Effects of linguistic complexity on expert processing during simultaneous interpreting
-
Adelina Hild
Abstract
Processing models of simultaneous interpreting (SI) have predicted that the linguistic complexity of the source-language text will adversely affect performance quality due to the increased storage and processing demands imposed by linguistically complicated constructions on a limited-capacity working memory (WM). The present paper reports an experimental expert-novice comparison study which examines this hypothesis by analysing the effect of four complexity metrics, validated in psycholinguistic research on interpreting performance: developmental level, amount of embedding, type of embedding and clause type. The results show a consistent effect of complexity metrics on novice performance, while for experts the effect was modulated by the overall level of textual redundancy. The findings suggest that syntactic complexity, as indexed by the measures used in this study, does not predict experts’ accuracy in a significant way. In line with Ericsson and Kintch’s theory of skilled WM, this indicates the somewhat diminished role of surface structure cues in skilled SI processing and suggests a strong component of strategic and macro processing in expert SI performance.
Abstract
Processing models of simultaneous interpreting (SI) have predicted that the linguistic complexity of the source-language text will adversely affect performance quality due to the increased storage and processing demands imposed by linguistically complicated constructions on a limited-capacity working memory (WM). The present paper reports an experimental expert-novice comparison study which examines this hypothesis by analysing the effect of four complexity metrics, validated in psycholinguistic research on interpreting performance: developmental level, amount of embedding, type of embedding and clause type. The results show a consistent effect of complexity metrics on novice performance, while for experts the effect was modulated by the overall level of textual redundancy. The findings suggest that syntactic complexity, as indexed by the measures used in this study, does not predict experts’ accuracy in a significant way. In line with Ericsson and Kintch’s theory of skilled WM, this indicates the somewhat diminished role of surface structure cues in skilled SI processing and suggests a strong component of strategic and macro processing in expert SI performance.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword xi
- Methods and strategies of process research 1
-
Part I. Conceptual and methodological discussions
- Interpreting in theory and practice 13
- Reflections on the literal translation hypothesis 23
- Tracking translators’ keystrokes and eye movements with Translog 37
- Seeing translation from inside the translator’s mind 57
- Metonymic language use as a student translation problem 67
- Sight translation and speech disfluency 93
- Time lag in translation and interpreting 121
-
Part II. Process research in interpreting and translation
- A new pair of glasses 149
- Are primary conceptual metaphors easier to understand than complex conceptual metaphors? 169
- Innovative subtitling 187
- Errors, omissions and infelicities in broadcast interpreting 201
- On cognitive processes during wordplay translation 219
- “Can you ask her about chronic illnesses, diabetes and all that?” 231
-
Part III. Studies of interpreting and translation expertise
- Effects of linguistic complexity on expert processing during simultaneous interpreting 249
- Process and product in simultaneous interpreting 269
- Developing professional thinking and acting within the field of interpreting 301
- Results of the validation of the PACTE translation competence model 317
- “This led me to start thinking about how this happened, and what the process behind it would be” 345
- Publications by Birgitta Englund Dimitrova 361
- Notes on contributors 367
- Index 373
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword xi
- Methods and strategies of process research 1
-
Part I. Conceptual and methodological discussions
- Interpreting in theory and practice 13
- Reflections on the literal translation hypothesis 23
- Tracking translators’ keystrokes and eye movements with Translog 37
- Seeing translation from inside the translator’s mind 57
- Metonymic language use as a student translation problem 67
- Sight translation and speech disfluency 93
- Time lag in translation and interpreting 121
-
Part II. Process research in interpreting and translation
- A new pair of glasses 149
- Are primary conceptual metaphors easier to understand than complex conceptual metaphors? 169
- Innovative subtitling 187
- Errors, omissions and infelicities in broadcast interpreting 201
- On cognitive processes during wordplay translation 219
- “Can you ask her about chronic illnesses, diabetes and all that?” 231
-
Part III. Studies of interpreting and translation expertise
- Effects of linguistic complexity on expert processing during simultaneous interpreting 249
- Process and product in simultaneous interpreting 269
- Developing professional thinking and acting within the field of interpreting 301
- Results of the validation of the PACTE translation competence model 317
- “This led me to start thinking about how this happened, and what the process behind it would be” 345
- Publications by Birgitta Englund Dimitrova 361
- Notes on contributors 367
- Index 373
