ABSTRACT

This article uses risk communication theory and cognitive load theory to analyse the stress experienced by interpreters involved in crisis communication within Covid-19 medical scenarios. It considers the nature of stress both from psychological (mental) and physiological perspectives, exploring the relationship between the level of cognitive load, interpreters’ stress, and the quality of interpreting in crisis communication. This research identifies the strategies used by interpreters when operating in pandemic working environments and compares their cognitive load and physiological stress changes within and outside contexts of crisis communication. We hypothesize that interpreters experience greater psychological stress and an increased cognitive load which adversely affect their interpreting in crises compared to normal situations. To test this hypothesis, an experiment combined eye-tracking technology with Heart Rate and Galvanic Skin Response technology. 25 novice interpreters interpreted simulated medical scenarios for a Covid-19 patient and a diabetes patient respectively. This is one of the first studies to apply the multimodal approach of eye-tracking, HR, and GSR technology to record the physiological stress and mental status of interpreters. We advocate more systematic interdisciplinary research concerning interpreters’ stress in crisis communication, and outline recommendations for future crisis interpreting training and for individual professionals involved in crisis management.

摘要

本文使用风险沟通理论和认知负荷理论来分析在 Covid-19 医疗场景中参与危机沟通的口译员所经历的压力。它从心理（心理）和生理两个角度考虑压力的性质，探索危机沟通中认知负荷水平、口译员压力和口译质量之间的关系。这项研究确定了口译员在大流行工作环境中使用的策略，并比较了他们在危机沟通环境内外的认知负荷和生理压力变化。我们假设，与正常情况相比，口译员会承受更大的心理压力和增加的认知负荷，这会对他们在危机中的口译产生不利影响。为了验证这一假设，一项实验将眼动追踪技术与心率和皮肤电反应技术相结合。25 名新手口译员分别为一名 Covid-19 患者和一名糖尿病患者翻译了模拟医疗场景。这是最早应用眼动追踪、HR 和 GSR 技术的多模式方法来记录口译员的生理压力和精神状态的研究之一。我们提倡对口译员在危机沟通中的压力进行更系统的跨学科研究，并为未来的危机口译培训和参与危机管理的个人专业人员概述建议。25 名新手口译员分别为一名 Covid-19 患者和一名糖尿病患者翻译了模拟医疗场景。这是最早应用眼动追踪、HR 和 GSR 技术的多模式方法来记录口译员的生理压力和精神状态的研究之一。我们提倡对口译员在危机沟通中的压力进行更系统的跨学科研究，并为未来的危机口译培训和参与危机管理的个人专业人员概述建议。25 名新手口译员分别为一名 Covid-19 患者和一名糖尿病患者翻译了模拟医疗场景。这是最早应用眼动追踪、HR 和 GSR 技术的多模式方法来记录口译员的生理压力和精神状态的研究之一。我们提倡对口译员在危机沟通中的压力进行更系统的跨学科研究，并为未来的危机口译培训和参与危机管理的个人专业人员概述建议。