Stress as a Major Factor in Simultaneous Translation. Analysis and Research through Alive Biofeedback

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of stress on twenty interpreters during simultaneous interpreting with objectively measurable parameters recorded using Alive Clinical Version physiological monitoring software, using a Somatic Vision 8-channel GP8 Amp biofeedback system. The purpose of the article is to describe the model developed to functionally investigate stress in interpreters by recording skin conductance levels during simultaneous translation from English into Bulgarian and how stress levels correlate with interpreters English proficiency levels and how stress affects language production during translation. The purpose of testing and implementing this model is to develop individualized protocols to reduce interpreters’ stress. The target group includes 20 undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at the Faculty of Philology of the South-West University of whom 11 are women and 9 are men with at the age of 21 to 37. The study design included measurement of skin-galvanic conductance variability (which is an objective measure of stress level), during rest 1 (start, about 2 min), simultaneous translation (up to 5 min), rest 2 (finish, about 2 min).