Simultaneous Interpreting

Simultaneous interpreting requires producing the target language message while continuing to receive the source message—a cognitive feat that demands dividing attention between input and output. The processing time (also called lag or décalage) is the delay between receiving the source message and producing the interpretation, typically 3-7 seconds for ASL-English work. Too short a lag means the interpreter has not fully analyzed the message and may produce a transliteration (word-for-word) rather than a true interpretation (meaning-for-meaning). Too long a lag overloads working memory and causes message loss. Finding the optimal lag is one of the most challenging skills to develop.