Data collection and the question of representativeness in conference interpreting research

This paper addresses the main methodological hurdles in interpreting research based on empirical data. In particular, it considers the following issues: designing a corpus of simultaneous interpreting data, managing representativeness, collecting data in field research (thus gaining access to the relevant data, designing and obtaining informed consent, recording speech events). The discussion includes both theoretical and practical observations resulting from the development of the DIRSI Corpus.