Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking

Mengsheng Qian; Ningjun Xu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12

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Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking

Mengsheng Qian, Ningjun Xu

Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 6, Issue 4)

Received: 6 December 2020 Accepted: 18 December 2020 Published: 25 December 2020

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Abstract

It is widely known that sight-interpreting, one of the typical forms of conference interpreting, requires the interpreters to exert great effort in transforming one language into another. Due to the difference between Chinese and English, some sentence structures such as relative clauses prove to be even more difficult to render. Some experienced interpreters are able to do such strenuous task with ease. Uncovering what is going on during information processing is enlightening in that it would shed light on how human brain uses certain types of mechanism to process information, which is conducive to the artificial intelligence. Eye-tracking experiment is designed, 31 subjects are recruited with an average age of 22 and comparable linguistic competence to participate in a 40-50 min experiment, during which each subject is required to sight-interpret the self-designed, expert-proven sentences which differ only in the role of the relative pronoun in the relative clauses. Data analysis clearly indicates that the cognitive effort of processing complex sentences as evidenced by two types of relative clauses (one is called OR because the relative pronouns function as object in the relative clause, the other SB because the relative pronouns function as subject in the relative clause) are different, the former requiring more cognitive effort than the latter, as shown in several key eye-movement measures such as regression-in, regression-out, first fixation duration, gaze duration, regression duration, and total reading duration. These differences are statistically significant within the AOIs such as the antecedent, relative clause. The finding further substantiates the hypothesis that sight-interpreting is more strenuous and thus requires more cognitive effort than the common readers. Besides, different structure of the relative clauses also plays a role in consuming the cognitive effort of the interpreters. However, it remains unclear whether the length of the relative clause plays a decisive role in influencing the cognition of whole sentence while sight-interpreting. Besides, whether the research results are applicable to other types of complex structure remain unanswered. More data should be collected to incorporate more complex structure in order to uncover the possible cognitive effort during sight-interpreting.

Published in	International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 6, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12
Page(s)	116-123
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cognitive Effort, Sight-interpreting, Complex Sentences, Relative Clause, Eye-tracking, Eye-movement

References

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[5]	Wang Jianhua. (2019). Cognition and Interpretation. Beijing: Press of China Renmin University.
[6]	Liu Jin. (2017). Research on the Cognitive Processing Mode of Sight-translation. Chinese Interpreters Journal, (2): 25-30.
[7]	Xiang Xia & Zheng Binghan. (2015). Background information and Quality of Interpreting. Foreign Countries and Foreign Language Teaching, 1: 94-102.
[8]	Gile, D. (1995). Basic Concepts and Models for Interpretation and Translator Training. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
[9]	Wan Hongyu (2005). Research of Process of Sight-interpreting and its Guideline for Teaching. Unpublish PhD Dissertation, Shanghai Foreign Studies University.
[10]	Deng Wei. (2017). Review and Reflection on the Study of Sight-translation in China over the Past 30 Years. Foreign Language and Literature, 33 (5): 97-102.
[11]	Chen Dezhang. (2011). Approach to Translation between English and Chinese. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
[12]	Wang Jinquan. (2002). A Case Study of English-Chinese Translation of English Attributive Clauses. Foreign Language Teaching and Research, 34 (6): 471-475.
[13]	Gibson, E., et al. (2005). Reading Relative Clauses in English. Cognitive Linguistics, 16 (2): 313-353.
[14]	Yan Guoli & Bai Xuejun. (2018) The Base and Application of Eye Movement Analytical Technology. Beijing: Beijing Normal University Press
[15]	Fan Lin & Liu Zhenqian. (2007). Research on Eye Movement of Reading and Understanding Process. Foreign Languages and Their Teaching, 217 (4): 35-40.
[16]	Rayner, K. & Pollatsek, A. (2006). Eye-movement Control in Reading. In M. J. Traxler & M. A. Gernsbacher (Eds.), Handbook of Psycholinguistics (2nd ed. pp. 613-657). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
[17]	Yan Guoli., et al. (2013). Introduction to the Main Eye Movement Parameters of Research on Reading. Advances in Psychological Science, 21 (4): 589-605.
[18]	Zhao Ming & Liu Tao. (2011). The ERP Research on the Anaphoric Linguistic Processing. Advances in Psychological Science, 19 (3): 355-363.
[19]	Yan Guoli & Bai Xuejun. (2012). General Introduction to the Eye Movement Research. Beijing: Science Press.

