of engagement ((0,3s)) with the

Iranian leaders ((1,3s)) [applause] and ladies and gentlemen ((5,0s)) [applause] despite

83

what some sceptics thought the President meant what he said ((1,0s)) that we will reach

out our hand at any party that will unclench their fist ((1,0s)) at the outset of this

administration ((0,4s)) President Obama stated that we are prepared to deal ((0,6s)) with

Iran on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect ((0,8s)) with our allies we made

clear to Iran's leaders ((0,3s)) how they can begin to rebuild confidence within the

international community ((0,4s)) including ((0,3s)) by granting access ((0,9s)) to their

previously undeclared enlistment facilities ((0,3s)) and ((0,4s)) [noise] exchanging lower

and rich uranium for fuel to power ((0,3s)) a research reactor ((0,8s)) but as the world

((0,6s)) has now watched and seen ((0,8s)) Iranian leaders burned ((0,3s)) our collective

good faith efforts and continue to take actions that threaten regional stability ((1,1s)) let

me state it flatly ((1,1s)) Iran's nuclear programme violates its obligations under the

nuclear non proliferant proliferation treaty and ((0,4s)) risks Sparky ((0,7s)) a nuclear

arms race in the Middle East ((1,2s)) wouldn't [would not] it be ironic ((0,8s)) wouldn't

[would not] it be ironic ((1,1s)) as the Iron Curtain fell ((1,7s)) and the mutual threats

((1,5s)) a mutual assured destruction diminished ((1,2s)) among the superpowers ((0,7s))

to the new ((0,5s)) arm's race ((0,6s)) would emerge ((1,0s)) in some of the most unstable

parts of the world ((0,9s)) that way it would be an irony ((0,8s)) that our children and our

grandchildren and our great grandchildren would not forgive us in my view ((0,9s)) for

allowing it come to pass ((1,8s)) in addition ((0,6s)) Iranian leadership supports terrorist

organisations and that ((0,5s)) [breath] support continues unabated ((0,9s)) and it

continues unconscionably ((0,6s)) to persecute those of its citizens who peacefully take

to the streets in a quest for justice ((0,9s)) a betrayal ((0,7s)) of the duty of all

governments ((1,0s)) in terms of what they owe to citizens ((1,2s)) Teheran faces a stark

choice ((0,8s)) abide by international rules and rejoin the community of responsible

nations ((0,6s)) which we hope for ((0,7s)) or face further consequences and increasing

isolation ((0,6s)) in the face of the threat Iran poses ((0,6s)) we are committed ((0,6s)) to

the security of our of/ of our allies ((0,5s)) that is why we deploy the face adapted missile

defence programme ((0,7s)) to deter and defend against missile attacks on this continent

((0,6s)) on this continent ((1,2s)) [applause] ladies and gentlemen ((5,1s)) [applause]

we're [we are] also working together inside NATO ((0,5s)) to prepare for a range of future

security threats ((0,4s)) including energy security and cyber security ((0,8s)) and we

continue to support close security cooperation between NATO ((0,3s)) and the EU ((1,4s))

84

last year the United States and Europe acted quickly and decisively when the world was

realing ((0,3s)) [breath] from a financial crisis more dire than any since the great

depression ((0,6s)) and in doing so ((0,5s)) collectively we helped ((0,4s)) we helped

prevent ((0,9s)) what people were predicting a total collapse ((0,7s)) of the world

economy ((1,0s)) today ((0,7s)) President Obama a/ and I are closely following ((0,3s))

the economic and financial crisis in Greece and the European Union's efforts to deal with

it ((1,3s)) we welcome ((0,6s)) the support packages Europe is considering in conjunction

with the International Monetary Fund ((1,0s)) and we will be supportive both directly and

through the IMF ((0,6s)) of your efforts as you rescue ((0,8s)) Greece ((1,1s)) these

examples of many others I could have mentioned ((0,2s)) show why Europe continues

not just to be America's largest trading partner but our most important ally ((0,7s)) ladies

and gentlemen ((1,0s)) [breath] our predecessors came together more than six decades

ago this week ((0,3s)) [breath] to begin to build an institution's design to ensure that the

twenty first century's darkest chapters would not be repeated in the remainder of that

century or in the twenty first century ((1,0s)) those institutions this institution ((0,9s))

have been a great success ((0,9s)) but now we have to set our sights on the challenges

((0,3s)) [breath] of this new century I referenced in the beginning ((0,7s)) the world has

changed ((0,7s)) it has changed utterly ((1,3s)) a terrible beauty has been born ((0,7s))

perhaps the most complex threat we face today ((0,3s)) [breath] is that posed by to our

own citizens ((0,3s)) [breath] by non-state actors ((0,5s)) and violent extremists ((0,3s))

particularly ((0,6s)) if God forbid those violent extremists were able to get their hands on

any weapons of mass destruction ((1,6s)) the scourge has no respect ((0,5s)) for borders

((0,2s)) none ((1,0s)) no single nation ((0,6s)) [breath] no matter how strong or how

wealthy ((0,8s)) how organised or how capable ((0,8s)) can meet ((0,4s)) this threat alone

((1,1s)) it can only be successfully contained ((0,6s)) if we make common cause ((0,8s))

and that's [that is] precisely what we must do ((1,4s)) the new powers granted this

parliament ((0,3s)) and the Lisbon Treaty ((0,4s)) gave you a greater role in that struggle

and a greater imperative to govern responsibly ((1,3s)) the US government and this

parliament ((0,5s)) [breath] have struggled over how best to protect citizens without

yielding the foundational rights ((0,8s)) on which all of our societies are built ((1,3s)) I'm

[I am] absolutely confident that we must and can ((1,0s)) both protect our citizens ((0,4s))

and preserve our liberties ((1,0s)) since taking office last year President Obama and I

85

((0,2s)) have been guided by our constitution's and our constitution's imperative ((0,6s))

to seek a more perfect union ((1,9s)) towards that end ((0,9s)) one of our first official

actions ((0,5s)) was to end the interrogational practices that produced ((0,3s)) fewer

results in that we/ were/ we could not in good conscience continue ((1,1s)) ((7,6s))

[applause] we ordered the closure of the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay which had

become a symbol ((0,4s)) of injustice and a rallying cry for terrorists ((0,8s)) and we

appreciate ((5,8s)) [applause] and we appreciate ((0,2s)) the support difficult that it has

been for you to take ((0,5s)) so many of you ((0,6s)) have provided ((0,3s)) in this effort

((0,9s)) we did these things because like you ((0,4s)) President Obama and I reject the

false choice ((0,5s)) between safety ((0,4s)) and our ideals ((1,4s)) we believe that

upholding our principles only makes us stronger and in compromising them then actually

undermines our effort ((0,3s)) [breath] in the broader struggle against violent extremism

((0,5s)) for what is their purpose ((0,6s)) their purpose ((0,4s)) is to change ((0,6s)) what

we value ((0,8s)) change ((0,4s)) how we conduct ourselves ((1,1s)) eight days after the

September eleventh attack ((0,9s)) I told a group of thousands of university students in

my country ((1,1s)) that they cannot allow the tragedy of nine eleven to end our way of

life because that's [that is] exactly ((0,5s)) [breath] what ((0,6s)) the terrorists sought

((1,5s)) I also told them America cannot prevail in this new struggle by acting alone

((1,2s)) those words not have not only fit not only fit the tenor of that time ((0,4s)) but I

think they've [they have] proven to be true ((0,9s)) and are no less true today ((1,0s)) I

don't [do not] need to tell this audience about Europe's proud tradition ((0,7s)) of

protecting citizens of govern invasion of their privacy ((0,8s)) a commitment ((0,6s))

grounded ((0,5s)) in respect for the inherent dignity ((0,3s)) of all people ((0,4s)) we call

them inalienable rights ((0,7s)) we wrote them into our constitution ((0,8s)) and America's

((0,2s)) commitment to privacy ((0,3s)) [breath] is also ((0,2s)) profound ((0,5s)) as

profound as yours ((0,9s)) our constitution's fourth amendment protects individuals

against ((0,2s)) unreasonable search and seizures ((0,4s)) by the state ((1,1s)) which is

one of our most famous juris/ ((0,5s)) wh/ which one of our most ((0,2s)) famous jurists

once dubbed quote ((0,5s)) [breath] the right ((0,3s)) to be left alone ((1,1s)) the Supreme

Court in the United States has made clear ((0,8s)) that privacy ((0,5s)) is a constitutionally

protected ((0,2s)) and fundamental right ((0,9s)) and like the EU ((0,8s)) the Supreme

Court ((0,9s)) has characterised this right ((0,3s)) as a matter of personal dignity ((1,4s))

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on a personal level ((1,2s)) I have for ((0,2s)) thirty six years of my career ((0,5s))

defended ((0,5s)) privacy rights ((1,1s)) in the United States Senate ((0,6s)) every year

((0,2s)) those organisations at rate those most committed to civil liberties ((0,8s)) and

every year ((0,7s)) I ((0,7s)) and later ((0,5s)) President Obama characterizes one of those

four people picked ((1,1s)) the reason I bother to tell you this is not about me ((0,9s)) but

about the commitment of our administration to individual rights ((1,1s)) to change now

would make a lie ((0,9s)) of everything I have said I stood for ((0,9s)) in my ((0,3s))

country ((0,6s)) for the past ((0,4s)) thirty seven years ((1,4s)) when I led the Senate

Judiciary Committee which is responsible for confirming ((0,5s)) [breath] the President's

judicial nominees ((1,0s)) as I said I was consistently ranked among ((0,3s)) the

staunchest advocates of civil liberties and I made it a priority to ((0,3s)) [breath] determine

((0,4s)) prospective judges views on privacy before deciding whether or not ((0,3s)) they

could go on the corps ((2,0s)) but President Obama and I also believe that government's

primary ((0,7s)) and most fundamental most solemn duty is to protect its citizens ((0,4s))

the citizens it serves ((1,1s)) as well as the rights they hold ((1,4s)) President Obama

((0,6s)) has said that keeping our country safe is the first thing he thinks about when he

wakes up in the morning ((0,5s)) and the last thing he thinks about before he goes to bed

at night ((1,1s)) I suspect that's [that is] how every world leader ((0,7s)) looks at ((0,2s))

their role ((1,5s)) indeed ((0,7s)) no ((0,5s)) less than privacy ((0,5s)) physical safety

