Directionality in conference interpreting : A cognitive view

Abstract

Interpreting directionality preferences are contradictory and based on traditions rather than on research. The assumption that speech comprehension and speech production take up less processing capacity (PC) in one's native ('A') language than in one's non-native active ('B') language may lead to opposite conclusions regarding total PC requirements when working into one's A or B language, depending on whether production is assumed to require more or less PC than comprehension. Language-specific and language-pair specific factors, as well as variability in other relevant factors, may offset such calculations to the extent that depending on circumstances, directionality may lose much of its importance. Nevertheless, it makes sense to investigate the issue further so as to identify regularities, if any, and develop appropriate training strategies to remedy weaknesses occurring when working from B languages and into B languages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)