Abstract
AbstractInterpreting is a complex bilingual task, placing high demands on both language control (i.e., source language not interfering in target language production) and processing control (i.e., multi-tasking carried out in concert under time pressure). On the basis of empirical evidence in the literature, we propose an attentional control model to account for both language control and processing control. Specifically, language control in interpreting is achieved by a structural framework of language-modality connections (established in interpreting training and stored as task schema), and by focused attention that helps build, strengthen and adapt the framework through monitoring, target enhancement, task disengagement, shifting, and working memory. In contrast, processing control in interpreting is achieved by divided attention via coordination and working memory, and by language processing efficiency that includes mastery of both languages and the appropriate use of interpreting strategies. Implications of this model for general bilingual language control are discussed.
Highlights
Interpreting is a complex and intense bilingual task, in which both languages involved are highly activated, and the rapid translation from the source language (SL) to the target language (TL) has to be carried out under extreme time pressure
In this paper we propose an attentional control model to account for language and processing control in both consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting, considering the specific features of the interpreting task as discussed above
We propose that processing control in interpreting is achieved by the dual mechanism of (a) divided attention and (b) language processing efficiency
Summary
Interpreting is a complex and intense bilingual task, in which both languages involved are highly activated, and the rapid translation from the source language (SL) to the target language (TL) has to be carried out under extreme time pressure. The Adaptive Control Hypothesis (Green & Abutalebi, 2013) has rich implications for interpreting control, it is still a general account of bilingual control and does not take into considerations the specific features of interpreting, such as the regularity of switching and the multi-tasking feature. In this paper we propose an attentional control model to account for language and processing control in both consecutive interpreting and simultaneous interpreting, considering the specific features of the interpreting task as discussed above. The cognitive resource demands for two tasks performed together are more than the sum of demands of the two tasks performed separately because coordination is needed to distribute appropriate attentional resources to each task These perspectives from cognitive psychology on attention have provided us with a good basis to examine language and processing control in interpreting. We integrate the two specific proposals in a general attentional control model, and discuss implications for general bilingual control
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