((0,5s)) is also an inalienable right ((1,2s)) physical safety ((0,4s)) is also an inalienable

right ((0,5s)) and a government that abdicates its duty to ensure the safety of its citizens

violates the rights no less than a government that ((0,4s)) [breath] silences dissidents or

imprisons accused criminals without trial ((1,3s)) [applause] and so folks ((0,4s))

[applause] even ((1,1s)) even as we gather here today our enemies are employing every

tool they can muster to conduct new and devastating attacks like the ones that struck New

York London Madrid ((0,7s)) and many other places around the globe ((1,1s)) to stop

them ((0,9s)) we must use every legitimate tool available ((0,5s)) law enforcement

military intelligence technology that's [that is] consistent ((0,6s)) [breath] with our

principles our laws and our values ((1,0s)) we're [we are] fighting on many fronts ((0,6s))

from the brave men and women serving abroad in our militaries ((1,4s)) to the patient and

tireless law enforcement vessels investigating complex and suspicial [suspicious]

financial networks ((1,2s)) just this week our customs and border protection ((0,8s)) using

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passenger information data apprehended a suspect ((0,4s)) in the attempted bombing of

New York's Time Square ((0,7s)) as he sought to flee the country ((1,2s)) it is vital that

we maintain every capacity we have under the law ((0,2s)) to stop such attacks and for

that reason ((0,6s)) we believe that the terrorist financed tracking programme is essential

to our security ((0,3s)) as well as the Euro's presumptive me to say ((1,0s)) it has provided

critical leads to counterterrorism investigations on both sides of the Atlantic disrupting

plots and ((0,5s)) all the million saving lives ((0,8s)) it is built ((0,2s)) it is built in

redundancies ((0,4s)) [breath] that ensure personal information as respected and used only

for counterterrorism purposes ((0,9s)) but I don't [do not] blame you for questioning that

((0,8s)) we understand your concerns ((0,6s)) as a consequence for working together

((0,6s)) to address that ((0,6s)) and I'm [I am] absolutely confident ((0,2s)) that we can

succeed ((0,7s)) to both use the tool ((0,8s)) and guarantee privacy ((0,8s)) it's [it is]

important that we do so ((0,5s)) it is important that we do so as quickly as possible ((1,3s))

as a former United States senator ((0,6s)) I also know how hard it can be ((0,3s)) [breath]

to make the hard choices required by global challenges ((0,3s)) [breath] while staying true

to local values ((1,4s)) all of you are ((0,4s)) [breath] going through that every time you

vote in this Parliament I suspect ((1,2s)) the longer we are without an agreement ((0,5s))

on the terrorist financing tracking programme the greater the risk of a terrorist attack that

could have been prevented ((0,6s)) as leaders we share a responsibility to do everything

we can within the law to protect ((0,4s)) the eight hundred million people we collectively

serve ((1,0s)) we disagreed before ((0,7s)) we'll [we will] surely disagree again ((0,8s))

but I'm [I am] equally convinced that the United States and Europe can meet the

challenges of the twenty first century ((0,6s)) as we did in the twentieth century if ((0,2s))

we talk and listen to one another ((0,7s)) [applause] if we are honest with one another

[applause] ((7,0s)) [applause] ladies and gentlemen ((1,0s)) courage Winston Churchill

taught us ((1,2s)) is what it takes to stand up and to speak ((1,5s)) courage is also what it

takes to sit down and listen ((1,9s)) all this afternoon I have done all the speaking ((0,7s))

be assured that I ((0,2s)) my government my president ((0,8s)) that we are back in the

business of listening ((0,5s)) listening to our allies ((1,0s)) ladies and gentlemen it is no

accident ((0,6s)) that Europe was my first overseas destination as vice-president ((0,6s))

and also the president's ((0,2s)) it is no accident ((0,3s)) [breath] that we've [we have]

already returned several times since then ((0,7s)) the United States ((0,2s)) needs ((0,3s))

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Europe ((1,1s)) and I respectfully submit ((0,6s)) Europe ((0,2s)) needs the United States

((0,5s)) we need each other more now ((0,3s)) [applause] than we have [applause] ((0,5s))

[applause] than ever ((7,7s)) [applause] so I view this week's anniversary as providing a

welcome opportunity ((0,7s)) to reaffirm ((0,2s)) the bond our peoples forged long ago in

the fires of adversity ((0,9s)) now as then ((0,6s)) in the pursuit of ideals and in the search

of partners ((0,7s)) Europeans and Americans looked to each other ((0,6s)) before they

look to anyone else ((0,8s)) now as then ((0,8s)) we are honoured and grateful ((0,6s)) to

be by your side ((0,7s)) in the struggles yet to come ((1,3s)) so again I'm [I am] here to

state unequivocally ((0,8s)) President Obama ((0,6s)) and Joe Biden ((0,5s)) strongly

((0,5s)) support ((0,4s)) a united ((1,0s)) a free ((0,2s)) an open ((0,3s)) Europe we

strongly support ((0,3s)) which you are about here ((0,7s)) we wish you Godspeed ((0,6s))

and may God bless you all and may God protect all of our troops thank you very very

much ((41,4s)) [applause]

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APPENDIX 2: Spanish Interpretation

aquí hoy ((0,4s)) este Parlamento Europeo ((0,5s)) tiene usted la palabra ((17,0s)) señor

presidente ((0,9s)) muchísimas gracias ((0,5s)) por su cálida acogida ((0,3s)) [breath] me

encantara recibirle en Washington en la Casa Blanca ((1,1s)) y desde luego me honra

((0,4s)) sobremanera e incluso un privilegio ((0,3s)) poder dirigir la palabra ((0,7s))

[breath] a esta gusta cámara ((1,0s)) fui miembro ((1,0s)) de un parlamento que solo tenía

cuaren/ cuatrocientos treinta y cinco miembros en total el parlamento estadounidense este

es uno mayor incluso dado del número mayor de diputados que hay ((1,8s)) con el

presidente Reagan me acuerdo muy bien de él y su discurso aquí en el año ochenta y cinco

((0,4s)) me acuerdo muy bien ((1,2s)) y ((1,0s)) citando lo que dijo ((0,4s)) a un poeta

((0,8s)) irlandés ((0,2s)) William Butler Yeats que habló de su país ((1,4s)) [breath]

[noise] euh que habló entonces [noise] del domingo de Pascua mil novecientos dieciséis

((0,2s)) todo ha cambiado ha cambiado completamente y radicalmente una enorme

belleza ha surgido ((0,7s)) mucho ha cambiado ((0,9s)) desde mil ((0,3s)) novecientos

sesenta y cinco discurso de presidente Raegan mucho ha cambiado ((1,3s)) [noise] citando

al poeta Yeats y ha surgido una enorme y tremenda belleza ((0,2s)) y por ello ((0,8s))

ustedes ((0,6s)) lo saben damas y caballeros señorías ((1,3s)) no solamente complace

volver aquí a Bruselas ((1,4s)) por segunda vez en calidad de vicepresidente sabrán

ustedes también ((0,4s)) que algunos políticos estadounidenses y periodistas hablan de

Washington la capital federal ((1,3s)) como la capital del mundo libre ((1,0s)) pero me

parece a mí más bien ((0,2s)) que en esta gran ciudad ((0,6s)) que se jacta [jacta:] de más

de [de:] mil años de historia aquí en Bruselas y que es la capital de Bélgica ((0,7s))

[breath] la sede de de la Unión Europe [Europea] también es la sede central de la OTAN

esta ciudad tiene también entonces más que un derecho más que legítimo para alcanzar

este título ((1,4s)) [breath] llevo treinta y seis años euh como parlamentario

estadounidense ((0,4s)) como legislador ((0,2s)) y me siento honrado dirigir la palabra al

Parlamento Europeo ((0,2s)) el presidente Obama y yo ((0,6s)) fuimos los primeros

((1,0s)) en los últimos cincuenta años Estados Uni [Estados Unidos] fuimos los únicos

candidatos a presidente y vicepresidente llevando al poder a Washington ((0,3s)) desde

las cámaras legislativas el senado y la y el cámara de representantes tenemos cargos en el

90

hecho de ejecutivo y apreciamos perfectamente el labor porque la hicimos nosotros

((0,4s)) que es éste es un bastión de la democracia europea juntos de consumo ((0,3s))

[breath] junto con mis colegas en el congreso estadounidense mis antiguos colegas

ustedes y yo representamos más de ((0,3s)) [breath] ochocientas millones de personas

ocho cientos millones ((0,5s)) euh pedite un momento piénsenlo ((0,7s)) dos órganos

electos ((0,2s)) [breath] que garantizan y hacen las leyes para ((0,3s)) una octava parte de

la población del planeta tierra y converso a norteamericanos y ustedes ((0,4s)) [breath] es

algo sorprendente y admirable y el tratado de Lisboa además ((0,2s)) [breath] ustedes

asumen más facultades y más responsabilidades ((1,2s)) que vienen entonces desde

influencias acrecentadas y lo celebramos ((0,9s)) lo celebramos porque nosotros Estados

Unidos necesita aliados fuertes y alianzas fuertes para ayudarnos a arrostrar diferente a

los problemas del siglo veintiuno ((0,9s)) muchos ustedes ya han dicho ((0,3s)) muchos

que son ((0,3s)) iguales y muchos que también son de similares diferentes pero son

problemas ((0,5s)) lo diré de la forma más clara posible para que se me entienda para que

me queda claro ((0,3s)) [breath] la administración y el gobierno de Obama y Biden

((0,8s)) [breath] [noise] es perfectamente consciente de que necesita apoyo muy fuerte

((0,5s)) de una Unión Europea fuerte y vibrante llena de empuje creemos que es esencial

((0,2s)) [breath] lo sabemos [inaudible] gobierno americano es esencial para la

prosperidad ((0,3s)) y seguridad a largo plazo del país Estados Unidos no tenga ninguna

duda al respecto ((2,6s)) cuando yo era presidente de la comisión del Senado para Asuntos

Exteriores durante mucho tiempo tuve ocasión de reunirme ((0,5s)) con muchísimos euh

legisladores y parlamentarios europeos ((0,6s)) incluso algunos de ustedes que están aquí

presentes hoy ((1,4s)) con lo cual agradezco me [inaudible] tras centésimos años de

actividad en el senado ((1,4s)) el ((0,4s)) importante paso que se ha dado al crear que el

único m/ parlamento multinacional en el mundo elegido por sufragio universal es un paso

significativo y enorme tanto ha cambiado ((1,5s)) y me complace ((0,6s)) que a través

((0,3s)) del diálogo transatlántico y legislativo estamos construyendo una fuerte relación

