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The effects of task complexity and individual differences in novice interpreters' consecutive interpreting
1School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China; Department of Chinese Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Acta Psychologica
|April 16, 2026
Summary
Consecutive interpreting (CI) performance depends on task complexity and interpreter traits. High task load impacts accuracy and fluency, but L2 proficiency and managed anxiety can improve results.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Linguistics
- Translation Studies
Background:
- Consecutive interpreting (CI) is cognitively demanding, involving complex processing under time pressure.
- Performance in CI is influenced by cognitive load and individual differences in traits like L2 proficiency and anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between task complexity and individual differences (L2 proficiency, anxiety, working memory) in determining CI performance.
- To analyze how task complexity, specifically word-order asymmetry between Chinese and English, affects interpreting accuracy, fluency, and quality.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-nine novice interpreters completed three CI tasks with varying complexity levels.
- Performance was evaluated based on accuracy, fluency, and target-language output quality.
- Statistical analyses examined the influence of task complexity, L2 proficiency, anxiety, and working memory.
Main Results:
- A performance trade-off was observed: high task load significantly reduced informational accuracy and fluency, while output quality remained stable.
- Higher L2 proficiency positively correlated with accuracy and language quality.
- Anxiety negatively impacted fluency, but this effect lessened under high cognitive load, suggesting compensatory mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive load, affective states, and linguistic expertise dynamically interact to shape CI performance.
- Findings offer valuable insights for designing interpreter training programs and optimizing task complexity in professional settings.
