Dynamics of the Ear–Voice Span as an Indicator of the Quality of Interpreting in Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI) Under the ISO 24019 Standard

The aim of the study was to determine how the technical parameters of the remote environment influenced the ear–voice span (EVS) and how changes affected the quality of interpreting. An experiment was conducted from March 10 to April 25, 2025, with the participation of twelve interpreters to study the EVS in remote simultaneous interpreting (RSI) on the Zoom platform. As a result of the study, significant associations were identified between the technical parameters of the remote environment and EVS dynamics in RSI. The EVS in face-to-face simultaneous interpreting was 3.5 seconds, while in remote interpreting via a stable channel it was 4.0 seconds, whereas an unstable channel increased the span to 5.2 seconds. Improvement in audio stream quality and the presence of visual stimuli reduced the EVS and made it more stable. Analysis showed that a stable EVS correlated with higher accuracy, completeness, and fluency of interpreting. When the span increased above six seconds, a decrease in these indicators was observed, indicating an increase in the interpreter’s cognitive load and a deterioration in interpreting quality. Thus, EVS dynamics were associated with both technical conditions and interpreting quality, supporting their potential use as a condition-sensitive indicator rather than a definitive predictor. By integrating EVS measurement, interpreting quality assessment, and technical conditions relevant to (International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 24019:2022 within a single experimental framework, the study provides an incremental empirical contribution to recent RSI research.