Daniel Gile's Effort Model for Interpreting

Interpretation Summary

An interpretation [I] can be summarized with the following equation: I =L+M+P+C

where L stands for the listening and analysis effort, M for memory, P for production and C for coordination.

His two main basic ideas consists of...

Interpretation "takes up almost all of this mental energy, and sometimes requires more than is available, at which times performance deteriorates."

Interpretation requires some sort of mental "energy" that is only available in limited supply.

Gile's Propositions

Daniel Gile's Effort Model for Interpreting

Gile's proposition was to help interpreters understand the "difficulties of interpreting and select appropriate strategies and tactics".

His two main basic ideas consists of...

Requirements for Interpretation

TR = LR + MR + PR + CR

As a result, in order for the interpreter to carry out the interpretation smoothly, the following conditions need to be satisfied:

 Consequently,

TA > LR + MR + PR + CR

where the R stands for requirements.

TA > TR

where TA is the total available capacity.

According to Gile, each interpreting phase implies an effort, the interpreter should therefore be able to find a balance among them in terms of energy. The efforts and interpreter faces are mainly four.

Should conditions (2) and (3) not be fulfilled, the interpreter would experience mental saturation with an obvious negative effect on the interpreting performance.

Coordination Effort

Listening and Analysis Effort

Compared to “the air-traffic controller for the interpreting that takes place, allowing the interpreter to manage her focus of attention between the listening and analysis task and the ongoing self-monitoring that occurs during performance” (Leeson, 2005: 57). Once interpreters achieve this coordination point, they are able to perform the interpreting job in the most optimal conditions, since their skills are balanced with the task in question.

Comprehension-oriented operations, from the analysis of the sound waves carrying the source-language speech which reach the interpreter’s ear through identification of the utterance.

What Do They Mean in Practice?

For those of you who don’t like equations that much, let’s simplify the concept. Interpreters have a certain amount of energy and during an assignment we need to find a balance between 4 fundamental ingredients: 1) listening and analysis, 2) memory, 3) production and 4) coordination. Thanks to such a balance, the interpreter is then able to avoid mental saturation and a consequent negative performance.

Citations

Memory Effort

GILE, D. “Basic Theoretical Components in Interpreter and Translator Training.” DOLLERUP, C. and LODDEGAARD, A. (eds). Teaching Translation and Interpreting: Training, Talent and Experience. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 1992. 

GILE, D. Basic Concepts and Models for Interpreter and Translator Training. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 1995.

LEESON, L. “Making the effort in simultaneous interpreting: Some considerations for signed language interpreters.” JANZEN, T. (ed). Topics in Signed Language Interpreting: Theory and Practice. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 2005. p. 51-68.

Production Effort

Used more as a storage mechanism where information is temporarily kept before further processing takes place.

Consecutive interpreting: this is further divided in two productions phases, the first being the moment in which the interpreter listen to he SL speech and takes notes and the second being the TL speech delivery.