The contributions of cognitive psychology and psycholinguistics to conference interpreting
A critical analysis
Daniel Gile | École Supérieure d’Interprètes et de Traducteurs, Université Paris 3
Research in conference interpreting started with exploratory experiments by psychologists, but interpreting practitioners soon took over, excluding their theories and methods and replacing them with intuition and introspection-based inferences from observation. In the 1990s, cognitive science became a major reference for concepts and theories again. It has remained in that position ever since. The experimental paradigm which prevails in cognitive psychology and psycholinguistics is difficult to apply in interpreting research where inter-individual variability is high, recruiting multiple large samples for controlled experiments is problematic, and so is the selection and measurement of quantifiable indicators as dependent variables. Cognitive theory-based explanations of interpreting, including several popular models, were developed by interpreting practitioners, but have not been tested to a sufficient extent to corroborate or falsify them. Advances in the understanding of interpreting cognition have been mostly based on theory rather than on empirical hypothesis testing. As more interpreting practitioners seek systematic training in cognitive science and more tools and technology become available, gaze and pupil analyzers being a case in point, psychology and psycholinguistics may become more effective in providing direct answers to questions about interpreting.
References
Ahrens, Barbara, Eliza Kalderon, Christoph Krick, and Wolfgang Reith
Bajo, María Teresa, Francisca Padilla, and Presentación Padilla
2000 “
Comprehension Processes in Simultaneous Interpreting”. In
Translation in Context, ed. by
Andrew Chesterman,
Natividad Gallardo San Salvador, and
Yves Gambier, 127–142. Selected Contributions from the EST Congress, Granada 1998. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Barik, Henri
1969 A Study of Simultaneous Interpretation. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Beatty, Jackson
1977 Pupillometric Measurement of Cognitive Workload. Unpublished technical report n. 11, Prepared for the Office of Naval Research, Physiology Program, Environmental Physiology.
Chen, Yue-Chen
2005 Personality Traits and Job Satisfaction of Freelance Interpreters in Taiwan (in Chinese). Unpublished MA thesis, Taiwan Normal University.
Chernov, Ghelly
1979 “
Semantic Aspects of Psycholinguistic Research in Simultaneous Interpretation.”
Language and Speech 22 (3): 277–295.
Christoffels, Ingrid K
2004 Cognitive Studies in Simultaneous Interpreting. Doctoral dissertation, University of Amsterdam.
CIRIN (Conference Interpreting Research Information Network)
Danks, Joseph H., Gregory M. Shreve, Stephen B. Fountain, and Michael K. McBeath
(eds) 1997 Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting. Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Daró, Valeria
1990 “
Voice Frequency and Simultaneous Interpretation.”
The Interpreters’ Newsletter 3: 88–92.
Dillinger, Mike
1989 Component Processes of Simultaneous Interpreting. Doctoral dissertation, McGill University.
Dillinger, Mike
1990 “
Comprehension during Interpreting: What do Interpreters know that Bilinguals don’t?”
The Interpreters’ Newsletter 3: 155–189.
Diriker, Ebru
2001 Contextualising Simultaneous Interpreting: Interpreters in the Ivory Tower? Doctoral dissertation, Bogazici University, Turkey.
Englund Dimitrova, Birgitta, and Kenneth Hyltenstam
Ersöz Demirdağ, Hande
2013 L’enseignement de l’interprétation consécutive: une étude de cas turc-français. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Université Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle.
Fabbro, Franco
1992 Neuropsicologia dell’interpretazione simultanea.
Arch. Psic. 1. 108–125.
Gerver, David
1969 “
The Effects of Source Language Presentation Rate on the Performance of Simultaneous Conference Interpreters”. In
Proceedings of the Second Louisville Conference on Rate and/or Frequency-Controlled Speech, ed. by
E. Foulke, 162–184. Louisville, Kentucky: Center for Rate-Controlled Recordings, University of Louisville.
Gerver, David
1970 Aspects of Simultaneous Interpretation and Human Information Processing. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Oxford.
Gerver, David
1976 “
Empirical Studies of Simultaneous Interpretation: A Review and a Model.” In
Translation: Applications and Research, ed. by
R.W. Brislin. 165–207. New York: Gardner Press.
Gerver, David, and H. Wallace Sinaiko
(eds) 1978 Language Interpretation and Communication. New York and London: Plenum Press.
Gile, Daniel
1995 Regards sur la recherche en interprétation de conférence. Lille: Presses Universitaires de Lille.
Goldman-Eisler, Frieda
1972 “
Segmentation of Input in Simultaneous Translation.”
Journal of Psycholinguistic Research 1 (2): 127–140.
Gran, Laura, and John Dodds
(eds) 1989 The Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Teaching Conference Interpretation. Udine: Campanotto Editore.
Hess, Eckhard, and James Polt
1964 “
Pupil Size in Relation to Mental Activity during Simple Problem-Solving.”
Science, New Series, 143 (3611):1190–1192.
