初探電競錦標賽情境下的口譯： 以英雄聯盟太平洋職業聯賽為個案研究

Abstract

本研究探討翻譯服務提供者（ISP）於英雄聯盟太平洋職業聯賽中所扮演的角色、負責的工作以及面對的挑戰。本研究利用半結構式訪談蒐集數據，共計21位受訪者，其中除了ISP之外也包含諸如電競選手、教練、經理、賽事方以及媒體等翻譯服務使用者（ISU）。訪談結果發現，ISP所負責的工作種類包含傳統口筆譯服務、行政後勤工作以及內容創作與發展業務。ISP所扮演的角色包括傳聲筒、助理、保姆、教育者、溝通文化調停人員、助教、公關專家、地區代表和情緒減弱增強的中介。 本研究使用改良式紮根理論（M-GTA）分析所蒐集到的回應，目標為說明ISP的工作於電競賽季演變的過程。M-GTA所得之分析結果也與過往研究比對討論，比較電競ISP與傳統運動口譯員和企業內口譯員之異同。討論結果顯示，由於電競賽事著重於其表演價值和其娛樂性質，電競ISP須具備該產業導向的技能與知識，來扮演產業所期待的角色和面對相應而來的挑戰。 本研究的主要貢獻為描述電競產業中的口譯情形，討論ISP所扮演的複雜且重要的角色。電競ISP需要在電競賽場中成為溝通的橋樑，破除各文化之間的障礙，為選手、教練、粉絲提升參賽觀賽的體驗。本研究也發現，ISP要想達成上述目標，便需要特定職業訓練，同時獲得適當的資源分配，才能為整體電競產業提供長久切專業的服務。

This study investigates the roles, tasks, and challenges faced by interpreting service providers (ISPs) in the League of Legends (LoL) Pacific Championship Series (PCS) tournament setting. Through semi-structured interviews with 21 participants, including ISPs and interpreting service users (ISUs), i.e., esports athletes, coaches, team managers, tournament organizers, and media, this research explores the diverse work of ISPs in this burgeoning industry. The findings reveal that ISPs perform tasks ranging from general translation and interpretation to administrative and logistical support, and content creation and development. They assume various roles such as conduits, assistants, caregivers, educators, communication and cultural mediators, assistant coaches, public relations specialists, regional representatives, and emotion buffers/amplifiers. This study utilizes the Modified Grounded Theory Approach (M-GTA) to analyze data and generate a narrative describing the evolution of ISP work across different stages of the esports season: individual operations, regional games, and international games. A comparison with existing studies on sports interpreters and in-house interpreters highlights both similarities and differences in the esports context. The findings suggest that the show-centric nature of esports events, with its focus on entertainment and spectacle, shapes the roles and challenges of ISPs, demanding a unique set of skills and understanding of the esports ecosystem. This study contributes to the understanding of the emerging field of esports interpreting, highlighting its multifaceted nature and the significant role it plays in facilitating communication, bridging cultural barriers, and enhancing the overall esports experience for players, teams, and fans. It underscores the need for dedicated training programs and resource allocation to support the professional development of esports interpreters and ensure the smooth operation of the industry.