 |
[email protected] |
 |
3275638434 |
 |
 |
| Paper Publishing WeChat |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Managing Linguistic Uncertainty in Interpreting: Insights from an Empirical Investigation
HE Yan, WANG Yi
Full-Text PDF
XML 22 Views
DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2025.10.002
College of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China School of General Education, Tianjin Foreign Studies University, Tianjin, 300204, P. R. China
Interpreting is a fast-paced activity where interpreters must make quick choices when faced with uncertainty. This study looks at how professional interpreters handle linguistic uncertainty in English-Chinese sight translation, with a focus on the strategies they use. By analyzing transcription data alongside instructor evaluations, we found that interpreters relied most on creative interpretation and omission, while strategies like paraphrasing, simplification, transformation, addition, and generalization appeared less often. The results show a clear preference for strategies that keep communication flowing without adding unnecessary cognitive load. These findings support the Processing Economy Hypothesis, which suggests interpreters naturally seek efficient ways to process language while maintaining meaning. The study also highlights practical implications for interpreter training, emphasizing the value of flexible, economy-oriented strategies to help interpreters stay fluent under pressure.
linguistic uncertainty, strategies, Processing Economy Hypothesis, interpreting, English-Chinese sight translation
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, October 2025, Vol. 15, No. 10, 750-761
ALPAC. (1966). Language and machines: Computers in translation and linguistics. A report by the Automatic Language Processing Advisory Committee, Division of Behavioral Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences.
Čeňková, I. (2010). Sight translation: Prima vista. In Y. Gambier & L. V. Doorslaer (Eds.), Handbook of Translation Studies (pp. 320-323). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Chang, C. (2005). Directionality in Chinese/English simultaneous interpreting: Impact on performance and strategy use (Doctoral Dissertation: University of Texas, USA).
Dragsted, B., & Hansen, I. G. (2009). Exploring translation and interpreting hybrids: The case of sight translation. Meta, 54(3), 588-604.
Gerver, D. (1976). Empirical studies of simultaneous interpretation: A review and a model. In R.W. Brislin (Ed.), Translation: Applications and research (pp. 165-203). New York: Gardner Press.
Gile, D. (1995). Basic concepts and models for interpreter and translator training (revised edition). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
He, Y. (2018). Translating and interpreting as bilingual processing: The theoretical framework. In D. Li, L. C. Lei, & Y. He (Eds.), Researching cognitive processes of translation (pp. 15-48). Singapore: Springer Singapore.
He, Y., & Wang, J. (2021). Eye-tracking uncertainty management in sight translation: Differences between professional and novice interpreters. In R. Muñoz Martín, S. Sun, & D. Li (Eds.), Advances in cognitive translation studies (pp. 181-200). Singapore: Springer.
Hurtado Albir, A. (1996). La traductología: lingüística y traductología. Trans: revista de Traductología, (1), 151-162.
Hurtado Albir, A. (1999). La competencia traductora y su adquisición. Un modelo holístico y dinámico. Perspectives: studies in translatology, 7(2), 177-188.
Ibrahim, N. (2008). Conference interpreting in Malaysia: Professional and training perspectives (Doctoral Dissertation: Universidad de Granada, Spain).
Jensen, K. T. H. (2009). Indicators of text complexity. Copenhagen Studies in Language, (37), 61-80.
Kalina, S. (1992). Discourse processing and interpreting strategies—An approach to the teaching of interpreting. In C. Dollerup & A. Loddegaard (Eds.), Teaching translation and interpreting: Training, talent and experience (pp. 251-257). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Kohn, K., & Kalina, S. (1996). The strategic dimension of interpreting. Meta, 41(1), 118-138.
Moser-Mercer, B. (1994). Aptitude testing for conference interpreting: Why, when and how. Bridging the gap: Empirical research in simultaneous interpretation, 57-68.
Niska, H. (1998). Explorations in translational creativity: Strategies for interpreting neogogisms. Workshop paper, Stockholm University, 1998-08-08, available at: http://lisa.tolk.su.se/kreeng2.htm#I160
Oléron, P., & Nanpon, H. (1965/2002). Research into simultaneous translation. In F. Pöchhacker & M. Shlesinger (Eds.), The interpreting studies reader (pp. 43-50). London and New York: Routledge.
Petite, C. (2005). Evidence of repair mechanisms in simultaneous interpreting. Interpreting, 7(1), 27-49.
Pöchhacker, F. (2004). Introducing interpreting studies. London and New York: Routledge.
Riccardi, A. (1998). Interpreting strategies and creativity. In A. Beylard-Ozeroff, J. Králová & B. Moser-Mercer (Eds.), Translators’ strategies and creativity: Selected papers from the 9th International Conference on Translation and Interpreting (pp. 171-180). Amsterdam: Benjamins Translation Library.
Riccardi, A. (2005). On the evolution of interpreting strategies in simultaneous interpreting. Meta, 50(2), 753-767.
Sampaio, G. R. L. (2007). Mastering sight translation skills. Translation & Communication [Tradução & Comunicação], 16, 63-69.
Seleskovitch, D., & Lederer, M. (1989). Pédagogie raisonnée de l’interprétation. Paris/Luxembourg: Didier Érudition/OPOCE.
Setton, R. (1999). Simultaneous interpretation. A cognitive-pragmatic analysis. Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Sofer, M. (2008). The translator’s Handbook (6th revised edition). Rockville, MD: Schreiber Publishing.
Weber, W. (1990). The importance of sight translation in an interpreter training program. In D. Bowen & M. Bowen (Eds.), Interpreting—Yesterday, today, and tomorrow (pp. 44-52). Binghamton: State University of New York.