Ito-Bergerot, Hiromi
2006 Le processus cognitif de la compréhension en interprétation consécutive: acquisition des compétences chez les étudiants de la section japonaise. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Université Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle.
Ivanova, Adelina
1999 Discourse Processing during Simultaneous Interpreting: An Expertise Approach. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Cambridge.
Jiménez Serrano, Óscar
2011 “
Backstage Conditions and Interpreter’s Performance in Live Television Interpreting: Quality, Visibility and Exposure.”
The Interpreters’ Newsletter 16: 115–136.
Kahneman, Daniel
2011 Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York: Farra, Straus and Giroux.
Kahneman, Daniel, and Jackson Beatty
1966 “
Pupil Diameter and Load on Memory.”
Science 154: 1583–1585.
Kirchhoff, Hella
1976 “
Das dreigliedrige, zweisprachige Kommunikationssystem Dolmetschen.”
Le langage et l’homme 31: 21–27.
Köpke, Barbara, and Teresa Signorelli
2012 “
Methodological Aspects of Working Memory Assessment in Simultaneous Interpreters.”
International Journal of Bilingualism 16 (2): 183–197.
Kurz, Ingrid
1993 “
EEG Probability Mapping: Detecting Cerebral Processes during Mental Simultaneous Interpreting.”
The Jerome Quarterly 8 (2): 3–5.
Kurz, Ingrid, Doris Chiba, Vera Medinskaya, and Martin Pastore
2000 “
Translators and Interpreters: Different Learning Styles?”
Across Languages and Cultures 1 (1): 71–83.
Lamberger-Felber, Heike
2003 “
Performance Variability among Conference Interpreters: Examples from a Case Study.” In
La evaluación de la calidad en interpretación: investigación, ed. by
A. Collados Aís,
M. Fernández Sánchez, and
D. Gile, 147–168. Granada: Comares.
Lambert, Sylvie
Foreword.” In
Bridging the Gap: Empirical Research in Simultaneous Interpretation ed. by
S. Lambert and
B. Moser-Mercer 5 14 Amsterdam John Benjamins
Lambert, Sylvie, and Barbara Moser-Mercer
Lederer, Marianne
1981 La traduction simultanée – Expérience et théorie. Paris-Caen: Minard Lettres Modernes.
Lederer, Marianne
2006 La traduction aujourd’hui. Le modèle interprétatif. Paris-Caen: Minard Lettres modernes.
Liu, Minhua
2001 Expertise in Simultaneous Interpreting: A Working Memory Analysis. Doctoral dissertation, The University of Texas at Austin.
Liu, Minhua, and Yu-Hsien Chu
Kayzer-Wietrzny, Marta
2012 Interpreting Universals and Interpreting Style. Doctoral dissertation, Adam Mickiewicz University.
Mackintosh, Jennifer
1983 Relay Interpretation: An Exploratory Study. Unpublished MA thesis, Birkbeck College, University of London.
Massaro, Dominic
1975 Understanding Language. New York: Academic Press.
Massaro, Dominic, and Barbara Moser-Mercer
Moazedi, Laura
2006 Persönlichkeitsunterschiede von angehenden Übersetzerinnen und Dolmetscherinnen. Klischee oder Wirklichkeit? Diploma thesis, Karl-Franzens Universität Graz.
Monacelli, Claudia
2005 Surviving the Role: A Corpus-based Study of Self-regulation in Simultaneous Interpreting as Perceived through Participation Framework and Interactional Politeness. Doctoral dissertation, Herriot Watt University.
Moser, Barbara
1976 Simultaneous Translation: Linguistic, Psycholinguistic and Human Information Processing Aspects. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Innsbruck.
Moser-Mercer, Barbara
1997 “
Beyond Curiosity: Can Interpreting Research Meet the Challenge?” In
Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting, ed. by
J. Danks,
G.M. Shreve,
S.B. Fountain, and
M.K. McBeath, 176–195. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Moser-Mercer, Barbara, Uli H. Frauenfelder, Beatriz Casado, and Alexander Künzli
Moser-Mercer, Barbara, Alexander Künzli, and Marina Korac
Nasr, Maria
2010 La didactique de la Traduction – une étude scientométrique. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Université Paris III – Sorbonne Nouvelle.
Oléron, Pierre, and Hubert Nanpon
1965 “
Recherches sur la traduction simultanée.”
Journal de psychologie normale et pathologique 62 (1): 73–94.
Padilla, Francisca
2002 Working Memory and Control Functions in Simultaneous Interpreting. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Granada.
Padilla, Presentación
1995 Procesos de memoria y atención en la interpretación de lenguas. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Granada.
Paneth, Eva
1957 An Investigation into Conference Interpreting (with Special Reference to the Training of Interpreters). Unpublished MA thesis, University of London.
Paradis, Michel
1994 “
Neurolinguistic Aspects of Implicit and Explicit Memory: Implications for Bilingualism”. In
Implicit and Explicit Learning of Second Languages, ed. by
Nick Ellis,393–419. London: Academic Press.
