Multi-Task Performance Of Simultaneous Interpretation

Information processing in simultaneous interpretation, which consists of lots of concurrent operations, is looked upon as a multi-task model. The SI interpreters are continually engaged in analyzing, filtering and editing information in order to make sense of the incoming message and to ensure their own output also makes sense. Multi-task performance turns out to be a problem if mission fulfillment requires cognitive decisions which reach or even exceed the individual's processing capacity limit.Based on Gile's Effort Model, this paper aims at analyzing some major problem triggers in simultaneous interpreting process for the discussion of the use of some coping strategies. Gile places great emphasis on the Effort Model to explain the triggers of SI processing failures. From his long-term observation of simultaneous interpretation, he assumes that it can be modeled as three main efforts, namely a listening and analyzing effort, a production effort, and a short-term memory effort. The integration of"coordination component"into the above three efforts makes up the Effort Model for SI: SI = L+P+M+C. Providing solutions to strict capacity and time constraints, coordinate problems, split of attention, and other problem triggers aroused in the interpreting process, coping strategies help simultaneous interpreters to deal with capacity demand and constraint satisfaction and to enhance interpretation quality. Apart from expounding the Effort Model and possible difficulties during the interpreting process when one of the efforts'processing capacity requirements are not met, more importantly, the study identifies how it is related to coping strategy use when analyzing specific strategies with examples because strategies, in the final analysis, are used to address those difficulties.