CASLI Teaming & Co-Interpreting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to RID standards, when is team interpreting generally recommended?
- Only for assignments lasting more than 4 hours
- For assignments lasting more than 2 hours or involving complex or specialized content (Correct answer)
- Only in legal or medical settings regardless of duration
- Whenever the Deaf consumer requests two interpreters
Correct answer: For assignments lasting more than 2 hours or involving complex or specialized content
RID recommends team interpreting for assignments exceeding 2 hours or those involving complex, specialized, or emotionally intense content to maintain quality.
Question 2: When providing a vocabulary feed during team interpreting, what is the most appropriate delivery method?
- Sign the entire missed phrase again at full speed
- Write the term on paper and hand it to the active interpreter mid-assignment
- Provide a brief, clear sign or mouthed word during a natural pause (Correct answer)
- Interrupt the speaker to ask for clarification on behalf of the active interpreter
Correct answer: Provide a brief, clear sign or mouthed word during a natural pause
Feeds should be brief and delivered during natural pauses to provide necessary information while minimizing disruption to the communication event.
Question 3: In team interpreting, what does 'parallel processing' refer to?
- Both interpreters working simultaneously on different segments of a conversation
- The simultaneous cognitive process of comprehending source language while producing target language output (Correct answer)
- Two interpreters using identical signs to ensure consistency
- Running two separate interpreting assignments at the same time
Correct answer: The simultaneous cognitive process of comprehending source language while producing target language output
Parallel processing describes the simultaneous cognitive demands of comprehending the source language while producing an equivalent target-language interpretation.
Question 4: When a support interpreter notices a significant error by the active interpreter, the most ethical and professional response is to:
- Wait until the active interpreter's shift ends before discussing any errors
- Immediately and openly correct the error in front of all consumers
- Provide a discrete feed or intervene at an appropriate moment (Correct answer)
- Document the error for agency review without intervening at all
Correct answer: Provide a discrete feed or intervene at an appropriate moment
Providing a discrete feed or intervening at an appropriate moment balances the obligation to accuracy with professional respect and minimal disruption to consumers.
Question 5: How does team interpreting most directly benefit the Deaf consumer?
- It guarantees a longer assignment at no additional cost
- It ensures more consistent quality and accuracy throughout long or cognitively demanding assignments (Correct answer)
- It allows the consumer to choose a preferred interpreter for each segment
- It provides two interpreters the consumer can ask separately for clarification
Correct answer: It ensures more consistent quality and accuracy throughout long or cognitively demanding assignments
Team interpreting maintains consistent accuracy and quality by preventing fatigue-related errors, directly preserving the Deaf consumer's communication access.
Question 6: What is the recommended physical positioning for a team of interpreters in most interpreting settings?
- One interpreter directly behind the other so the support interpreter monitors from the rear
- Support interpreter seated while the active interpreter stands
- Side by side or at a slight angle so both have visual access to the source and to each other (Correct answer)
- On opposite sides of the room to cover the widest visual field
Correct answer: Side by side or at a slight angle so both have visual access to the source and to each other
Positioning side by side or at a slight angle gives both interpreters visual access to the source language and allows discrete communication between them.
Question 7: What does 'cognitive fatigue' specifically refer to in the context of interpreting?
- Physical tiredness from sustaining sign production posture over time
- Mental exhaustion from the sustained, high-demand simultaneous processing required during interpreting (Correct answer)
- Emotional stress accumulated from interpreting difficult or traumatic content
- Social exhaustion from managing interactions with multiple stakeholders
Correct answer: Mental exhaustion from the sustained, high-demand simultaneous processing required during interpreting
Cognitive fatigue is the mental exhaustion resulting from the sustained, intensive simultaneous processing demands unique to the interpreting task.
CASLI Teaming & Co-Interpreting 2
According to RID standards, when is team interpreting generally recommended?