Elena holds a PhD in Translation and Intercultural Studies from the University of Manchester, UK (title: ‘Dialogue Interpreting as Intercultural Mediation Integrating Talk and Gaze in the Analysis of Mediated Parent-Teacher Meetings’) and an MA in Conference Interpreting (Italian, English and French) from the University of Bologna at Forlì. She is Lecturer in Translation Studies at the University of Surrey, School of English and Languages, Centre for Translation Studies. Her expertise is in interpreting, both dialogue and conference. Before joining Surrey, Elena practised as a freelance interpreter and translator and worked as interpreter trainer at different universities both in the UK and in Italy, such as the University of Leeds, University of Birmingham, University of Macerata and UNINT, Rome. She also worked as a research associate in the project ‘Investigating workplace practices in translation’ carried out at the University of Manchester. Elena’s research focuses on authentic mediated interaction in community settings, particularly pedagogical and medical ones, which she has explored using the tools of conversation and multimodal analysis. Her PhD research in particular focused on integrating the non-verbal dimension (mainly gaze) in the analysis of what happens verbally with a view to gaining a more comprehensive and in-depth view of interactional dynamics. Elena is taking her research further by looking at how micro-analytical investigations of authentic data can be effectively integrated into interpreter education. She is also currently working on mobile interpreting, an emerging modality of video-mediated interpreting that has the potential of bringing about considerable change to interpreters’ working practice. Last but not least, she is also interested in the use of new research methods (micro-analytical, multimodal, ethnographic) to explore interpreting practice, with a focus on the deployment of technology.
- Journal Articles
- Davitti E. (2018) ‘Methodological explorations of interpreter-mediated interaction: novel insights from multimodal analysis‘. SAGE Publications Qualitative Research. Special Issue: Multimodality: Methodological Explorations,
doi: 10.1177/1468794118761492 - Davitti E, Pasquandrea S. (2017) ‘Embodied participation: What multimodal analysis can tell us about interpreter-mediated encounters in pedagogical settings‘. Elsevier Journal of Pragmatics, 107, pp. 105-128.
doi: 10.1016/j.pragma.2016.04.008 - Biagini M, Davitti E, Sandrelli A. (2016) ‘Participation in Interpreter-Mediated Interaction: Shifting along a multidimensional continuum‘. Elsevier Journal of Pragmatics, 107, pp. 87-90.
doi: 10.1016/j.pragma.2016.11.001 - Olohan M, Davitti E. (2015) ‘Dynamics of Trusting in Translation Project Management Leaps of Faith and Balancing Acts‘. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography: a journal of ethnographic research,
doi: 10.1177/0891241615603449 - Davitti E, Pasquandrea S. (2014) ‘Enhancing research-led interpreter education: an exploratory study in Applied Conversation Analysis‘. ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR TRAINER, 8 (3), pp. 374-398.
doi: 10.1080/1750399X.2014.972650 - Davitti E, Pasquandrea S. (2014) ‘Dialogue Interpreting in Practice: Bridging the gap between empirical research and interpreter education‘. ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR TRAINER, 8 (3), pp. 329-335.
doi: 10.1080/1750399X.2014.973143 - Davitti E. (2013) ‘Dialogue interpreting as intercultural mediation: Interpreters’ use of upgrading moves in parent-teacher meetings’. John Benjamins Interpreting, 15 (2), pp. 168-199.
doi: 10.1075/intp.15.2.02dav - Davitti E, Pasquandrea SP. (2013) ‘Interpreters/mediators in Intercultural Communication: How to modulate the impact of their verbal and non-verbal practices?‘. Online publication.
- Davitti E. (2018) ‘Methodological explorations of interpreter-mediated interaction: novel insights from multimodal analysis‘. SAGE Publications Qualitative Research. Special Issue: Multimodality: Methodological Explorations,
- Book chapters
- Braun S, Davitti E, Dicerto S. (2018) ‘Video-Mediated Interpreting in Legal Settings: Assessing the Implementation‘. in Napier J, Skinner R, Braun S (eds.) Here or there: research on interpreting via video link Washington DC : Gallaudet , pp. 144-179.
- Davitti E. (2016) ‘Dialogue Interpreting as a Multimodal Activity in Community Settings‘. in Bonsignori V, Crawford Camiciottoli B (eds.) Multimodality Across Communicative Settings, Discourse Domains and Genres Newcastle : Cambridge Scholars Publishing , pp. 116-143.
- Davitti E. (2015) ‘Gaze’. in Pöchhacker F, Grbic N, Mead P, Setton R (eds.) Routledge Encyclopedia of Interpreting Studies New York : Routledge , pp. 168-168.Davitti E. (2015) ‘Interpreter-mediated parent-teacher talk‘. in Grujicic-Alatriste L (ed.) Linking Discourse Studies to Professional Practice Clevedon : Multilingual Matters Article number 9 , pp. 176-200.
Elena teaches the following undergraduate and postgraduate modules:
- TRA1029 Skills for Translating and Interpreting (HE1 module)
- TRA1025 Introduction to translation and interpreting (HE1 module)
- TRAM180 Research Methods in Translation Studies (MA module)
- TRAM367 Consecutive and Dialogue Interpreting (MA module)
- TRAM066 Translation Studies Seminars (MA PDP-related event, convenor)
- Co-editor of the journal New Voices in Translation Studies, refereed electronic journal co-sponsored by IATIS and the Centre for Translation and Textual Studies (CTTS) at Dublin City University
- IATIS membership coordinator (International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies)
- Member of the Official Board of T4C – Translators4children, in charge of Translation and Interpreting
- Member of LARIM (Research Laboratory on Interpreter-mediated interaction) and A:IM (Interuniversity Centre for the Analysis of Interaction and Mediation) research groups
- Member of the editorial team of the journal New Scholar – An International Journal of the Humanities, Creative Arts and Social Sciences
- Member of EST (European Society for Translation Studies)
