Prolonged turns in interpreting: Effects on quality, physiological and psychological stress (Pilot study)

This paper seeks to investigate the effect of increased time on task in simultaneous interpreting on the quality of interpretation and on physiological and psychological stress. Interpreters working for longer than approx. 30 minutes, the recommended turn time in simultaneous interpreting under standard working conditions, risk a decline in quality of output which appears to be due to a combination of psychological and physiological factors.