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Mengsheng Qian, Ningjun Xu. (2020). Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 6(4), 116-123. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12

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ACS Style

Mengsheng Qian; Ningjun Xu. Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2020, 6(4), 116-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12

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AMA Style

Mengsheng Qian, Ningjun Xu. Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2020;6(4):116-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12,
  author = {Mengsheng Qian and Ningjun Xu},
  title = {Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {116-123},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20200604.12},
  abstract = {It is widely known that sight-interpreting, one of the typical forms of conference interpreting, requires the interpreters to exert great effort in transforming one language into another. Due to the difference between Chinese and English, some sentence structures such as relative clauses prove to be even more difficult to render. Some experienced interpreters are able to do such strenuous task with ease. Uncovering what is going on during information processing is enlightening in that it would shed light on how human brain uses certain types of mechanism to process information, which is conducive to the artificial intelligence. Eye-tracking experiment is designed, 31 subjects are recruited with an average age of 22 and comparable linguistic competence to participate in a 40-50 min experiment, during which each subject is required to sight-interpret the self-designed, expert-proven sentences which differ only in the role of the relative pronoun in the relative clauses. Data analysis clearly indicates that the cognitive effort of processing complex sentences as evidenced by two types of relative clauses (one is called OR because the relative pronouns function as object in the relative clause, the other SB because the relative pronouns function as subject in the relative clause) are different, the former requiring more cognitive effort than the latter, as shown in several key eye-movement measures such as regression-in, regression-out, first fixation duration, gaze duration, regression duration, and total reading duration. These differences are statistically significant within the AOIs such as the antecedent, relative clause. The finding further substantiates the hypothesis that sight-interpreting is more strenuous and thus requires more cognitive effort than the common readers. Besides, different structure of the relative clauses also plays a role in consuming the cognitive effort of the interpreters. However, it remains unclear whether the length of the relative clause plays a decisive role in influencing the cognition of whole sentence while sight-interpreting. Besides, whether the research results are applicable to other types of complex structure remain unanswered. More data should be collected to incorporate more complex structure in order to uncover the possible cognitive effort during sight-interpreting.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking
AU  - Mengsheng Qian
AU  - Ningjun Xu
Y1  - 2020/12/25
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 116
EP  - 123
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12
AB  - It is widely known that sight-interpreting, one of the typical forms of conference interpreting, requires the interpreters to exert great effort in transforming one language into another. Due to the difference between Chinese and English, some sentence structures such as relative clauses prove to be even more difficult to render. Some experienced interpreters are able to do such strenuous task with ease. Uncovering what is going on during information processing is enlightening in that it would shed light on how human brain uses certain types of mechanism to process information, which is conducive to the artificial intelligence. Eye-tracking experiment is designed, 31 subjects are recruited with an average age of 22 and comparable linguistic competence to participate in a 40-50 min experiment, during which each subject is required to sight-interpret the self-designed, expert-proven sentences which differ only in the role of the relative pronoun in the relative clauses. Data analysis clearly indicates that the cognitive effort of processing complex sentences as evidenced by two types of relative clauses (one is called OR because the relative pronouns function as object in the relative clause, the other SB because the relative pronouns function as subject in the relative clause) are different, the former requiring more cognitive effort than the latter, as shown in several key eye-movement measures such as regression-in, regression-out, first fixation duration, gaze duration, regression duration, and total reading duration. These differences are statistically significant within the AOIs such as the antecedent, relative clause. The finding further substantiates the hypothesis that sight-interpreting is more strenuous and thus requires more cognitive effort than the common readers. Besides, different structure of the relative clauses also plays a role in consuming the cognitive effort of the interpreters. However, it remains unclear whether the length of the relative clause plays a decisive role in influencing the cognition of whole sentence while sight-interpreting. Besides, whether the research results are applicable to other types of complex structure remain unanswered. More data should be collected to incorporate more complex structure in order to uncover the possible cognitive effort during sight-interpreting.
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Mengsheng Qian

