Prolonged turns in interpreting: Effects on quality, physiological and psychological stress (Pilot study)

Moser-Mercer, Barbara; Künzli, Alexander; Korac, Marina

doi:10.1075/intp.3.1.03mos

Article published In: Interpreting
Vol. 3:1 (1998) ► pp.47–64

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Prolonged turns in interpreting

Effects on quality, physiological and psychological stress (Pilot study)

Barbara Moser-Mercer | Université de Genève, Ecole de Traduction et d'Interprétation

Alexander Künzli | Université de Genève, Ecole de Traduction et d'Interprétation

Marina Korac | Université de Genève, Ecole de Traduction et d'Interprétation

Published online: 1 January 1998

https://doi.org/10.1075/intp.3.1.03mos

This paper seeks to investigate the effect of increased time on task in simultaneous interpreting on the quality of interpretation and on physiological and psychological stress. Interpreters working for longer than approx. 30 minutes, the recommended turn time in simultaneous interpreting under standard working conditions, risk a decline in quality of output which appears to be due to a combination of psychological and physiological factors.

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