ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

心理科学进展 ›› 2021, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (4): 625-634.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2021.00625

• ·研究前沿· • 上一篇    下一篇

口译员的认知转换优势

赵宏明1, 董燕萍2()   

  1. 1广东外语外贸大学外国语言学及应用语言学研究中心, 广州 510420
    2浙江大学外国语言文化与国际交流学院, 杭州 310058
  • 收稿日期:2020-04-23 出版日期:2021-04-15 发布日期:2021-02-22
  • 基金资助:
    国家社科基金重点课题(15AYY002)

Interpreter advantages in switching ability

ZHAO Hong-ming1, DONG Yan-ping2()   

  1. 1Center for Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China
    2School of International Studies, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
  • Received:2020-04-23 Online:2021-04-15 Published:2021-02-22

摘要:

口译可视为一种强化的双语转换活动。与一般双语者相比, 口译员在基于规则(rule-based)的转换与基于任务(task-based)的转换两方面都表现出了优势, 但基于任务的转换优势存在局部转换与整体监控的争议。经初步探索, 口译训练首先带来局部转换优势(单价任务的转换代价), 随后带来整体监控优势(双价任务的混合代价)。口译涉及的高强度语言转换及特殊的语言控制特性可能是影响口译员认知转换优势的因素。上述结果对双语优势及其他相关研究有启示作用。

关键词: 认知转换能力, 口译员认知转换优势, 规则转换, 任务转换, 双语优势

Abstract:

Interpreting is an intensive language switching task, and it may thus bring additional benefits to the interpreter’s switching ability on top of what benefits may be produced from general bilingual experience. This paper is a review of the relevant findings of interpreter advantages in switching, hoping to shed light on the more general issue of bilingual advantages in switching.
Switching ability could be very complex, and sorting out its complexity as revealed in the literature may help find out the patterns or mechanisms of interpreters’ switching ability. First of all, switch could be either “rule-based” or “task-based”, typically and respectively measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the color-shape switching task. On the one hand, interpreters have shown advantages in both types of switching ability in the literature. On the other, the patterns of results differ between the advantages in rule-based switch and in task-based switch. To be specific, interpreters’ advantage is relatively more stable in rule-based switch, but empirical studies are not consistent regarding task-based switch. A review of the literature seems to show that there is a developmental change. That is, interpreting training may first bring about an advantage in local switch (indexed by switch cost in a univalent switching task), and then later an advantage in global monitoring (indexed by mixing cost in a bivalent switching task). 
The above patterns of results (i.e., stable advantage in rule-based switch; developmental change from local-switch advantage to global-switch advantage in task-based switch) can be accounted for by the control features of interpreting (heavy load of working memory, high demands on cognitive resources). To illustrate, interpreting is a complex task that involves multiple control processes, in which working memory serves as an indispensable module of control. Previous studies have shown that interpreters exhibit a stable advantage in working memory. It is speculated in this paper that the rule-based switch is probably more dependent on working memory than the task-based switch, which may explain why the interpreter advantage in the rule-based switch is more stable than that in the task-based switch. Besides, interpreting puts high demands on different processes of language switching. With limited cognitive resources, beginning student interpreters may find it necessary to first fulfill local switching between two languages so as to catch up with the speed of the task. With more training and more experience, interpreters may become more comfortable in switching between two languages, and thus more cognitive resources are available for globally monitoring the interpreting process. In short, the developmental change from local switch to global monitoring could be attributed to an improvement of efficiency in utilizing cognitive resources.
In addition, since interpreter advantage is generally defined as additional benefits when compared with general bilingual experience, the presence of an interpreter advantage must be related to how interpreting tasks differ from general bilingual communications tasks. As regards interpreter advantages in switching, interpreting requires switching between two languages under extreme time pressure, reflecting high intensity in language switching. To test the effect of language switching intensity on the presence of a switching advantage, some studies have compared written translation training with interpreting training. The logic is that written translation requires frequent language switch similar to interpreting, and yet language switch is less intensive in written translation (without time constraint) than in interpreting. The results show that the training of written translation does not bring additional benefits to the trainees’ switching ability as interpreting training does when compared with general bilinguals.
The above analysis of interpreter advantages in switching have implications for research on the controversial issue of bilingual advantage. By examining the distinctive features of interpreting, we gained a preliminary understanding of the factors influencing interpreter advantages in switching. Similarly, to clarify the controversy in general bilingual switching advantages, it may be helpful to analyze the specialty of the bilingual experience involved. That means: First, a careful characterization of bilinguals’ language experience is necessary, including whether the bilinguals have interpreting experience and even intensive monolingual experience (e.g., public speaking). Second, some bilinguals do not demonstrate any advantage in switching ability probably because their bilingual experience fails to reach the intensity level of language switching required for generating a switching advantage. Third, in terms of the theories of bilingual language switching, the control features of different bilingual experiences are also worth being taken into account.

Key words: switching ability, interpreter advantage in switching, rule-based switch, task-based switch, bilingual advantage

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