Journal of Translation 21:1 (2025): 1–21 https://doi.org/10.54395/SM4C1 ISSN 1558-7282 journaloftranslation.org © SIL Global, 2025 1 Amateur English-Kiswahili Interpretation in Tanzanian Pentecostal Churches: Challenges and Strategies SIMON MLUNDI Lecturer, Institute of Accountancy Arusha, Tanzania symonmlundi2017@gmail.com Abstract: Interpreters apply different strategies to overcome challenges during the interpretation process. This study examines the frequency of strategies selected and utilised by amateur church interpreters in Tanzania in overcoming challenges of translation between English and Kiswahili. The analysis reveals that these interpreters use strategies such as expansion, compression, and skipping, as well as approximation, message abandonment, and incomplete sentences. More practice and self- training are recommended for amateur interpreters to use interpreting strategies more effectively. Keywords: Church interpreting; interpreting challenges; consecutive interpreting; communication; interpreting strategy; amateur church interpreters 1 Introduction Interpreters employ a variety of strategies to address the challenges they encounter in different contexts. The term strategy is used in interpreting studies to mean the planned and unplanned activities of interpreters to overcome communication breakdown during the interpretation process. As noted by Dong et al. (2019:408), “an interpreting strategy is a method used deliberately to prevent or solve potential problems in interpreting.” Interpreting strategies are also called coping tactics (Gile 2009) or techniques (Jones 1998). Oléron and Nanpon (2002) and Mlundi (2021a) are among the scholars who explain that interpreting strategies arise to address the complex situations faced by interpreters as they seek to render a message in the target language. These interpreting challenges are related to cognition, speed, use of technical words,