((0,4s)) con el congreso estadounidense y espero ((0,6s)) [breath] que la oficina que

abrieron en el [inaudible] en Washington la semana pasada va a reforzar dichos vínculos

((0,2s)) entre ustedes y nosotros ((0,3s)) [breath] durante sesenta y cinco años ((0,1s))

sesent/ hace sesenta y cinco años ((0,2s)) este mismo día ((0,3s)) a doscientos kilómetros

al sur de aquí ((0,9s)) los líderes nazis firmaron la rendición incondicional que puso final

91

a la Segunda Guerra Mundial aquí en Europa ((1,6s)) al día siguiente de esa rendición

hubo júbilo ((0,2s)) que surgieron en Times Square y en Piccadilly Circus ((0,9s)) la gente

bailaba por las calles en los Campos Elíseos ((0,3s)) y en todas las plazas mayores y todo

el mundo aliado aquí en Bruselas también ((0,9s)) se hice entonces una misa de acción de

gracias ((0,3s)) y la gente canta entonces los himnos nacionales de Bélgica los Estados

Unidos y Gran Bretaña ((1,4s)) en aquel día lleno de júbilo ((0,2s)) el día ocho de mayo

de mil novecientos cuarenta y cinco del final de la segunda Guerra Mundial este

continente estaba destrozado ((0,7s)) destrozado dos veces por guerras completas y

mundiales en menos de treinta años la primera y la segunda ((0,2s)) [breath] en aquel

momento [inaudible] ((0,7s)) una Europa pacífica y unida ((0,2s)) una Europa un

Parlamento Europeo incluso ((0,2s)) parecería entonces una quimera ((0,8s)) para

cualquier persona que subiera prestar recapicitarlo ((0,7s)) también tuvo haber vivido la

guerra y a pesar de todo ((0,4s)) a través y ante la voluntad de sus conciudadanos y de sus

estadistas ((0,6s)) Jean Henri Spaak ((0,9s)) ac/ está dedicada esta esta gran forma a esta

persona ((0,4s)) el s/ señor Schuman y Jean Monnet también ((0,6s)) la visión ((0,8s)) que

pergeñó entonces al parlamento y que le dieron la presidencia entonces ((0,3s)) del

congreso pa/ euh euh y euh de la libertad por el norte que le die/ presidente esta/

estadounidense estamos aquí todo reunidos en esta sala ((1,4s)) lo que comenzó entonces

((0,5s)) como un pacto entre seis países para crear un mercado común para carbono y el

acero ((0,5s)) se convirtió creciendo ((0,3s)) en una fuente de poder económica y política

enorme ((0,2s)) una economía dedicada a la libre libertad ((0,5s)) libre circulación y libre

movimiento de personas una ((0,3s)) Europa que algunos historiadores ((0,5s)) no han

llamado un lugar en el mundo sino una idea no es un lugar geográfico es una idea ((0,2s))

y estoy aquí para reafirmar ((0,6s)) lo que creemos el presidente Obama y yo creemos en

esta idea se lo quiero comunicar y por eso creemos en el mundo mejor en una Europa

mejor ((1,4s)) que ha conseguido entonces aportar esta idea que cunde en el mundo una

Europa en la que los países miembros ((0,3s)) [breath] gozan a través de acuerdos

comerciales entonces comerciales luchar ((0,4s)) [breath] contra el deterioro

medioambiental con una única voz en una Europa que también fomenta los valores

culturales y políticos que mi país comparte con todos ustedes ((0,2s)) una Europa ((0,3s))

completa ((0,4s)) unida que es libre ((0,5s)) y una Europa que está en paz ((10,0s))

[applause] como presidente Obama dijo ((0,4s)) en Praga hace más o menos un año

92

((0,2s)) una Europa fuerte ((1,5s)) se convierte en una alianza fuerte para los Estados

Unidos y necesitamos una alianza así fuerte por ese motivo ((0,3s)) haremos lo que esté

en nuestra mano y todo ((0,3s)) para apoyar a esta gran empresa en la que ha que ha

emprendido Europa ((0,3s)) los últimos sesenta y cinco años han demostrado ((0,4s)) que

cuando los estadounidenses y los europeos aúnan esfuerzos a un objetivo común ((0,4s))

nada nos puede parar podemos alcanzar lo que queramos ((0,4s)) juntos de consuno

((0,3s)) [breath] el plan Marshall ((0,4s)) reconstruimos Europa ((0,8s)) hicimos la mayor

inversión en capital e/ e/ en la historia humana construimos entonces ((0,3s)) [breath] la

alianza de seguridad más importante del mundo a la que más ha dudado OTAN ((0,5s)) y

también una fuerza militar que ha unido a mi país y a los suyos acercándonos aún más en

las décadas posteriores juntos ((0,6s)) [breath] hemos creado la mayor relación comercial

en el mundo la historia del mundo ((0,6s)) hablo del cuarenta por ciento ((0,2s)) del

comercio mundial ((1,3s)) creando entonces una prosperidad sin precedentes e

innovación tecnológica para todos nosotros y todos juntos ((0,3s)) hemos apartado en

ayuda y socorra que ellos que sufren entonces catástrofes humanitarias ((0,4s)) en todos

los rincones del mundo lugares que entardaría mucho tiempo decirlos ((0,3s)) los

Balcanes el Congo y también Haití ((0,4s)) que estamos aun trabajando en ello ((0,6s))

aquellos escépticos ((0,3s)) que a pesar de todos los logros ((0,3s)) siguen diciendo y

ponen en tela de juicio ((0,2s)) la relación e el estado de las relaciones transatlánticas y

un actitud ((0,3s)) de Estados Unidos hacia una Europa unidad mi respuesta es esta

((1,4s)) incluso aunque los Estados Unidos ((0,3s)) y los países que ustedes representan

todos no estuvieran unidas por valores ((0,4s)) [noise] y para un patrimonio común

((0,4s)) que una a millones de personas ((0,3s)) y yo me incluyo ((0,3s)) nuestros intereses

globales de forma ineluctable nos unidan ((0,5s)) de forma indisoluble ((0,5s)) las

relaciones entre mi país y Europa ((0,4s)) es sin duda ((0,2s)) es tan fuerte y tan importante

((1,2s)) como ((1,2s)) es tan importante para nosotros y así hoy es más fuerte que nunca

((0,4s)) este siglo ha aportado dificultades ((0,7s)) notan no menos peligrosos que los del

siglo veinte y ahora todos juntos [noise] ((0,5s)) estamos asumiéndolos uno a uno son

difíciles desde luego ((0,7s)) habrá desacuerdos se sabe de inicial pero estamos

arrostrando los todos juntos el cambio climático ((0,3s)) uno de las grandes amenazas

para nuestro planeta ((0,4s)) mi país y Europa trabajan para garantizar que todos los países

sobre todo las economías más importantes del mundo ((0,4s)) coadyuven para llegar a

93

una solución global ((0,7s)) todos tomamos y dimos ((1,2s)) todos ((0,4s)) dimos un paso

importante en Copenhagen ((0,5s)) ahora ((0,3s)) tenemos que poner en marcha ((0,2s))

los recortes emisiones la financiación y transparencia ((0,2s)) que se exigen en dicho

acuerdo de Copenhagen ((0,8s)) y también necesitamos ayudar a los países más

vulnerables ((0,4s)) desde el norte el árctico norte hacia las islas del pacífico ((0,5s)) que

son desde luego ((0,7s)) los mensajeros de esta crisis que [noise] se avecina que están en

la vanguardia ((0,5s)) [breath] en Afganistán y en Pakistán ((0,2s)) países con problemas

trabajamos para acabar entonces destruir ((0,2s)) y derrotar Al Qaeda y el Talibán ((0,4s))

y también para ((0,3s)) capacitar y formar ((0,3s)) aun a la policía y ejército a grano para

que su gobierno pueda proteger a su propia gente ((0,2s)) sin nuestra ayuda y no ser una

amenaza para los sus vecinos ((0,7s)) para construir entonces la capacidad de gobierno

Afganistán los Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea y los países miembros ((1,1s)) están

destacando enormes recursos civiles ((0,4s)) financieros y militares ((1,9s)) al apoyando

estas misiones importantes esto no ha sido siempre muy popular a Afganistán ((0,3s))

pero saben ustedes ((0,3s)) todos sabemos que se exige que es necesario ((0,3s)) como

líderes ((0,3s)) es nuestra obligación ((0,2s)) explicar ésto a nuestros poblaciones que es

necesario ((0,3s)) en pro de nuestra seguridad colectiva ((0,9s)) aunque créame se lo digo

((0,6s)) soy político ((0,7s)) y yo voy ya en cargos públicos treinta y ocho años entiendo

((0,8s)) que no es fácil explicar a toda la gente les te lo garantizo ((1,2s)) es tan impopular

en mi país ((0,2s)) como lo es aquí en Europa en cualquier de sus países ((1,7s)) por eso

mi país Estados euh y esta y Europa estamos juntos codo a codo ((0,8s)) para que Irán no

se dote de armas nucleares esto pondría en peligro a los ciudadanos ((0,2s)) y sería una

amenaza para sus vecinos incluyendo algunos de nuestros más fuertes aliados juntos

((0,4s)) nos em/ juntos nos embarcamos en una vía sin precedentes ((0,8s)) de

confrontación y de ((1,4s)) y de diálogo con los líderes iraníes estamos ahora ((0,2s))

bloc/ ((0,7s)) enfrentando los [inaudible] ((1,6s)) a pesar de lo que algunos escépticos

pensaron el presidente era serio en lo que dijo ((3,4s)) tendremos la mano a alguna a

cualquie/ cualquier persona ((0,4s)) que convierta su puño en una mano ((0,3s)) y el

presidente Obama y yo luego estamos dispuestos a tratar ((0,6s)) con Irán sobre la base

de intereses y respeto mutuo podremos tratar ((0,3s)) que el puño se convierte en mano

extendida ((0,3s)) y también dijimos a los líderes iraníes como pueden empezar ((0,2s))

a construir confianza en la ((0,3s)) comunidad internacional ((0,3s)) e incluyendo ((0,3s))

94

el facilitar el acceso ((0,2s)) a sus centrales nucleares que estaban cerradas [noise] ((0,4s))

que ni siquiera reconocieron su existencia ((0,5s)) y también ((1,6s)) tiene un reactor

entonces en que la el de uranio se enriquezca fuera de sus fronteras pero como hemos

visto el mundo actualmente [noise] es que los líderes iraníes ((0,7s)) han desdeñado

nuestros esfuerzos de buena fe ((0,2s)) y siguen tomando medidas que ponen entonces en

peligro la estabilidad regional ((0,7s)) lo dejar lo diré claramente sin pelos en la lengua

