Interpreters who explicitate talk more. On the relationship between explicitating styles and retrospective styles in simultaneous interpreting

This experimental study investigated the relationship between signed language interpreters’ working memory capacity (WMC) and their simultaneous interpreting performance. Thirty-one professional Auslan (Australian Sign Language)/English interpreters participated: 14 native signers and 17 non-native signers. They completed simultaneous interpreting tasks from English into Auslan and vice versa, an English listening span task and an Auslan working memory span task; each interpreting task was followed by a short semi-structured interview. Quantitative results for the sample as a whole showed no significant correlations between bilingual WMC and overall simultaneous interpreting performance in either direction. The same trend was established for both the native signers and the non-native signers, considered as two separate groups. The findings thus suggest that professional signed language interpreters’ WMC as measured by complex span tasks is not closely associated with the overall quality of their simultaneous interpreting performance. Data regarding educational and professional background showed mixed patterns in relation to participants’ interpreting performance in each language direction. In the interviews, participants reported various triggers of cognitive overload in the simultaneous interpreting tasks (e.g. numbers, lists of items, a long time lag, dense information, fatigue) and mentioned their coping strategies (e.g. strategic omissions, summarization, generalization, adjusting time lag).

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Simultaneous interpreting and working memory executive control

Interpreting ◽

10.1075/intp.16.2.01tim ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 139-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Šárka Timarová ◽

Ivana Čeňková ◽

Reine Meylaerts ◽

Erik Hertog ◽

Arnaud Szmalec ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Working Memory Capacity ◽

Memory Function ◽

Central Executive ◽

Attention Switching ◽

Simultaneous Interpreting ◽

Cognitive Component ◽

Automatic Response ◽

The Relationship

Working memory is a complex cognitive component responsible for maintenance of information during processing. Interpreting research has so far focused on working memory capacity rather than on the central executive functions. In the study described here, 28 professional interpreters completed a battery of four central executive tasks and three simultaneous interpretations (from English into Czech or Dutch ‘A’). The results show that: (a) certain measurable features of simultaneous interpreting are related to the central executive functions of working memory; (b) one working memory function (inhibition of distractors) seems to be related to interpreting experience, while the others (automatic response inhibition, updating, attention switching) do not; (c) the relationship between working memory and simultaneous interpreting is such that different working memory functions predict different sub-processes in simultaneous interpreting, in complex patterns. The conclusions of this study are data-driven, but in line with the current literature. More specifically, the findings support those accounts of simultaneous interpreting which emphasize attentional control as an important component of the simultaneous interpreting process.

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The Relationship between Simultaneous Interpreters’ Speed of Speaking in Persian and the Quality of their Interpreting: A Gender Perspective

International Journal of English Linguistics ◽

10.5539/ijel.v6n3p11 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

Poorandokht Hasanshahi ◽

Mohsen Shahrokhi

Keyword(s):

Native Language ◽

Male And Female ◽

Simultaneous Interpretation ◽

Simultaneous Interpreting ◽

Proficiency Level ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Neurological Processes ◽

The Relationship ◽

The Brain

<p>This research sought to investigate the relationship between two complex ways of communicating, i.e., speaking and simultaneous interpreting which manifest complex linguistic and neurological processes undertaken with an incredible speed in the brain. The current study aimed at testing whether there was any significant difference between male and female interpreters’ quality of simultaneous interpretation in relation to their speed of speaking in their native language. To this end, a number of thirty participants were chosen based on their proficiency level out of fifty simultaneous interpreters. To test the research hypotheses both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The results revealed that there was not any significant difference between male and female interpreters with regard to their quality of simultaneous interpretation. Moreover, with regard to the speed of speaking there was a difference between genders; finally, there was no association between interpreters’ speed of speaking and their quality of interpretation.</p>

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Schlaggesten beim Simultandolmetschen – Auftreten und Funktionen

Lebende Sprachen ◽

10.1515/les-2013-0004 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carolin Adam ◽

Ginette Castro

Keyword(s):

Speech Production ◽

Word Retrieval ◽

Simultaneous Interpreting ◽

The Relationship ◽

Speech Content

AbstractIt has been observed that interpreters gesticulate in the booth although they are usually invisible to the audience. Researchers have attributed this to the interpreters’ need to organize their speech and explain the content to themselves. Studies in the area of bilingualism have revealed that gestures do not have a mere communicational function but can also improve word retrieval and facilitate speech production. The aim of this paper is to analyze beat gestures produced by interpreters during simultaneous interpreting. The relationship between occurrence of gestures, speech content and hesitations or self-correction is discussed.

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Voices of Islam in Europe and Southeast Asia

American Journal of Islam and Society ◽

10.35632/ajis.v23i1.1660 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 142-144

Author(s):

Patrick Jory

Keyword(s):

Southeast Asia ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Muslim World ◽

