A Case Analysis of Disfluency in English-to-Chinese Simultaneous Interpreting Based on the Effort Model

Abstract

Disfluency is quite common for student interpreters in simultaneous interpreting (SI), which is regarded as a critical parameter for interpreting quality. Therefore, it is of great significance to study disfluency in SI. Based on Gile’s Effort Model, the thesis aims to shed light on causes to disfluency in SI by conducting a case study of the interpreting project on 2020 International Commercial and Legal Cooperation Forum.
With reference to the classification system of interpreting disfluency proposed by Dai Zhaohui, the author summarizes three major manifestations of disfluency in SI: pauses, repetitions and self-repairs. Under the guidance of Gile’s Effort Model, interpreting performance deteriorates if processing capacity requirements exceed its supply. The author analyzes the problem triggers of disfluency from the perspective of cognitive overload, which involves Listening and Analysis Effort, Memory Effort, Production Effort and Coordination Effort. To be specific, it is attributed to the fact that the required processing capacity in Listening and Analysis Effort, Memory Effort, Production Effort and Coordination Effort exceeds the available one. Finally, the author proposes technical and non-technical coping strategies with an aim to improve delivery fluency in SI.