Reference to Goffman in the present article affords a starting point for a
discussion of interpreting and interaction, prompting a number of considerations
on the mental processes involved in interpreting- hence the inclusion in the title
of the broader term "action". The discussion does not purport to be in any way
conclusive. lndeed, the very beauty of taking Goffman as a potential vantage
point from which to explore a fresh perspective on interpreting studies is that the
relevance of the debate is not exhausted in the space of a sing1e article. The
essays by Goffman to which reference is made on the following pages are
pioneering works in the now flourishing field of sociolinguistics. Though at first
sight unlikely, their interest for the interpreting scholar - as well as for the
practising or trainee interpreter - is arguably immense. Be i t for the reader to
judge whether he or she shares this enthusiasm and, if so, as a premiss for mere
academic debate or a basis for further study and observation.
