Directional effects in machine interpreting-assisted consecutive interpreting: Insights from professional assessment and self-evaluation

Machine interpreting (MI) has become an influential form of computer-assisted interpreting, shaping both interpreting practice and pedagogy. Although prior studies have explored MI’s effects on interpreting processes and outputs, little is known about how directionality operates in MI-assisted consecutive interpreting (CI). This study addresses this gap by examining directionality effects in MI-assisted CI through a mixed-methods design combining product evaluations, self-assessments, and perceived cognitive load measures. Results revealed a consistent directional asymmetry: both professional and self-assessments showed higher holistic performance in the English-to-Chinese direction, with self-evaluations displaying stronger contrasts. NASA-TLX data further indicated significantly higher perceived cognitive demands and frustration when interpreting into English. Post-task questionnaires revealed how participants managed MI-generated visual input and adapted their strategies across directions. This study provides the empirical evidence of how directionality interacts with MI support in CI, offering novel insights into the cognitive and performance implications of integrating MI into interpreter training and practice.