((0,3s)) el programa nuclear de Irani [Irán] ((0,2s)) viola su obligación de [inaudible] del

tratado ((0,3s)) de no proliferación nuclear lo vulnera y también puede poner en marcha

((0,8s)) una euh carrera nuclear en el Oriente Próximo ((0,6s)) sería una ironía desde

luego ((0,9s)) no sería irónico creo yo ((1,4s)) al caer el Telón de Acero ((1,8s)) y las

amenazas conjuntas y mutuas ((0,9s)) de la destrucción mutuo asegurada de la Unión

Soviética antes aparecido entre grandes potencias ((0,4s)) no sería irónico que hubiera

otra carrera nuclear ((0,3s)) y que surge debido ((0,9s)) algunas de las zonas más

inestables del mundo la zona de Irán ((0,8s)) sería una ironía desde luego ((0,4s)) que

nuestros ((0,2s)) hijos y nietos y tataranietos nunca nos perdonarían creo si esto fuera así

((0,5s)) por permitir que esto acae/ acaeciera ((1,0s)) además de esto ((0,9s)) la jefatura

iraníe apoya a grupos terroristas ((1,3s)) y este apoyo no ha amainado en absoluto ((0,6s))

y siguen desde luego lo que es muy censurable persiguiendo a los iraníes ((0,3s)) que de

forma pacífica ((0,3s)) se manifiestan buscando justicia ((2,9s)) aportamos el deber de

todos los gobiernos ((0,4s)) que deben estos sus a ciudadanos ((1,2s)) tenemos una dura

decisión ante nosotros cumplir normas internacionales y unirse a la comunidad de euh

países responsables ((0,3s)) y esperemos que lo hagan ((1,1s)) o/ o bien que arrostren

((0,2s)) más aislamiento y otras consecuencias ante la amenaza que plantea Irán ((1,2s))

estamos comprometidos a garantizar la seguridad de todos nuestros aliados ((0,5s)) por

ese motivo [noise] ((1,2s)) tenemos antes un programa adapta/ ((0,3s)) adaptado entonces

a defensa por misiles para defendernos contra ataques de cuantos de misiles contra este

continente contra este continente def/ ((0,3s)) el problema de ((0,5s)) misiles ((0,5s))

adaptados a ataques a posibles ataques ((0,4s)) de misiles iraníes también trabajamos en

la OTAN ((0,4s)) para prepararnos para otras amenazas a la seguridad futura incluyendo

seguridad nuclear y ciberseguridad ((0,7s)) y seguiremos apoyando en la colaboración

nuclear entre la OTAN ((0,3s)) y la y euh el [la] Unión Europea ((0,2s)) Unión militar

entre el OTAN y los Estados Unidos el año pasado mi país y Europa ((0,2s)) actuaron con

95

prontitud cuando ((0,6s)) estábamos sufriendo una enorme ((0,2s)) crisis económica la

más fuerte desde la gran depresión al hacer esto ((0,8s)) de forma colectiva impedimos

un colapso ((2,2s)) la gente hablaba de un colapso completo ((0,3s)) [inaudible] y hemos

impedido entre nosotros con nuestro esfuerzo colectivo ((0,3s)) el presidente Obama y yo

((0,3s)) estamos muy al tanto de la crisis económica y financiera en Grecia y los esfuerzos

de la Unión Europea para acercas a euh euh al ocuparse de ella ((0,4s)) celebramos

((0,5s)) el paquete de apoyo que Europa está m/ estudiando junto con el Fondo Monetario

Internacional ((0,8s)) y daremos nuestro apoyo de forma directa y a través del FMI de los

esfuerzos ((0,3s)) para rescatar ((0,5s)) a Grecia ((1,4s)) estos ejemplos y otros que a ver

hubo podido mencionar muestran porque Europa sigue siendo no solamente ((0,2s)) el

socio comercial más importante para los Estados Unidos y también nuestro más

importante aliado damas y caballeros sus predecesores ((0,7s)) se unieron hace seis

décadas ((0,4s)) esta semana para empezar construir instituciones ((0,4s)) para que

((0,2s)) el siglo veinte y los capítulos más oscuros no se volvieron a repetir en el

continente europeo ((0,6s)) de lo que quedaba del siglo o el siglo siguiente estas

instituciones esta institución ((1,0s)) ha sido un enorme éxito ((0,8s)) pero ahora debemos

fijarnos ((0,6s)) en los retos y dificultades ((0,2s)) del siglo veintiuno ((0,5s)) al que cité

en la medida ((1,9s)) el mundo ha cambiado completamente ((0,6s)) totalmente ((0,6s))

ha surgido una enorme belleza ((1,1s)) quizás la tarea más completa más compleja ((0,3s))

[breath] que debemos arrostrar ((1,1s)) es la que sufren nuestros ciudadanos por euh

((0,3s)) agentes no estatales y por extremistas violentos sobre todo ((1,7s)) estas

extremistas violentos y ((0,2s)) pudieran hacerse ((0,4s)) con armas de destrucción

masiva ((0,6s)) el peligro sería inmenso ((0,4s)) este azote ((0,3s)) no respeta fronteras

ninguna frontera ((0,6s)) ningún país solo ((0,3s)) por muy fuerte que sea ((0,3s)) por

mucho ((0,2s)) por muy próspera u organizado o capaz que sea ((0,5s)) no podrá hacer

frente a esta amenaza sola ((1,2s)) solamente podrá hacer lo bien y podremos contener y

atajar la amenaza ((0,3s)) si lo convertimos en una causa común y es precisamente lo que

tenemos que hacer ((1,2s)) las [la:s] nuevas facultades ((0,3s)) conferidas con el li/

((0,3s)) Lisboa a este parlamento ((0,4s)) le dieron con más fuerte ((0,6s)) y también un

ver m/ el/ le euh les impone esa tarea de gobernar con más responsabilidad el congreso

de mi país y ustedes ((0,2s)) quieren proteger a los ciudadanos ((0,3s)) sin ceder entonces

los derechos fundamentales ((0,4s)) en los que se basan nuestras sociedades ((2,4s)) estoy

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total estoy plena de confianza ((0,2s)) que podemos ((0,6s)) y debemos proteger a la

población y libe/ y preservar nuestras libertades [noise] ((0,6s)) desde que asumió el cargo

asumió el cargo ((0,3s)) el año pasado yo y el presidente Obama ((0,2s)) estamos seguidos

con nuestros presuntos constitucionales son imperativos ((0,9s)) para buscar una unión

mejor ((1,9s)) para cumplir ese objetivo ((0,3s)) una de las medidas oficiales que tomamos

((0,2s)) fue acabar con las prácticas de interrogación ((0,5s)) interrogatorios que habían

aportado poquísimos resultados y que no podíamos con buena consciencia proseguir

((0,9s)) las prácticas interrogatorios de presos de terrorismo ((5,7s)) [applause]

decretamos ((0,2s)) el centro ((0,3s)) [noise] de la vida Guantánamo centro interrogatorio

que era un símbolo de injusticia ((0,2s)) y al mismo tiempo una lema para que se unan

terroristas ((0,3s)) y daba ánimo a los terroristas ((4,1s)) [applause] agradecemos el

esfuerzo que tantos de ustedes aunque sean muy difíciles [noise] para ustedes que nos

dieron ((1,0s)) en esta empresa un apoyo que nos diera [noise] esta empresa ((0,4s))

hicimos porque porque ustedes el presidente Obama y yo ((0,2s)) rechazamos entonces

la elección falsa entre seguridad ((0,5s)) e ideales ((1,6s)) tenemos que mantener nuestros

principios nos hará más fuertes ((2,4s)) y ponerlos en juicio lo que haces minar los

esfuerzos ((0,2s)) en la lucha contra extremismo violento ((0,7s)) para que sirve el

objetivo es ((0,2s)) precisamente cambiar ((0,6s)) haga los extremistas cambiar nuestros

valores cambiar ((0,4s)) aquello lo que creemos cambiar la forma en que vivimos y nos

organizamos ((0,3s)) ocho días después de los ataques del once de septiembre ((0,3s))

dije a un grupo ((0,3s)) de miles de estudiantes universitarios en mi país ((1,1s)) que no

pueden tolerar que la tra/ esta tragedia ((0,5s)) acabe con nuestra forma de vida porque es

justamente ((0,4s)) lo que pretenden lo que buscan los terroristas acabar con nuestro estilo

de vida también les dije que América ((0,4s)) no pueden ganar en esta euh lucha actuando

sola ((0,3s)) estas palabras quizás ((0,4s)) nos habría justado hacia ideas común y

aceptadas en aquel momento la sazón pero creo que al final ((0,2s)) resultó que eran

ciertas ((0,5s)) y siguen siendo igual de válidas hoy ((0,6s)) no hace falta que les diga a

este público ((0,2s)) la tradición de lo que puede ((0,2s)) seguro por no poder hacerse de

proteger a ciudadanos ((0,3s)) de invasiones del gobierno subida privada un compromiso

((0,7s)) cimentado en el respeto para la dignidad inherente ((0,2s)) de todas las personas

[noise] ((0,4s)) los llamamos entonces enton/ derechos inalienable ((0,3s)) son derechos

((0,2s)) inalienables están plasmados en nuestra constitución ((1,0s)) el compromiso

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estadounidense a la vida privada ((0,5s)) es enorme y profunda ((0,5s)) tan profunda como

la suya ((1,0s)) nuestra constitución tiene la cuarta enmienda que protege a los

particulares ((0,7s)) contra decomisos o búsquedas de registros se euh no fundamentados

por parte del estado ((0,3s)) uno de los juristas más famosos ((0,4s)) lo denominó ((1,1s))

el cito el derecho ((0,6s)) a que uno lo dejen en paz ((0,7s)) que solo dejen supremo por

esta ((0,2s)) el Tribunal Supremo ha dejado claro muchas resoluciones que la vida privada

((0,9s)) es un derecho protegido por la constitución es un derecho fundamental ((0,4s))

igual que en la Unión Europea ((0,4s)) el Tribunal Supremo ((0,8s)) lo ha denominado

esto como un asunto de ((0,3s)) dignidad personal ((0,4s)) el derecho a la vida privada a

la intimidad ((1,0s)) a [noise] la escala personal ((0,5s)) durante treinta y seis años en mi

carrera he defendido los derechos a la vida privada ((2,1s)) en el Senado de Estado/

