Exploring the predictive validity of an interpreting aptitude test battery

Abstract

Abstract This study explores the validity of a battery of interpreting aptitude tests comprising the SynCloze test, the Negative Affectivity Scale and the Inventory of Learning Styles in predicting the interpreting performance of Chinese interpreting trainees. The aptitude test battery was conducted at the beginning of the first semester for 68 post-graduate interpreting students in four Chinese interpreter training programs. English-Chinese (E-C) and Chinese-English (C-E) consecutive interpreting (CI) tests that measure the interpreting proficiency of the participants were conducted at the end of the semester. The results of the correlation and regression analysis indicated that the SynCloze test enjoyed statistically significant predictive power for both directions of CI and that its predictive power was stronger for C-E CI (β = 0.70) than for E-C CI (β = 0.48); negative affectivity was found to be a statistically significant predictor for E-C CI (β = −0.21) but not for C-E CI. Neither the meaning-directed nor the reproduction-directed learning style could predict interpreting performance. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to interpreter selection and training.