INFORMATION OVERLOAD AT MAJOR CONFERENCES AND ITS IMPACT ON SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETING
Keywords:
information overload; simultaneous interpreting; international conferences; cognitive load; multilingual communication; conference interpreting.Abstract
Major international conferences play a crucial role in the exchange of
knowledge across linguistic and cultural boundaries. However, the rapid growth of
information density, accelerated speech delivery, and the extensive use of multimedia
presentations have created conditions of information overload. This phenomenon poses
significant challenges for simultaneous interpreters, whose task requires the real-time
processing and reformulation of complex information. The present article examines the
nature of information overload in major conference settings and analyzes its impact on
the quality, accuracy, and sustainability of simultaneous interpreting. The study
highlights the cognitive and professional consequences of excessive information flow
and emphasizes the importance of structured conference design, adequate preparation,
and technological support. By addressing information overload as a systemic issue, this
article contributes to a deeper understanding of interpreter performance in high
demand multilingual environments and proposes practical solutions to improve
communication effectiveness.
References
1. Gile, D. (2009). Basic concepts and models for interpreter and translator training
(Rev. ed.). John Benjamins Publishing Company.
2. Kahneman, D. (1973). Attention and effort. Prentice Hall.
3. Pöchhacker, F. (2016). Introducing interpreting studies (2nd ed.). Routledge.
4. Seeber, K. G. (2011). Cognitive load in simultaneous interpreting: Measures and
methods. Interpreting, 13(2), 176–204.
5. Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning.
Cognitive Science, 12(2), 257–285.
