Simultaneous Interpreting Flashcards
7 cards from real NIC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Simultaneous Interpreting flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of a 'boothmate' in simultaneous interpreting assignments?
Answer: To provide terminology support and take over when needed
A boothmate supports the active interpreter with terminology lookup, hand-off, and relief to prevent fatigue.
Which factor most commonly causes interpreter fatigue during simultaneous interpreting?
Answer: Sustained dual-task cognitive load
The continuous demand of listening, processing, and speaking simultaneously depletes cognitive resources rapidly.
A speaker uses a culture-specific joke that has no equivalent in the target language. The best simultaneous interpreting strategy is to:
Answer: Convey the intent of the humor with a culturally equivalent phrase
Rendering the communicative intent of humor through a culturally equivalent expression maintains the speaker's rhetorical effect.
In the NIC exam context, which ethical principle requires the interpreter to refrain from expressing personal opinions during an assignment?
Answer: Impartiality
Impartiality requires the interpreter to serve as a neutral conduit, not injecting personal views into the message.
What should an interpreter do when the source speaker's message is ambiguous and could have two meanings?
Answer: Render the most contextually probable interpretation and note the ambiguity if possible
Choosing the most contextually likely meaning and flagging ambiguity maintains flow while preserving accuracy standards.
Which type of memory is primarily engaged when a simultaneous interpreter temporarily holds a number or name before delivering it?
Answer: Short-term (working) memory
Working memory holds incoming information briefly while the interpreter finishes the current output segment.
An interpreter is assigned to a medical conference and encounters a term outside their preparation materials. The best preventive action BEFORE the assignment is to:
Answer: Request glossaries and speaker notes from organizers in advance
Pre-assignment preparation, including requesting glossaries, directly reduces on-the-spot terminology failures.
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