earticle

영어

Simultaneous interpretation is an extremely complex cognitive task: an interpreter receives an auditory message in the source language, simultaneously reformulates and produces it in the target language. Additionally, language switching from comprehension to production and vice versa always occurs during translation , and inhibitory control is required to avoid interference between the two active languages. In this paper, first I summarize previous bilinguals' neuroimaging studies on selection, inhibition, and switching between two languages, which are essential processings of simultaneous interpretation. Then, I will review recent neuroimaging studies on how the brain works during simultaneous interpretation together with an fMRI study I conducted with my colleagues to examine the extent to which the long-term experience of being a simultaneous interpreter changes brain functions. Finally, I will discuss how language proficiency and experience of simultaneous interpretation influence brain mechanism during interpretation.