TYPOLOGY OF SPEECH INTERPRETATION

In Slovene literature on this topic, as well as in practice, terminology used to refer to different types of speech interpretations seems to be rather arbitrary and unsatisfactory. The article first attempts to point at terminological inconsistency and inaccuracy when referring to different types of speech interpretations of literary texts. I than submit a proposal for a systematic classification of speech interpretations. Speech interpretation, as I understand it, is a special way of delivering a literary text whereby the interpreter creatively reads the text, exploiting prosodic elements in order to demonstrate his experience of text. There are two main criteria to be taken into account when classifying speech interpretations, namely (1) type of delivery (reading aloud or delivery by heart) and (2) literary genre (prose, poetry, drama). In my attempt to bring order in terminology, I studied Slovene tradition as well as modern usage of given terms. Some terminological expressions have in time become synonymous, some have acquired a pejorative connotation (e.g. declamation, recitation). New terminology has also been introduced (e.g. stage reading, reading performance), whereas some speech interpretations have not been given an adequate terminological expression (e.g. delivery of prose text by heart). It is to be emphasized that this article does not deal with speech interpretations in theatre performances, or in film, radio and television plays, where it is a constituent part of acting, but rather with speech interpretations where the interpreter does not act. Therefore there is no identification or transformation, and the only means of expression is usually speech itself (e.g. in recitation or in interpretative reading).