Regional Studies ◽

Muslim Population ◽

Simultaneous Interpreting ◽

Islamic Studies ◽

Southern Thailand ◽

The Media ◽

The Relationship

This workshop, co-organized by the Regional Studies Program, WalailakUniversity, Thailand, and the Department of Cross-cultural and RegionalStudies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and conceived of early in2005, took place a little over a week before the eruption of the “cartoon controversy,”which brought the issue of the relationship between Europe and theso-called “Muslim world” to the fore as never before. From January 20-22,2006, a group of almost thirty Muslim and non-Muslim specialists workingin Islamic studies and on the study of Muslim societies from fifteen countriesin Europe and Southeast Asia gathered in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Thailand,to discuss the diverse “Voices of Islam” in these two regions. The workshopwas held in southern Thailand, where, in the ethnic Malay-majority borderprovinces, a violent insurgency over the last two years has claimed over 1,000lives and has heightened tensions between the local Muslim population andthe Thai state. Some observers have explained the intensification of the conflictas being due to the infiltration of foreign Islamist militants and the influenceof extremist Islamic discourses of struggle.The workshop focused on two major themes: how events following theSeptember 11 attacks have affected the nature of Islamic studies in Europeand Southeast Asia, and how changes in Islamic studies are impacting uponMuslims and their understanding of Islam in these two regions. While theworkshop presentations were given mainly in English (with a small numberof papers presented in Thai and Malay), a simultaneous interpreting servicewas available for local Thai Muslim (as well as non-Muslim) participants,who attended the workshop in significant numbers.A wide variety of papers were presented. However, if one theme couldsummarize the tone of the three days, it is that 9/11 has engendered a changingparadigm in these regions’ Islamic studies programs, even though manyof the changes may already have been underway prior to the attacks. In thecase of Southeast Asia, governments and the media in the region have attributedthe Muslim extremists’ ideology, at least partly, to the influence of ...

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Meta-analyses of simultaneous interpreting and working memory

Interpreting ◽

10.1075/intp.00026.mel ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 165-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Christopher D. Mellinger ◽

Thomas A. Hanson

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Short Term Memory ◽

Working Memory Capacity ◽

Memory Capacity ◽

Moderating Variables ◽

Simultaneous Interpreting ◽

Comparison Groups ◽

The Difference ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Relationship

Abstract This article adopts a meta-analytic research framework to examine the strength of the relationship between working memory and simultaneous interpreting. This quantitative analysis utilizes a random effects model to combine multiple studies in an examination of differences between professional interpreters and various comparison groups as well as the relationship between working memory capacity and interpreter performance. Moderating and control variables are discussed, and a classification scheme for work on these topics is proposed. Two moderating variables are examined by testing the difference between working memory tests relying on auditory and visual stimuli as well as storage tasks (short-term memory) and processing tasks (working memory). Published studies were collected from several field-specific databases by querying working memory and simultaneous interpreting as key terms, and then supplemented by reviewing references, searching Google Scholar, and reviewing the work of scholars known to work in the area. Results are indicative of differences between professional and comparison groups, with professional interpreters exhibiting greater working memory capacity. Additionally, an overall positive correlation was observed between working memory capacity and measures of the quality of simultaneous interpreting.

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Interstellar gas in the central region of the Galaxy

Symposium - International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s0074180900101032 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 239-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

F. J. Kerr

Keyword(s):

Central Region ◽

Galactic Plane ◽

Neutral Hydrogen ◽

Continuum Emission ◽

Galactic Centre ◽

Interstellar Gas ◽

Hydrogen Recombination ◽

The Galaxy ◽

Centre Region ◽

The Relationship

A review is given of information on the galactic-centre region obtained from recent observations of the 21-cm line from neutral hydrogen, the 18-cm group of OH lines, a hydrogen recombination line at 6 cm wavelength, and the continuum emission from ionized hydrogen.Both inward and outward motions are important in this region, in addition to rotation. Several types of observation indicate the presence of material in features inclined to the galactic plane. The relationship between the H and OH concentrations is not yet clear, but a rough picture of the central region can be proposed.

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The relationship of the scleractinian corals to the rugose corals

Paleobiology ◽

10.1017/s0094837300025707 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 6 (02) ◽

pp. 146-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

William A. Oliver

Keyword(s):

Critical Points ◽

Scleractinian Corals ◽

Convincing Evidence ◽

Early Triassic ◽

Rugose Corals ◽

History Of ◽

The Subject ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Biologic Factors

The Mesozoic-Cenozoic coral Order Scleractinia has been suggested to have originated or evolved (1) by direct descent from the Paleozoic Order Rugosa or (2) by the development of a skeleton in members of one of the anemone groups that probably have existed throughout Phanerozoic time. In spite of much work on the subject, advocates of the direct descent hypothesis have failed to find convincing evidence of this relationship. Critical points are:(1) Rugosan septal insertion is serial; Scleractinian insertion is cyclic; no intermediate stages have been demonstrated. Apparent intermediates are Scleractinia having bilateral cyclic insertion or teratological Rugosa.(2) There is convincing evidence that the skeletons of many Rugosa were calcitic and none are known to be or to have been aragonitic. In contrast, the skeletons of all living Scleractinia are aragonitic and there is evidence that fossil Scleractinia were aragonitic also. The mineralogic difference is almost certainly due to intrinsic biologic factors.(3) No early Triassic corals of either group are known. This fact is not compelling (by itself) but is important in connection with points 1 and 2, because, given direct descent, both changes took place during this only stage in the history of the two groups in which there are no known corals.

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Choosing a Markov blanket

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19002632 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

Author(s):

Thomas Parr

Keyword(s):

Markov Blanket ◽

Target Article ◽

The Relationship

Abstract This commentary focuses upon the relationship between two themes in the target article: the ways in which a Markov blanket may be defined and the role of precision and salience in mediating the interactions between what is internal and external to a system. These each rest upon the different perspectives we might take while “choosing” a Markov blanket.

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Tinkering with cognitive gadgets: Cultural evolutionary psychology meets active inference

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19001018 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

Author(s):

Paul Benjamin Badcock ◽

Axel Constant ◽

Maxwell James Désormeau Ramstead

Keyword(s):

Evolutionary Psychology ◽

Research Program ◽

Active Inference ◽

Innovative Research ◽

Cognitive Faculties ◽

Cultural Evolutionary ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Cognitive Gadgets offers a new, convincing perspective on the origins of our distinctive cognitive faculties, coupled with a clear, innovative research program. Although we broadly endorse Heyes’ ideas, we raise some concerns about her characterisation of evolutionary psychology and the relationship between biology and culture, before discussing the potential fruits of examining cognitive gadgets through the lens of active inference.

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