School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, PR China
Ningjun Xu

College of Humanities and Management, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, PR China

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APA Style

Mengsheng Qian, Ningjun Xu. (2020). Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 6(4), 116-123. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12

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ACS Style

Mengsheng Qian; Ningjun Xu. Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2020, 6(4), 116-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12

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AMA Style

Mengsheng Qian, Ningjun Xu. Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2020;6(4):116-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12,
  author = {Mengsheng Qian and Ningjun Xu},
  title = {Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking},
  journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {116-123},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20200604.12},
  abstract = {It is widely known that sight-interpreting, one of the typical forms of conference interpreting, requires the interpreters to exert great effort in transforming one language into another. Due to the difference between Chinese and English, some sentence structures such as relative clauses prove to be even more difficult to render. Some experienced interpreters are able to do such strenuous task with ease. Uncovering what is going on during information processing is enlightening in that it would shed light on how human brain uses certain types of mechanism to process information, which is conducive to the artificial intelligence. Eye-tracking experiment is designed, 31 subjects are recruited with an average age of 22 and comparable linguistic competence to participate in a 40-50 min experiment, during which each subject is required to sight-interpret the self-designed, expert-proven sentences which differ only in the role of the relative pronoun in the relative clauses. Data analysis clearly indicates that the cognitive effort of processing complex sentences as evidenced by two types of relative clauses (one is called OR because the relative pronouns function as object in the relative clause, the other SB because the relative pronouns function as subject in the relative clause) are different, the former requiring more cognitive effort than the latter, as shown in several key eye-movement measures such as regression-in, regression-out, first fixation duration, gaze duration, regression duration, and total reading duration. These differences are statistically significant within the AOIs such as the antecedent, relative clause. The finding further substantiates the hypothesis that sight-interpreting is more strenuous and thus requires more cognitive effort than the common readers. Besides, different structure of the relative clauses also plays a role in consuming the cognitive effort of the interpreters. However, it remains unclear whether the length of the relative clause plays a decisive role in influencing the cognition of whole sentence while sight-interpreting. Besides, whether the research results are applicable to other types of complex structure remain unanswered. More data should be collected to incorporate more complex structure in order to uncover the possible cognitive effort during sight-interpreting.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Research on the Cognitive Effort of Sight-Interpreting Complex English Sentences into Chinese: Evidence from Eye Tracking
AU  - Mengsheng Qian
AU  - Ningjun Xu
Y1  - 2020/12/25
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12
T2  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JF  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
JO  - International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation
SP  - 116
EP  - 123
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20200604.12
AB  - It is widely known that sight-interpreting, one of the typical forms of conference interpreting, requires the interpreters to exert great effort in transforming one language into another. Due to the difference between Chinese and English, some sentence structures such as relative clauses prove to be even more difficult to render. Some experienced interpreters are able to do such strenuous task with ease. Uncovering what is going on during information processing is enlightening in that it would shed light on how human brain uses certain types of mechanism to process information, which is conducive to the artificial intelligence. Eye-tracking experiment is designed, 31 subjects are recruited with an average age of 22 and comparable linguistic competence to participate in a 40-50 min experiment, during which each subject is required to sight-interpret the self-designed, expert-proven sentences which differ only in the role of the relative pronoun in the relative clauses. Data analysis clearly indicates that the cognitive effort of processing complex sentences as evidenced by two types of relative clauses (one is called OR because the relative pronouns function as object in the relative clause, the other SB because the relative pronouns function as subject in the relative clause) are different, the former requiring more cognitive effort than the latter, as shown in several key eye-movement measures such as regression-in, regression-out, first fixation duration, gaze duration, regression duration, and total reading duration. These differences are statistically significant within the AOIs such as the antecedent, relative clause. The finding further substantiates the hypothesis that sight-interpreting is more strenuous and thus requires more cognitive effort than the common readers. Besides, different structure of the relative clauses also plays a role in consuming the cognitive effort of the interpreters. However, it remains unclear whether the length of the relative clause plays a decisive role in influencing the cognition of whole sentence while sight-interpreting. Besides, whether the research results are applicable to other types of complex structure remain unanswered. More data should be collected to incorporate more complex structure in order to uncover the possible cognitive effort during sight-interpreting.
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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