Dealing with different levels of task-induced cognitive load. Individual differences in strategic processing of interpreting trainees in sight interpreting/translation (SiT)

This study investigates how trainee interpreters perceive and manage task-induced cognitive load during sight interpreting/translation (SiT). Using a bottom-up analytical approach, it identifies primary load triggers, explores responses to differing cognitive demands, and examines the strategies interpreters employ to mitigate these challenges. The quasi-experimental design involved two SiT tasks of varying difficulty: Text 1, a complex passage with a low readability score, and Text 2, a simpler text. Data were gathered through retrospective verbal reports, structured interviews, and the NASA-TLX, enabling a triangulated analysis of cognitive effort and strategy use. Findings indicate that cognitive load in SiT arises not only from textual complexity but also from individual interpreter characteristics, emotional responses, and specific constraints such as processing tempo, visual interference, and (un)shared knowledge. Cognitive load profiles varied across individuals, highlighting the subjective nature of task difficulty and coping mechanisms. The study underscores the need for interpreter training programmes to address both cognitive and emotional dimensions of SiT, equipping trainees with strategies for managing dynamic, high-pressure interpreting environments.