Estados Unidos cada año ((2,9s)) se dan ganadores a las personas que defienden derechos

civiles ((0,4s)) y cada año ((2,1s)) y el presidente Obama ((0,3s)) nos llaman como de los

más firmes defensores de aquellas personas que lo hacemos ((1,0s)) porque ((0,3s))

porque ((1,9s)) lo digo porque nuestro gobierno está comprometido en defender de

derechos individuales ((0,8s)) cambiar ahora sería entonces ((0,7s)) un error y denegaría

todo lo que yo he querido y yo he defendido ((0,5s)) sería ((0,9s)) y lo que he hecho en

mi país en los últimos treinta y siete años [noise] ((2,3s)) cuando yo era entonces

presidente de la Comisión del Senado ((0,3s)) de asuntos judiciales ((0,4s)) que defiende

entonces si que confirma a los nombrados por el presidente para cargos judiciales ((0,7s))

siempre formaba parte de los más firmes defensores de libertades civiles ((1,7s)) y

entonces yo lo que hacía era hablar entonces de los con los jueces ((0,3s)) para ver lo que

opinaba de estas ideas antes de poder ser nombrados al [inaudible] tribunales ((0,4s)) el

presidente Obama y yo también creemos ((0,4s)) que la tarea fundamental ((0,5s)) la tarea

más solemne de un gobierno es proteger a los ciudadanos ((0,8s)) a los ciudadanos a los

que tienen que servir ((0,7s)) así como los derechos ((0,6s)) a los que están habilitados a

los que tienen derecho el presidente Obama ha dicho que para que el país ((0,6s)) esté

((0,6s)) cuando se levanta por la mañana solo piensa en una cosa que es y el último que

hace al acostarse justamente como acerque su país Estados Unidos en nuestro ((0,5s))

siga e/ entonces seguro espero que todos los líderes mundiales ((0,2s)) piensen lo mismo

por esa función de todos ellos ((0,5s)) mantener nuestro país seguro ((1,8s)) la seguridad

física aparte de la intimidad ((0,2s)) es un derecho inalienable ((1,3s)) la seguridad física

98

((0,7s)) es un derecho repito inalienable cualquier gobierno que abdique su de su deber

((0,3s)) para garantizar seguridad de su población vulnera los derechos ((0,3s)) y

cualquier gobernaría ((0,4s)) cuando reprime a los disidentes o mete a la gente en la cárcel

sin juicio previo así pues [noise] ((0,5s)) señoras y caballeros incluso ((0,3s)) en esta

reunión de hoy ((0,3s)) lo nuestros enemigos están utilizando cualquier instrumento y

arma ((1,7s)) para hacer ataques devastadores y destructivos como los que hicieron y

atacaron a Nueva York ((0,3s)) Londres y Madrid entre muchos lugares del mundo

((0,4s)) para acabar con ellos para apagarles ((0,6s)) utilicemos todos los instrumentos

legítimos que tengamos ((0,3s)) la policía la inteligencia los militares ((0,3s)) contra

inteligencia y tecnología ((0,2s)) cuarentas con principios derechos y valores ((0,4s))

estamos luchando en muchos frentes ((1,2s)) hay soldados euh hombres y mujeres que

luchan con valentía en el extranjero ((0,5s)) hasta los profesionales investigación policía

que trabajan sin parar que utilizan entonces ((0,6s)) su saber para utilizar y entonces

estudiar redes financieros y complejas y sospechosas ((0,7s)) por ejemplo esta semana

utilizando entonces datos de pasajeros que detuvieron un so/ o/ o un sospechoso ((0,6s))

en el coche bomba que se/ que se colocó entonces en Times Square en Nueva York intenta

salir del país es sola es solo ((0,3s)) la policía de nuestro país [noise] mantenga nuestra

capacidad ((0,6s)) para acabar entonces con estos ataques y por este motivo ((1,5s)) el

programa de seguimiento de financiación terrorista es fundamental para la seguridad y

para el suyo ((1,0s)) a ver ((0,3s)) se ha presunto sobre mi parte a firmarlo a dado pistas

adecuadas ((0,5s)) para entonces hacer investigaciones contra terroristas en ambas partes

del Atlántico acabando con planes y salvando muchas vidas ((0,4s)) se basa entonces

((0,3s)) en ((0,9s)) duplicaciones ((0,3s)) para garantizar que se respeta la información

personal ((0,2s)) y solo se emplee para asuntos de la lucha en contra del terrorismo pero

no ((0,4s)) les acuso de poner en tela de juicio que tenemos sus preocupaciones ((0,5s))

por ello al trabajar juntos ((0,6s)) tenemos que tratar de esto estoy seguro totalmente

seguro que podremos culminar esto ((0,6s)) para utilizar los instrumentos en la lucha en

contra del terrorismo y garantizar la vida privada ((0,2s)) y derechos fundamentales

tenemos que hacerlo es importante ((0,2s)) y que lo hagamos lo antes posible ((1,5s))

[noise] yo soy senador oficio senador de los Estados Unidos también sé que ((0,3s)) es

muy difícil ((0,4s)) tomar decisiones muy duras que exigen retos globales ((0,4s))

manteniéndonos fieles a valores locales ((1,1s)) todos ustedes ((0,7s)) pasan por ello cada

99

vez que votan en este parlamento creo yo ((2,6s)) cuanto más tiempo estamos sin un

acuerdo en cuanto al programa de seguimiento de financiación de terroristas ((0,3s)) más

euhm riesgo m/ importante para ((0,2s)) de que nos puede impedir un ataque terrorista un

atentado tenemos que hacer todo lo posible dentro de la ley ((0,3s)) para proteger a los

ochocientas millones de personas a los [las] que servimos colectivamente ((0,5s)) antes

tuvimos desavenencias seguramente habrá desavenencias en el futuro ((0,5s)) estoy

convencido que Estados Unidos y Europa pueden hacer frente a los desafíos del siglo

veintiuno ((0,3s)) como dijimos no hace dificultades que superamos del siglo veinte si

hablamos y nos escu/ escuchamos mutuamente ((0,4s)) si somos honrados unos con otros

honrados ((6,3s)) [applause] damas y caballeros ((1,0s)) la valentía dijo Winston

Churchill ((1,6s)) es lo que hace falta para levantarse y hablar ((0,6s)) la valentía es

también lo que hace falta ((0,5s)) para sentarse y escuchar ((1,7s)) esta tarde ((0,6s)) yo

he sido el que ha más hablado ((0,4s)) les garantiza que yo y mi gobierno ((0,3s)) y mi

presidente ((1,8s)) estamos también ((0,2s)) escuchando atentamente a nuestros aliados

((0,3s)) lo hacemos ((0,3s)) damas y caballeros no es una euh azar ((0,4s)) que Europa

fue mi primer destino extranjero como vicepresidente ((0,5s)) y también del presidente

no es ninguna casualidad que ya hemos vueltos varias veces a este continente ((0,6s))

Estados Unidos ((0,3s)) necesita ((0,3s)) a Europa ((1,3s)) y yo ((0,6s)) un servidor dice

con toda humildad ((0,2s)) que Europa necesita a Estados Unidos ((0,4s)) nos necesitamos

mutuamente ahora más que nunca ((9,6s)) [noise] [breath] esta semana ((0,2s)) las el

aniversario del fin de la Segunda Guerra Mundial es un momento propicio para reafirmar

((0,4s)) los vínculos que unen a nuestros euh ((0,2s)) pueblos ((0,5s)) y que lo hicieron

ante la adversidad de la Segunda Guerra Mundial ahora igual que antes ((0,2s)) en la

consecución de ideas y en la búsqueda de socios ((0,5s)) estadounidenses y europeos se

miran mutuamente antes de mirar a cualquier otra persona ((0,7s)) [noise] ahora es igual

que antes ((0,2s)) estamos honrados y mutuamente agradecidos de estar a su lado ((0,3s))

[breath] en las luchas que tenemos que liberar ((1,1s)) de nuevo estoy aquí ((0,6s)) para

decir ((0,3s)) sin ningún tipo de equivoco el presidente Obama ((0,5s)) y Joe Biden un

servidor apoyamos firmemente ((3,1s)) una Europa fuerte unida y abierta apoyamos

((0,8s)) todo lo que hacen ustedes ((0,3s)) firmemente ((0,3s)) les deseamos entonces el

apoyo de Dios y que Dios les bendiga ((0,3s)) y que Dios bendiga todas nuestras tropas

muchas gracias ((40,2s)) [applause]

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APPENDIX 3: Dutch Interpretation

het parlement van Europa ((0,7s)) u heeft het word [applause] ((18s)) meneer de voorzitter

((0,6s)) hartelijk dank voor uw euh woorden van welkom ((0,5s)) u was zeer welkom in

Washington en in het Witte Huis ((0,4s)) en het is voor mij een euh zeer grote eer en ook

een euh groot voorrecht ((0,5s)) om een dergelijke ((1,7s)) assemblee te mogen

toespreken ((0,8s)) ik zetelde zelf in een parlement met slechts vierhonderd vijfendertig

leden en ((0,2s)) dat maakt deze eer des te groter ((3,4s)) toen euh ((0,3s)) president

Reagan u toesprak dat herinner ik mij nog in negentien vijfentachtig ((3,0s)) euh ((1,1s))

William Butler Yeats een Ierse euh dichter die sprak over Ierland in easter sunday night

((1,6s)) en toen zei hij alles is veranderd ((0,9s)) [noise] helemaal veranderd ((0,9s)) er is

een ((0,4s)) verschrikkelijke schoonheid ontstaan ((1,0s)) wel er is heel veel veranderd

sinds negentien vijfentachtig ((0,9s)) er is heel veel veranderd ((0,3s)) en er is ook een

afschuwelijke schoonheid ontstaan ((2,4s)) u weet ((0,3s)) dames en heren ((2,0s)) dat het

mij niet alleen bijzonder veel genoegen doet opnieuw hier in Brussel te zijn de tweede

maal als vicepresident ((0,9s)) euh maar u weet ook dat een aantal politi/ ((0,6s)) politici

en euh journalisten in de VS Washington DC de hoofdstad van de vrije wereld noemen

((1,4s)) maar ik denk dat in deze grote stad ((0,4s)) met euh ((0,5s)) een geschiedenis van

meer dan duizend jaar ((0,5s)) hoofdstad van België ((0,5s)) thuis van de Europese Unie

het hoofdkwartier van de NAVO wel deze stad [s:tad] heeft zeker ook een legitieme claim

op die titel ((4,0s)) ik zetel al meer dan zesendertig jaar in ons parlement en ik vind het

dan ook een zeer grote eer om dit Europees Parlement te mogen toespreken president

