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Article published In:
Cognitive Translation and Interpreting Studies in the Early Twenty First Century
Edited by Adolfo M. García, Edinson Muñoz and Néstor Singer
[Translation, Cognition & Behavior 6:2] 2023
► pp. 141–163

Predictive processes in interpreters

Existing findings and future directions in interpreting process research

ORCID logo | Boğaziçi University

This paper discusses predictive processes in simultaneous interpreting. A review of experimental findings in the interpreting process literature is carried out on prediction and anticipation – both instances of predictive processes – addressing two questions: (i) what causes prediction and anticipation?, and (ii) is there an experience-related advantage for prediction and anticipation in interpreters? A few gaps are identified in the literature, namely, the need for investigating language-specific cues to prediction and the need for investigating predictive behaviour in both source language processing and target language production. The review is followed by a discussion of future directions in addressing the identified gaps by interpreting process studies, as well as a discussion of how current and future experimental findings can inform our understanding of the processes underlying prediction during simultaneous interpreting.

Keywords: prediction, anticipation, simultaneous interpreting, interpreting process
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Experimental findings: Goals met
    • 2.1Early studies on anticipation
    • 2.2Experimental studies
      • 2.2.1Behavioural data
      • 2.2.2Eye tracking data
      • 2.2.3Electrophysiological data
      • 2.2.4Discussion: Experimental findings
  • 3.Discussion: Goals ahead
    • 3.1Measuring predictive processes
    • 3.2Modelling prediction
  • 4.Conclusions
  • Note
  • References
Published online: 7 March 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tcb.00083.hod
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