Factors of stress in oral translation

The article is dedicated to the analysis of stress factors that interpreters face in oral translation. Practical research and the results of the analysis of theoretical literature have shown that there are a number of factors in oral translation that affect the emotional-psychological state of the interpreter and the quality of the interpretation. The stress factors in oral translation are divided into psychophysiological, cognitive, emotional, organizational, and situational. Cognitive factors include the lack of clarity in the speech of the presenter/speaker; the complexity of the topic; the use of a large amount of phraseological units, slang, culture-marked units and realities, quotes, and proper names; accents and dialects; and inadequate preparation for the interpretation. A critical role is played by a high speaking pace, which does not allow the time for the information processing and affects the quality of the interpretation, as well as the “interpreter unfriendly” behavior of the speaker, who presents their speech quickly, without logical pauses, uses humor, sarcasm, pun, etc. Psychological and emotional factors include the fear of making mistakes, not knowing something, or being misunderstood; a sense of high responsibility and inflated expectations of oneself; the presence of a large audience and/or important individuals. Physiological and technical factors include the translator’s inadequate physical condition, problems with technical equipment (microphones, booths), poor sound quality, interference in the headphones, background noise, lack of breaks, emotional-physiological incompatibility with the colleague in the booth, and the overall microclimate in the audience. Organizational factors include insufficient interaction with colleagues, public criticism or corrections from them, poor organization of the event, changes in the translation format (from consecutive to simultaneous or vice versa), lastminute adjustments and changes, and uncertainty of the agenda. A special place among the already known stress factors is occupied by moral and ethical deviations, which cause ethical stress. It arises as a result of critical discrepancies between one person’s ethical values and the expected behavior patterns of another, which can lead to serious consequences or even professional burnout. A survey conducted among beginner interpreters showed that the main stress factors are lack of time for reflection, fear of making mistakes, high responsibility for the outcome, unfamiliar vocabulary, high expectations from the client/audience, technical difficulties, and poor physical health.