NIC Simultaneous Interpreting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the typical lag time (décalage) an interpreter maintains behind the source speaker during simultaneous interpreting?
- 1–3 seconds (Correct answer)
- 5–7 seconds
- 10–15 seconds
- Less than half a second
Correct answer: 1–3 seconds
A lag of 1–3 seconds allows the interpreter to process enough meaning before rendering the target language.
Question 2: Which cognitive skill is MOST critical for an interpreter to sustain simultaneous interpreting over a long session?
- Divided attention (Correct answer)
- Phonological memory alone
- Speed reading
- Rote memorization
Correct answer: Divided attention
Divided attention — processing incoming speech while simultaneously producing output — is the core cognitive demand of simultaneous interpreting.
Question 3: During a fast-paced simultaneous interpreting assignment, a speaker uses an unfamiliar technical acronym. What is the best immediate strategy?
- Render the acronym as heard and continue interpreting (Correct answer)
- Stop and ask the speaker to clarify
- Skip the word entirely
- Paraphrase by adding an explanation from memory
Correct answer: Render the acronym as heard and continue interpreting
Rendering the acronym as heard maintains the flow while signaling to the audience that the term needs context.
Question 4: An interpreter notices the source speaker is reading from a prepared text faster than normal. What is the most effective adaptation?
- Compress non-essential information to keep pace (Correct answer)
- Interpret every single word to ensure completeness
- Request a written copy before starting
- Increase the lag time to over 10 seconds
Correct answer: Compress non-essential information to keep pace
Compressing peripheral content while preserving core meaning is a recognized coping strategy for high-speed delivery.
Question 5: In simultaneous interpreting at a legal proceeding, the interpreter hears the speaker self-correct mid-sentence. What should the interpreter do?
- Interpret the correction, not the original error
- Interpret the original error only
- Interpret both and note the self-correction (Correct answer)
- Pause and ask which version is correct
Correct answer: Interpret both and note the self-correction
In legal settings, accuracy demands that both the error and the self-correction be conveyed so the record reflects what actually occurred.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the 'salami technique' in simultaneous interpreting?
- Breaking a long sentence into shorter meaningful chunks for delivery (Correct answer)
- Repeating key terms for emphasis
- Slowing down speech to match the speaker's pace
- Omitting filler words to save time
Correct answer: Breaking a long sentence into shorter meaningful chunks for delivery
The salami technique involves segmenting complex source sentences into smaller, manageable units that can be delivered fluently in the target language.
Question 7: When an interpreter in a booth experiences a sudden loss of audio feed, what is the correct protocol?
- Signal the technician immediately and pause output (Correct answer)
- Continue interpreting based on lip reading
- Begin note-taking and switch to consecutive mode alone
- Guess the missing content and continue
Correct answer: Signal the technician immediately and pause output
Signaling the technician and pausing prevents inaccurate interpretation due to missing source information.
NIC Simultaneous Interpreting 2
What is the typical lag time (décalage) an interpreter maintains behind the source speaker during simultaneous interpreting?