Sound quality in simultaneous interpretation: basic technical-acoustic skills and professional autonomy
This article examines the effect of sound quality on simultaneous interpretation, combining a brief review of the literature with reflections stemming from the context of interpreting in Basque. Cognitive models of interpretation indicate that listening conditions can have a direct effect on the interpreter’s cognitive load and, as a result, on their performance and on the quality of their interpretation. In the context of Basque interpretation, the heterogeneity of resources and technical conditions can make this phenomenon even more apparent. Given this situation, the article argues that basic technical-acoustic skills are a key component of the interpreter’s professional autonomy and proper practice.
