Memory Mechanism And Memory Training In Interpreting

Memory plays a significant role in interpreting in that it encompasses such active processes as information perception, encoding, storage and retrieval. While listening to the source language speech, interpreters identify and retain the incoming information. Then they analyze, encode and store the information from source language. Finally at the reformulation stage, they recognize or recall the retained message through active retrieval and decode the message into target language. The instantaneous flow of the message and the limited time lag between the speaker and the interpreter require excellent memory performance of interpreters.Despite the significance of memory in interpreting, there are limited research finings on comprehensive memory training paradigm in China. Hence the call for a unified, systematic memory training paradigm gradually arises.To answer the call, this thesis proposes a series of comprehensive memory training exercises based on the theories adopted from experimental psychology, cognitive psychology, psycholinguistics and interpreting studies, and on the training practices of GIIT with a view to enrich the memory training methods in the interpreting teaching community.It attempts to explain the different ways the three memory systems (sensory memory, short-term memory & long-term memory) function, and their distinctive characteristics in the interpreting process. It goes further to elaborate on the factors affecting memory performance in interpreting. Through the survey conducted on the memory training situation in the two comparison groups, viz, Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation (GIIT) in Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) and the Faculty of Foreign Languages in Ningbo University (NBU), this thesis reveals their respective interpreting training situations especially in the field of memory training.The interpreting training in GIIT is centered on skills. GIIT schedules the stages for...