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The Influence of Flow on Interpeting Quality

Language and Cognitive Science / 2023,7(1): 69−88 / 2023-08-16 593 505

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• Authors: Xinyi      Gao²      and      Zhiyi      Zhang¹     
• Information:

  1.School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University;
  2.College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Xiamen University

• Keywords: cognitive approach; flow;interpreting quality; student interpreter; discourse analysis
• Abstract: Flow refers to a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter, which is a concept in cognitive studies and interpreting, to some extent, could be seen as a flowactivity. This concept has been widely applied in the analysis of student performance and foreign language teaching. However, it has not been completely tested in translation and interpreting studies. Therefore, through discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews, this study explores the influenceof flowon interpreting quality by adopting a case study of a student interpreter. Presumptions are raised and verified:(1) If the interpreting materials are beyond the competence of the interpreter, anxiety may occur, resulting in a decrease in interpreting quality. (2) If the interpreting materials are under the competence of the interpreter, boredom may occur, resulting in a decrease in interpreting quality. (3) If the interpreting materials match the interpreter’s competence, the student interpreter enters the flowstate, and the interpreting quality reaches the maximum. Flow is of great significancein student interpreters’ interpreting quality, and only when a student interpreter’s competence matches with the challenge, flowis likely to occur. Suggestions and implications for further research are put forward.
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.35534/lcs.0701004
• Cite:

  Xinyi Gao，Zhiyi Zhang．The Influence of Flow on Interpeting Quality［J］．Language and Cognitive Science，2022，7（1）：69−88．