Obama en ikzelf ((0,5s)) waren de eerste running mates van de afgelopen jaren in Amerika

((1,2s)) die het Witte Huis hebben bereikt ((0,6s)) vanuit een wetgevingsinstantie ((1,2s))

dus ((0,6s)) wij ((0,4s)) hebben onze executieve functie ((0,2s)) aangevat met een ((0,2s))

enorme waardering voor uw werk hier in dit bastion ((0,3s)) van de Europese democratie

((0,8s)) samen met mijn euh collega's voormalige collega's van het Amerikaans Congres

((0,3s)) vertegenwoordigen [vertegen:woordigen] wij samen meer dan achthonderd

miljoen mensen ((0,4s)) u en wij ((0,7s)) denkt u daar eens even over na ((0,2s)) twee

verkozen instanties die je wetten vormgeven voor ongeveer een achtste van de

wereldbevolking dat is toch opmerkelijk ((0,9s)) en nu met het Verdrag van Lissabon

((0,5s)) heeft u meer bevoegdheden gekregen meer verantwoordelijkheid ((0,6s)) want

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dat vloeit ook voort uit die toegenomen invloed dat verwelkomen wij ((0,7s)) [breath]

omdat wij in de Verenigde Staten ((0,4s)) sterke bondgenoten nodig hebben en sterke

bondgenootschappen ((0,3s)) en zo kunnen wij dan de problemen van de eenentwintigste

eeuw aanpakken ((0,6s)) velen van die problemen zijn nog steeds dezelfde maar er zijn

er ook vele nieuwe vergeleken bij de vorige eeuw ((0,5s)) [breath] ik zeg het zo duidelijk

mogelijk ((1,3s)) de regering Obama Biden ((1,1s)) heeft er geen enkele twijfel over

((0,7s)) dat wij ((0,9s)) een bruisende Europese Unie nodig hebben en dat ondersteunen

wij dan ook het is voor ons van essentieel belang voor de Amerikaanse welvaart en de

veiligheid op lange termijn ((0,3s)) dus laat er geen ((0,2s)) twijfel over bestaan ((1,7s))

toen ik de commissie Buitenlandse Zaken van de Senaat al die jaren voorzat ((0,2s)) had

ik al de gelegenheid om ((0,3s)) heel veel Europese beleidsmakers uit nationale

parlementen en regeringen te ontmoeten velen ((0,3s)) zitten ook in deze zaal hier

vandaag ((0,8s)) en ((0,5s)) na al die jaren ((0,4s)) waardeer ik dus die belangrijke stap

die het is geweest ((0,2s)) om het enige multinationale parlement in de wereld tot stand

te brengen dat met algemene verkiezingen wordt verkozen ((0,8s)) er is dus heel veel

veranderd en het doet mij bijzonder veel genoegen dat via die trans-Atlantische

wetgevingsdialoog ((0,2s)) er nu ook een sterke ((0,4s)) euh relatie wordt aangeknoopt

met het Amerikaanse Congres ((0,6s)) [breath] en ik hoop dat uw bezoek aan Washington

van vorige maand die banden alleen maar nauwer zal maken ((0,8s)) [breath] deze week

vijfenzestig jaar geleden ((0,9s)) minder dan tweehonderd kilometer ten zuiden van hier

hebben de nazi-leiders euh hun overgave ondertekend zonder voorwaarde dat was het

einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog in Europa de dag nadien ((1,0s)) braken er allerlei

vieringen los op Piccadilly Circus op Time Square ((0,4s)) mensen op de Champs Elysees

euh ((0,3s)) euh vierden het einde van de oorlog en ook hier in Brussel ((0,8s)) er werd

ook een Thanksgiving dienst euh georganiseerd euh mensen in de kerken zongen de

nationale volksliederen van het Groot-Brittannië België en de VS ((1,0s)) op die

vreugdevolle dag acht mei ((0,3s)) negentien vijvenveertig ((2,0s)) euh lag ((0,7s)) ons

continent in ruïne lag dit continent in ruïne ((1,6s)) en op dat moment ((1,8s)) was er een

vreedzaam ((0,3s)) verenigd Europa ((0,7s)) een ((0,3s)) Europees ((0,4s)) Parlement

((0,3s)) leek toen nog een ((1,3s)) [breath] droombeeld ((0,9s)) voor iedereen die op dat

moment leefde ((1,0s)) maar dankzij de vastberadenheid van uw euh ((0,5s)) euh

landgenoten en Jean ((0,2s)) J/ Henri S/ ((0,2s)) Paul Henri Spaak ((0,3s)) Jean Monnet

102

((1,6s)) hun visies die uiteindelijk hebben geleid tot het parlement en waardoor zij ook de

((0,3s)) presidential medal of freedom hebben gekregen van president Johnson ((0,4s))

wel dat ((0,2s)) allemaal heeft ertoe geleid dat wij hier nu vandaag samenzitten ((2,0s))

wat begonnen is met een simpele overeenkomst tussen een handjevol laden om een

gemeenschappelijke markt voor kolen en staal te creëren is uitgegroeid tot een

economisch politieke macht ((1,9s)) euh toegewijd aan vrije meningsuiting vrije gedachte

((0,5s)) een Europa ((0,3s)) dat ((0,3s)) historisch ((0,4s)) niet zozeer als een ((0,2s)) plek

wordt bestempeld maar als een idee ((1,4s)) en president Obama en ikzelf ((0,3s)) geloven

heel sterk in dat idee ((1,8s)) we geloven in een betere wereld in een beter Europa want

((0,7s)) [breath] dat bestaat al voor een stuk ((0,5s)) een betere wereld ((0,4s)) waar

landen euh handelsovereenkomsten kunnen onderhandelen ((0,3s)) en waar zij met een

stem kunnen spreken ((0,4s)) een Europa dat ook de culturele politieke waarden

vertegenwoordigt dat mijn land met u deelt ((0,5s)) een Europa ((0,3s)) dat een geheel is

((0,3s)) een Europa dat vrij is en een Europa dat vrede kent [applause] ((9,6s)) president

Obama heeft het ongeveer een jaar geleden in Praag nog gezegd een sterk Europa ((0,8s))

is ook een sterke bondgenoot van de VS en daar hebben wij behoefte aan aan sterke

bondgenoten en partners en daarom zullen wij ook alles in het werk stellen ((0,4s)) om

((0,3s)) uw grote taak te ondersteunen ((0,5s)) in de afgelopen vijvenzestig jaar is wel

gebleken dat wanneer Amerikanen en Europeanen ((0,5s)) [breath] hun inspanningen

((0,4s)) richten op een gezamenlijk doel ((0,4s)) dat we dan alles kunnen bereiken ((0,3s))

samen via het Marshallplan hebben we Europa opgebouwd ((0,3s)) en hebben we wellicht

de grootste investering gedaan in de menselijke geschiedenis samen ((0,4s)) hebben we

ook euh NAVO opgebouwd een belangrijke bondgenootschap voor de veiligheid ((0,4s))

en nog maar eens een instelling die Europa en de VS samenbrengt en verbindt ((0,7s))

samen ((0,3s)) hebben wij ook de grootste handelsbetrekkingen uit de wereldgeschiedenis

opgebouwd ((0,6s)) euh zo'n veertig procent van de wereldhandel ((0,7s)) dat is ongezien

en heeft ook geleid tot welvaart en technologische innovatie ((0,5s)) samen ((0,6s))

hebben we ook hoop geboden ((0,4s)) aan de slachtoffers van humanitaire rampen op

meer plekken ((0,2s)) dan ik zou kunnen vermelden van de Westelijke Balkan tot Congo

tot onze huidige werkzaamheden in Haïti ((0,9s)) [breath] en sceptici die ondanks al deze

verwezenlijkingen nog steeds blijven twijfelen ((0,2s)) aan de trans-Atlantische banden

en ((0,3s)) euh betrekkingen ((1,1s)) en die twijfelen aan die sterkte van een verenigd

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Europa wil ik het volgende zeggen zelfs als de VS ((0,2s)) en alle landen die u

vertegenwoordigt niet verenigd zouden zijn door gedeelde waarden en een gedeelde euh

erfgoed ((0,5s)) van vele van onze burgers ik inclusief ((1,0s)) zouden wij ((0,4s)) nog

steeds met elkaar verbonden zijn ((1,2s)) door onze oorsprong de banden tussen mijn land

en Europa ((0,4s)) zijn zo sterk en zijn zo belangrijk ((1,9s)) voor ons allemaal als ze ooit

geweest zijn ((1,0s)) in deze eeuw hebben we nieuwe uitdagingen gezien die niet minder

gevaarlijk zijn dan die uit het verleden uit de twintigste eeuw en samen ((0,3s)) samen

((0,4s)) bieden we die uitdagingen een voor een het hoofd het is niet makkelijk en we

zullen het niet altijd eens zijn met elkaar maar ((0,4s)) we ((0,4s)) werken wel samen

klimaatverandering een van de grootste uitdagingen voor onze planeet ((0,4s)) wel de

Verenigde Staten en Europa zorgen er samen voor dat alle landen en met name de grote

economieën een bijdrage leveren aan een wereldoplossing ((1,0s)) wij ((2,2s)) hebben

allemaal samen een belangrijke stap gezet in Kopenhagen ((0,5s)) nu moeten we

inderdaad die ((0,3s)) terugdring van de emissie in de praktijk omzetten ((0,9s)) en we

moeten de meest kwetsbare landen helpen ((0,5s)) van het Arctische Noorden tot in de

euh tot in eilanden van de Stille Zuidzee want zij zijn de slachtoffers van deze sluimerende

crisis ((1,3s)) er zijn ook de problemen met Afghanistan en Pakistan ook daar werken we

samen om Al Qaeda en de Taliban strijders ((0,6s)) te bestrijden ((1,5s)) en we werken

ook aan de opleiding van een Afghaans leger en een politiemacht zodat ze hun eigen

mensen op termijn kunnen beschermen ((0,8s)) om Afghanistan euh weer op te bouwen

en euh ((0,3s)) regeringscapaciteit ((0,2s)) op te bouwen hebben de VS regering en de

