Effects Of Interpreting Anxiety On E-C Consecutive Interpretation Performance

During consecutive interpreting, it is common for interpreters to experience anxiety. As an important psychological state, anxiety can be a huge challenge for trainee interpreters in their interpreting study. However, there are just a few empirical researches in this field.Researches found that it would be more efficient to integrate anxiety research with specific situational settings, in which individuals will demonstrate anxiety of different levels.Against this backdrop, this research aims at exploring anxiety’s impact on trainee interpreters’ interpreting performance(IP). In this study, 50 MTI trainee interpreters in their1 st postgraduate studies in GDUFS have been chosen to participate in the empirical research to have their interpreting anxiety(IA), trait anxiety(TA), English level and IP tested. First, the2 Interpreting Anxiety Scales(IAS) are used to quantify trainee interpreters’ IA levels. Then,trainee interpreters finishes special designed questionnaires, and have their interpreting performance tested, recorded, evaluated and analyzed. The relationship between IA and the E-C consecutive interpreting performance of trainee interpreters is examined with the help of SPSS 19.0. Other empirical studies such as questionnaire, interview and naturalistic research are also applied for the analysis of IA occurred during interpreting process in qualitative and qualitative methods. Through the comparison of interpreters’ interpreting performance under different level of IA, this research tries to analyze the impact of IA on interpreting performance, and its possible causes. The research also invites trainee interpreters from 2013 and 2012 MA to fill in the same questionnaires. During comparative studies of interpreters with different background, possible factors that compose into or contributes to IA has been found out.Based on the research result, the author finds out that trainee interpreters’ IA will hinder their interpreting performance. The research identifies IA sources and offers coping strategies.The present research is hoped to serve as a constructive work in interpreting anxiety, shed light on the interpreting teaching, training and the selection of interpreters as well as offer some references to future studies.