Exploring Cognitive Processing in Simultaneous Interpreting with Live Captioning: A Pilot Study on Ear-Voice Span and Output Accuracy

Simultaneous interpreting (SI) with live captioning (LC) is an emerging working mode that has gained traction among both practitioners and researchers. While previous studies have examined LC’s impact on output accuracy and physiological responses of interpreters, ear-voice span (EVS) — the time lag between the speaker’s utterance and the interpreter’s production — remains underexplored, despite its dual role as a window into interpreters’ cognitive processes and a tool for managing cognitive resources. This study investigates LC’s influence on EVS and output accuracy, providing insights into cognitive mechanisms through the lens of Gile’s Effort Model.