NAVO ((0,6s)) financiële middelen ter beschikking gesteld en ook mensen ter

beschikking gesteld om te helpen ((0,9s)) dat zijn belangrijke missies en het onderhouden

daarvan is niet altijd populair maar u en ik weten dat dit nodig is wij zijn leiders en

daardoor hebben wij ook een ((0,3s)) [breath] plicht ((0,3s)) [noise] om aan onze

bevolking duidelijk te maken dat dit nodig is voor onze veiligheid onze gezamenlijke

veiligheid maar gelooft u mij vrij ((0,4s)) [breath] als euh politicus die in de afgelopen

achtendertig jaar een functie heeft vervuld ((0,3s)) euh begrijp ik maar al te best dat dat

niet eenvoudig is ik verzeker u het is euh niet meer populair in mijn land ((0,2s)) dan het

in uw landen is ((1,4s)) en dat is ook de reden waarom de Verenigde Staten en Europa zij

aan zij staan ((0,5s)) om ((0,3s)) euh Iran [noise] te verhinderen ((0,4s)) kernwapens te

produceren ((0,3s)) want dat zou een dreiging zijn voor de buren inclusief euh een aantal

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van onze ((0,2s)) naaste buren en bondgenoten ((0,2s)) samen ((0,5s)) samen ((0,4s)) zijn

wij een weg ingeslagen met engagement ten aanzien van de ((0,2s)) Iraanse bevolking

((4,6s)) [noise] en dames en heren ((0,6s)) euh ondanks wat de sceptici euh dachten

((0,3s)) en wat de president heeft gezegd ((0,5s)) kijk wij reiken de hand aan iedereen

((0,3s)) die niet langer een vuist maakt ((1,6s)) de president Obama ((0,2s)) heeft euh

gezegd dat er eventueel een overeenkomst mogelijk zou zijn met Iran op basis van

wederzijds respect en vertrouwen ((0,7s)) [breath] en we hebben aan onze bondgenoten

en de Iraanse leiders gezegd dat wij vertrouwen moeten opbouwen in de euh

internationale gemeenschap ((0,6s)) [breath] bijvoorbeeld door toegang te bieden tot de

eerder niet aangegeven faciliteiten in Iran ((0,5s)) en ((0,3s)) euh ook uitwisseling van

euh ((1,0s)) euh uranium voor een onderzoeksreactor ((0,4s)) maar ((0,3s)) [breath] de

hele wereld heeft ondertussen gezien dat Iraanse leiders ((0,6s)) euh niet ((1,5s)) die

reikende hand aannemen ((1,1s)) en ik zeg het dus heel duidelijk ((0,5s)) het nucleaire

programma van Iran ((0,3s)) is een schending van de plichten van het land uit hoofden

van het non-proliferatie verdrag en het ((0,4s)) euh zou eventueel een kernwedloop in het

Midden-Oosten tot stand kunnen brengen en zou dat niet ironisch zijn zou dat niet

ironisch zijn dat na de val van het Ijzeren Gordijn ((0,6s)) en euh wanneer die euh ((0,2s))

wederzijdse dreiging van wederzijdse vernietiging ((0,8s)) wegviel tussen de

supermachten ((0,4s)) dat er dan nu een nieuwe wapenwedloop zou ontstaan ((1,2s)) in

een aantal van de meest onstabiele ((0,7s)) regio's van de wereld dat zou toch ironisch

zijn ((0,6s)) onze kinderen kleinkinderen en achterkleinkinderen zouden ons dat volgens

mij niet vergeven als dat zou gebeuren ((0,7s)) bovendien ((1,0s)) steunen de Iraanse

leiders terroristische organisaties [noise] en ze blijven die organisaties ((0,3s)) verder

steunen ((1,4s)) [noise] en ze blijven ook euh eigen burgers vervolgen die vreedzaam

betogen op straat en vragen om rechtvaardigheid ((1,4s)) en ((0,6s)) [breath] dat is toch

een van de taken van alle regeringen ten aanzien van hun burgers ((0,6s)) kijk Teheran

moet een duidelijke keuze maken ofwel houdt men zich aan de internationale regels en

treedt men opnieuw toe tot de gemeenschap v/ internationale gemeenschap van

verantwoorde landen dat hopen wij ofwel moeten zij de gevolgen dragen en moeten zij

in isolement verder ((0,5s)) omwille van de dreiging ((0,2s)) die van hen uitgaat ((0,7s))

wij moeten de veiligheid van onze bondgenoten ((0,2s)) waarborgen ((0,2s)) en daarom

hebben wij ook dat euh ((0,4s)) euh ((0,8s)) rakettenbeschermingsprogramma uitgewerkt

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om de landen in dit continent in dit deel van de wereld te beschermen ((5,4s)) [applause]

dames en heren [noise] ((0,7s)) wij werken ook samen binnen de NAVO ((0,4s)) [noise]

om ook eventuele toekomstige dreigingen voor onze veiligheid aan te pakken wij denken

aan c/ euh veiligheid op het internet ((0,4s)) [breath] wij denken ook aan de nauwe

samenwerking eh op inzake veiligheid tussen NAVO en EU ((0,5s)) [breath] vorig jaar

hebben de Verenigde Staten en Europa ((0,8s)) euh elkaar gesteund ((0,9s)) toen de wereld

getroffen werd door die grootste financiële economische crisis sinds de grote depressie

((0,3s)) en ((0,3s)) zo hebben we er samen voor gezorgd ((0,3s)) dat de voorspellingen

niet uitkwamen namelijk een volledige instorting van de wereldeconomie ((0,5s)) en

president Obama en ikzelf volgen op dit ogenblik ((0,5s)) de ((0,4s)) economische crisis

de financiële crisis in Griekenland op de voet en we kijken ook hoe Europa dit aanpakt

((0,7s)) [breath] en wij verwelkomen ‘t [het] steunpakket dat Europa overweegt samen

met het Internationaal Monetair Fonds ((0,5s)) en ((0,3s)) wij zullen dit s/ euh zowel

rechtstreeks als via het IMF ondersteunen ((0,4s)) euh ((0,3s)) want ((0,9s)) wij

ondersteunen uw pogingen om Griekenland te redden ((0,7s)) [breath] kijk dit alles toont

aan waarom Europa niet alleen de grootste handelspartner blijft van de VS maar ook onze

belangrijkste bondgenoot dames en heren ((0,4s)) [breath] onze voorgangers zijn meer

dan zestig jaar geleden ((0,3s)) [breath] samengekomen om instellingen op te bouwen die

erop gericht waren ((0,3s)) [breath] om ervoor te zorgen dat die euh duistere hoofdstukken

van de vorige eeuwen niet zouden worden herhaald noch in de twintigste noch in de

eenentwintigste eeuw ((0,5s)) [breath] kijk die instellingen en ook deze instellingen zijn

een groot succes gebleken ((0,9s)) [breath] nu ((0,2s)) moeten we onze blik richten op de

uitdagingen van de nieuwe eeuw waar ik het aan het begin van de toespraak over had

((0,3s)) de wereld ((0,2s)) is ((0,3s)) veranderd ((0,4s)) de wereld is ((0,3s)) ingrijpend

veranderd ((0,6s)) en er is een ((0,2s)) afschuwelijke schoonheid ontstaan ((0,6s)) en de

meest ingewikkelde dreiging waarmee we geconfronteerd worden op 't [het] ogenblik is

wellicht die dreiging voor onze eigen burgers ((0,3s)) [breath] die uitgaat van ((0,3s))

gewelddadige extremisten en ((0,4s)) euh niet van overheden ((0,3s)) en ((0,2s)) we

mogen hopen ((0,2s)) dat euh die extremisten hun handen niet euh zullen ((0,5s)) of er

geen euh massavernietigingswapen in handen zullen krijgen ((0,8s)) want ze hebben geen

respect voor grenzen ((0,8s)) geen enkel land ((0,4s)) hoe sterk ook hoe rijk ook ((0,7s))

hoe goed georganiseerd of hoe ((0,2s)) kundig ook ((0,2s)) geen enkel land kan deze

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dreiging alleen ((0,3s)) aan ((0,8s)) we kunnen alleen maar met succes deze dreiging een

halt toeroepen als we samenwerken ((0,3s)) en dat is precies wat we moeten doen ((1,2s))

we ((0,7s)) hebben nu euh of dit parlement heeft nu nieuwe bevoegdheden gekregen via

het nieuwe ((0,2s)) euh verdrag ((0,6s)) maar dat betekent ook dat u een belangrijke rol

moet spelen in dit alles de regering van de VS en dit parlement ((0,7s)) euh hebben

geworsteld met de vraag hoe ze de burgers best kunnen beschermen ((0,2s)) zonder

((0,3s)) euh afbreuk te doen aan de fundamentele rechten waarop onze samenlevingen

zijn opgebouwd ((0,3s)) [breath] nou ik heb er alle vertrouwen in ((0,2s)) dat wij ((0,5s))

euh ((0,3s)) zowel onze burgers moeten en kunnen beschermen ((0,3s)) en ((0,2s)) onze

vrijheden ((0,6s)) handhaven ((1,3s)) in het afgelopen jaar hebben president Obama en

ikzelf ons laten leiden door ((0,2s)) onze grondwet ((0,7s)) om te komen tot een ((0,3s))

betere ((0,2s)) eenheid ((0,2s)) en eensgezindheid ((0,8s)) een van onze eerste officiële

daden was euh ((0,5s)) einde maken aan de ondervragingstechnieken die geen resultaten

afleverden en die wij niet ((0,2s)) in ((0,2s)) euh eer en geweten konden verderzetten

[applause] ((6,3s)) we hebben ook euh ((0,2s)) gezorgd voor de sluiting van het [h:et] euh

((0,2s)) van de gevangenis in Guantanamo Bay want dat was een symbool geworden van

onrechtvaardigheid euh in die strijd tegen terrorisme ((4,9s)) [noise] en ((0,5s)) wij

((0,6s)) [noise] euh waarderen ook de steun die vaak moeilijk was euh die velen onder u

ons hebben geleverd in onze inspanningen ((0,8s)) [breath] we hebben al deze dingen

gedaan omdat euh net als [noise] u president Obama en ikzelf ((0,7s)) euh ((1,3s)) die

valse keuze verwerpen tussen veiligheid en onze waarden en idealen ((0,7s)) als we onze

principes ((0,2s)) naleven en behouden maakt ons dat alleen maar ((0,3s)) [breath] sterker

als we ze in het gedrang brengen maakt het ons zwakker in onze strijd tegen de

extremisme want wat is hun doel wel hun doel is precies ((1,0s)) onze waarden te

veranderen ((0,3s)) en wat wij koesteren te veranderen om ons gedrag te wijzigen ((1,0s))

acht dagen na de aafslagen [aanslagen] van elf september ((0,4s)) sprak ik een groep euh

van duizend universiteitsstudenten toe in mijn land ((0,3s)) en ik vertelde hen ((0,4s)) dat

zij die tragedie van euh elf september ((0,5s)) niet ((0,2s)) mogen toelaten hun leven laten

te veranderen want dat was precies wat de terroristen wilden ((1,1s)) ik heb gezegd kijk

