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. 2015 Oct 14:6:1590.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01590. eCollection 2015.

Better dual-task processing in simultaneous interpreters

Tilo Strobach  1 , Maxi Becker  2 , Torsten Schubert  3 , Simone Kühn  4
Affiliations

Better dual-task processing in simultaneous interpreters

Tilo Strobach et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Simultaneous interpreting (SI) is a highly complex activity and requires the performance and coordination of multiple, simultaneous tasks: analysis and understanding of the discourse in a first language, reformulating linguistic material, storing of intermediate processing steps, and language production in a second language among others. It is, however, an open issue whether persons with experience in SI possess superior skills in coordination of multiple tasks and whether they are able to transfer these skills to lab-based dual-task situations. Within the present study, we set out to explore whether interpreting experience is associated with related higher-order executive functioning in the context of dual-task situations of the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) type. In this PRP situation, we found faster reactions times in participants with experience in simultaneous interpretation in contrast to control participants without such experience. Thus, simultaneous interpreters possess superior skills in coordination of multiple tasks in lab-based dual-task situations.

Keywords: dual tasks; executive functions; simultaneous interpreting; task coordination.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Illustration of Task 1 and Task 2 processing in dual tasks of the Psychological Refractory Period type. While stimulus processing and response execution can be performed in parallel with any other processes, processes of task coordination (TC) and processing of stimulus–response mapping cannot be processed with each other, but only sequentially. P1 and P2, perception stages; SR1 and SR2, stimulus-response mapping stages; R1, R2, response stages; TC1, TC2, and TC3, task coordination stages; SOA, stimulus onset asynchrony.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Illustration of stimulus information, stimulus-response mappings rules, and response information of Task 1 and Task 2 in dual-task trials of the Psychological Refractory Period type. SOA, stimulus onset asynchrony.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Mean reaction times (RTs) in participants with experience in simultaneous interpreting (SIs) and without such experience (no SIs), dual tasks (SOA: 50, 100, and 400 ms) and single tasks. (A) Task 2. (B) Task 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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