Pöchhacker, Franz
2004 Introducing Interpreting Studies. London and New York: Routledge.
Pöchhacker, Franz
2011 “
Researching TV Interpreting: Selected Studies of US Presidential Material.”
The Interpreters’ Newsletter 16: 21–36.
Pöchhacker, Franz, and Miriam Shlesinger
(eds) 2002 The Interpreting Studies Reader. London and New York: Routledge.
Pinter, Ingrid
1969 Der Einfluss der Übung und Konzentration auf simultanes Sprechen und Hören. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Vienna.
Rinne, J.O., J. Tommola, M. Laine, B.J. Krause, D. Schmidt, V. Kaasinen, M. Teräs, H. Sipilä, and M. Sunnari
2000 “
The Translating Brain: Cerebral Activation Patterns during Simultaneous Interpreting.”
Neuroscience Letters 294: 85–88.
Sachs, Jaqueline
1967 “
Recognition Memory for Syntactic and Semantic aspects of Connected Discourse.”
Percept Psychophys 2: 437–442.
Sanz, Jesús
1931 “
Le travail et les aptitudes des interprètes parlementaires.”
Anals d’Orientació Professional 4: 303–318.
Seeber, Kilian
2007 Cognitive Load in Simultaneous Interpreting: A Psychophysiological Approach to Identifying Differences between Syntactically Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Language Structures. Doctoral dissertation, ETI, University of Geneva.
Seleskovitch, Danica
1978 “
Language and Cognition.” In
Language Interpretation and Communication, ed. by
G. David and
S.H. Wallace, 333–342. New York: Plenum Press.
Seleskovitch, Danica
1975 Langage, langues et mémoire. Paris-Caen: Minard Lettres modernes.
Seleskovitch, Danica, and Marianne Lederer
1984 Interpréter pour traduire. Paris: Didier Erudition.
Shlesinger, Miriam
2000 Strategic Allocation of Working Memory and Other Attentional Resources in Simultaneous Interpreting. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Bar Ilan University.
Stenzl, Catherine
1983 Simultaneous Interpretation – Groundwork Towards a Comprehensive Model. Unpublished M.A. thesis, Birkbeck College, University of London.
Strolz, Birgit
1992 Theorie und Praxis des Simultandolmetschens. Argumente für einen kontextuellen Top-down Ansatz der Verarbeitung und Produktion von Sprache. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Vienna.
Sunnari, Marianna
2003 “
Expert and Novice Performance in Simultaneous Interpreting: Implications for Quality Assessment.” In
La evaluación de la calidad en interpretación:investigación [
Assessing quality in interpreting: research], ed. by
Ángela Collados,
María Manuela Fernández Sánchez, and
Daniel Gile, 235–247. Granada: Comares.
Timarová, Šárka
2012 Working Memory in Conference Interpreting. Doctoral dissertation, University of Leuven.
Tiselius, Elisabet
2013 Experience and Expertise in Conference Interpreting. An Investigation of Swedish Conference Interpreters. Doctoral dissertation, University of Bergen.
Tommola, Jorma, and Pekka Niemi
1986 “
Mental Load in Simultaneous Interpreting: An On-line Pilot Study.” In
Nordic Research in text Linguistics and Discourse Analysis, ed. by
L.S. Evensen, 171–184. Trondheim: Tapir.
Tommola, Jorma, and Jukka Hyöna
1990 “
Tapping and Mapping the Processes of Translation and Interpreting.” In
Foreign Language Comprehension and Production, ed. by
Jorma Tommola, 179–188. AFinLA Yearbook, Turku: Publications of the Applied Linguistics Association N.48.
Torikai, Kumiko
2006 Diplomatic Interpreters in the Post-World War II Japan: Voices of the Invisible Presence in Foreign Relations. Doctoral dissertation, University of Southampton.
Wickens, Christopher
1984 “
Processing Resources in Attention.” In
Varieties of Attention, ed. by
R. Parasuraman and
D.R. Davies, 63–102. New York: Academic Press.
Zwischenberger, Cornelia
2013 Qualität und Rollenbilder beim Simultandolmetschen. Berlin: Frank and Timme.
Cited by
Cited by 3 other publications
Gao, Fei & Jeremy Munday
2023.
Interpreter ideology.
Interpreting. International Journal of Research and Practice in Interpreting 25:1
► pp. 1 ff.
Liu, Xiaodong
2021.
The Corpus-Assisted Approach to TPR. In
Cognitive Processing Routes in Consecutive Interpreting [
New Frontiers in Translation Studies, ],
► pp. 39 ff.
Rybakova, Nataliia V.
2023.
LON GITUDINAL STUDIES OF WORKING MEMORY CAPACITY IN SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING STUDENTS.
Lomonosov Journal of Philology :№4, 2023
► pp. 194 ff.
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 19 march 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers.
Any errors therein should be reported to them.