((0,4s)) euh Amerika kan deze strijd ook niet alleen aan ((2,0s)) nu ((0,6s)) die woorden

waren niet alleen ((0,3s)) toen waar ze zijn nog steeds waar ((0,7s)) nog steeds op de dag

van vandaag ((0,5s)) ik hoef u niet te vertellen over de trotse tradities van Europa om

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burgers te beschermen ((0,2s)) tegen euh ((1,8s)) schending van de privacy door de

overheid ((1,3s)) [breath] uit respect ((0,2s)) voor de waardigheid de inherente

waardigheid van de mens is een onvervreemdbaar recht ((0,3s)) [breath] dat hebben wij

ook in onze grond wet opgenomen ((1,5s)) en ((0,3s)) Amerika ((0,3s)) hecht heel veel

belang aan privacy ((0,8s)) net zoals u ((0,9s)) onze grondwet heeft een euh vierde

amendement dat ((0,2s)) mensen beschermt tegen ((0,4s)) euh onredelijke huiszoekingen

of inbeslagnames door de overheid ((1,0s)) dat is een van de m/ ((2,9s)) het recht om met

rust gelaten te worden zoals een van onze beroemde juristen dat ooit noemde ((0,8s)) en

we hebben ook duidelijk ((0,2s)) gezegd ((0,5s)) dat ((0,2s)) privacy grondwettelijk

beschermd moet worden dat het een fundamenteel recht is ((0,6s)) [breath] en net als de

EU ((0,5s)) heeft euh het Hooggerechtshof ((0,8s)) dit recht ((0,2s)) bestempeld als een

((0,5s)) kwestie van persoonlijke waardigheid ((1,5s)) [breath] persoonlijk moet ik

zeggen dat ik zesendertig jaar lang in mijn hele loopbaan ((1,2s)) het recht op privacy heb

((0,4s)) verdedigd ((0,2s)) in de Senaat van de VS ((3,0s)) zijn er euh organisaties die zich

inzetten voor openbare vrijheden ((0,5s)) en ((0,3s)) euh ((0,6s)) ikzelf en president

Obama ((0,8s)) hebben daar euh ((2,1s)) belangrijke mensen in ((0,2s)) benoemd ((0,5s))

het gaat ook niet om mij het gaat om de inzet van onze regering voor het beschermen en

verdedigen van die individuele rechten ((2,4s)) ik kan ook geen afstand doen van alles

wat ik heb gezegd in mijn land in de afgelopen zevenendertig jaar ((1,8s)) [breath] ik euh

stond aan het hoofd van de Commissie Juridische Zaken van de Senaat ((0,6s)) euh waar

wij ook euh die ((1,2s)) benoemingen moesten behandelen van euh rechters en daar was

ik altijd een groot pleitbezorger van die openbare vrijheden en ik vond het ook een

prioriteit ((0,3s)) [breath] om te luisteren naar de visies van eventuele rechters vooraleer

we zouden beslissen of zij inderdaad tot euh ((0,7s)) zouden worden benoemd ((1,3s))

president Obama en ikzelf ((0,5s)) vinden het ook een van onze belangrijkste plichten om

onze burgers te beschermen ((2,6s)) en hun rechten te vrijwaren ((1,3s)) president Obama

((0,2s)) heeft gezegd dat veiligheid in ons land ((0,5s)) het eerste is waar hij aan denkt

wanneer hij 's ochtends wakker wordt en ook weer het laatste is waar hij aan denkt voor

hij 's avonds weer gaat slapen ((0,8s)) en ik denk dat dat euh ((0,3s)) euh hetzelfde is voor

elke wereldleider ik denk dat ze allemaal hun rol zo opvatten ((1,0s)) [breath] en ((0,4s))

naast privacy is er natuurlijk ook de fysieke ((0,2s)) veiligheid ook dat is een

onvervreemdbaar recht ((1,0s)) fysieke veiligheid is ook een onvervreemdbaar recht en

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((0,3s)) een regering heeft dan ook de plicht om ervoor te zorgen dat de burgers veilig

zijn en dat die overheid zelf ((0,3s)) [noise] de regels niet met de voeten treedt ((0,2s)) en

mensen niet in de gevangenis opsluit zonder enige vorm van proces ((0,9s)) [breath] dus

((0,6s)) [breath] ook hier vandaag ((0,3s)) terwijl wij hier samen zitten ((0,5s)) proberen

onze vijanden alle instrumenten ((0,2s)) toe te passen die ze kennen om [noise] euh om

ons aan te vallen denkt u maar aan Madrid New York Londen en vele andere plekken in

de wereld ((1,0s)) [breath] als we hen willen tegenhouden ((0,2s)) moeten we alle ((0,4s))

gerechtigde ((0,2s)) middelen daarvoor aanwenden technologie informatie alles wat

strookt met onze wetten en onze waarden ((0,6s)) we moeten op verschillende fronten

vechten ((0,3s)) zijn onze ((0,2s)) dappere soldaten die in het buitenland strijden ((0,5s))

en daarnaast zijn er ook euh ((1,0s)) al de mensen die meewerken aan euh wetgeving die

allerlei complexe materie moeten onderzoeken gisteren hadden we het nog over

grensbewaking en het gebruik van euh passagiersgegevens ((0,3s)) en euh ((1,3s)) euh

die problemen zijn ook aan bod gekomen in het onderzoek rond die ((0,3s)) mislukte

aanslag op Time Square eerder deze week ((0,3s)) dus ((0,3s)) we moeten in de [noise]

wetgeving ook mogelijkheden hebben om dergelijke aanslagen tegen te houden en

daarom denken wij dat ons veiligheidsprogramma erg belangrijk is ((2,4s)) [breath] we

hebben ((0,9s)) op die manier inderdaad euh anti-terreuronderzoek kunnen uitvoeren in

verschillende delen van de wereld en we hebben op die manier ook mensenlevens kunnen

redden ((2,5s)) wij euh zorgen ervoor dat persoonlijke informatie wordt gerespecteerd en

alleen maar voor zeer beperkte doeleinden mag worden gebruikt ((0,4s)) maar ((0,4s))

[breath] ik zeg er meteen bij dat wij uw bezorgdheid begrijpen en daarom werken we ook

samen om hier iets aan te doen ((0,3s)) en ik heb er alle vertrouwen in dat wij daarin

zullen slagen zullen erin slagen die instrumenten te gebruiken maar tegelijkertijd de

privacy te waarborgen ((0,3s)) [breath] dat is ook belangrijk ((0,7s)) en het is ook

belangrijk dat we daar zo snel mogelijk in slagen ((0,3s)) [breath] als voormalig VS

senator ((0,3s)) weet ik ook hoe moeilijk het kan zijn om die ((0,3s)) moeilijke knoop

door te hakken in verband met euh ((0,4s)) die euh algemene ((0,6s)) wereldwijde

uitdagingen ((0,2s)) terwijl je ook trouw moet blijven aan je eigen plaatselijke lokale

waarden en principes dat kent u allemaal denk ik dat euh probleem ((0,9s)) [breath] we

hebben ook het euh programma voor het euh ((0,2s)) traceren van financiering van

terrorisme ((0,4s)) [breath] en ik denk dat wij samen allemaal een verantwoordelijkheid

109

dragen ((0,3s)) om onze achthonderd miljoen mensen die wij samen dienen te beschermen

en te verdedigen ((1,0s)) [breath] we zijn het eerder al oneens geweest dat zal zeker nog

wel eens gebeuren maar ik ben ervan overtuigd dat wij samen de uitdaging van de

eenentwintigste eeuw het hoofd willen kunnen bieden net zoals in de twintigste eeuw

((0,3s)) [breath] zolang we maar naar elkaar luisteren en met elkaar praten ((0,2s))

[breath] en eerlijk zijn ten aanzien van elkaar ((5,3s)) [applause] dames en heren ((2,0s))

[breath] Winston Churchill heeft ons al geleerd ((0,3s)) dat je moed nodig hebt om op te

staan en te spreken ((0,9s)) maar je hebt ook moed nodig om te gaan zitten en te luisteren

((1,2s)) vanmiddag ((1,0s)) heb ik hier gesproken ((0,5s)) als enige ((0,4s)) maar ik kan

u verzekeren dat mijn regering en mijn president ((0,5s)) ook euh ((0,3s)) zullen luisteren

zullen luisteren naar onze ((0,5s)) bondgenoten ((0,2s)) het is ook geen toeval ((0,4s))

dames en heren dat Europa mijn eerste buiten/ euh overzeese bestemming was als

vicepresident het is ook geen toeval ((0,4s)) dat wij sindsdien al een paar keer opnieuw

op bezoek zijn gekomen ((0,2s)) want de VS hebben Europa nodig ((0,9s)) en ((0,7s)) ik

((0,6s)) denk dat Europa ook de VS nodig heeft dat zeg ik met alle respect we hebben

elkaar nodig nu meer dan ooit ((7,5s)) [applause] dus ((1,2s)) die euh verjaardag deze

week beschouw ik als een ((0,3s)) uitstekende gelegenheid om ((0,4s)) de banden die onze

bevolkingen ((0,4s)) euh jarenlang geleden hebben gesmeed nauwer aan te trekken

((0,4s)) en ik denk dat wij nu net als toen in onze zoektocht naar bondgenootschappen

naar elkaar moeten kijken ((0,6s)) vooraleer we ((0,3s)) euh ((0,4s)) naar anderen kijken

vooraleer we ons tot anderen wenden [noise] ((0,6s)) wij zijn zeer erkentelijk dat wij aan

uw zijde staan ((0,3s)) in de toekomstige ((0,6s)) in de oplossing van toekomstige

problemen dus ((0,2s)) ik zeg u heel duidelijk ((0,6s)) president Obama en Joe Biden

((1,0s)) zijn fervente ((1,2s)) voorstanders ((0,3s)) van een vrij ((0,2s)) open en sterk

Europa ((0,6s)) wij ondersteunen ((0,3s)) uw taak en uw missie hier wij wensen u veel

succes toe ((0,5s)) wij hopen ((0,3s)) dat u euh ((0,5s)) euh veel succes kunt kennen en

God zij met u en met al onze soldaten en troepen ((36,7s)) [applause]

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