How Does Stress Affect the Productivity of Interpreter? - Research Paper

Introduction

An interpreter is a person whose work entails translating and transcribing of oral speech into sign language or a different dialect, thus, it requires a lot of attention to delivering effectively. An interpreter's work is quite tasking and demands a lot of their time and effort (Shahat). While everybody in their working life experiences stress, interpreters encounter strain of heightened levels, because interpreting requires them to respond as soon as possible. They have little or no time to analyze statements. Professor Burrows (Young, 2012) defines stress as the internal mechanism of response to a perceived external crisis. The intensity of the reaction depends on the nature of endangerment as well as the human metabolism in response to the environmental changes. Adrenal glands release adrenaline which shuts down most non-essential functions like digestion and increases the rate of essential metabolism like respiration required to handle the erratic adjustments. So, you can imagine the level of stress and interpreter faces when they have to transcribe even what they are not comfortable with the allusion. The essence of this paper is to address the effects of stress on interpreters.

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To answer the question of how stress affects the transcribers, I find it imperative to underscore the real cause of their distress. The primary reason for worry for them is the deficiency of compatibility to the environment. Many interpreters find it hard to cope with new situations, and as such, they are at a disadvantage even before they start (Krasnoff, Painter, Wallace, Bass & Merriman, 2008). The second challenge is the audience. The reason for interpretation is to pass the speaker's message across in a language that the assemblage understands, both literally and emotionally. Emotional balance becomes a challenge when the public reacts in a way the interpreter did not foresee. It makes them question their transcription skills. The gathering could also look intimidating in the eyes of the interpreter.

The most significant effect of stress for transcribers is the change in behavioral patterns. The ability to grapple with stress-causing environments depends mostly on the individual's psychological as well as physical mechanisms. Both are essential in alleviating stressors and getting pleasure from them (Moser-Mercer, Kunzli & Korac, 1998). Diminished self-assuredness is by far the most common trait associated with these changes diminished self-esteem. When an interpreter's self-assuredness is under threat, they cannot deliver well in their profession. They tend to squirm whenever the public reacts, regardless of the reaction. The lack of responses sends them into oblivion. Another characteristic of low self-esteem is repetition as a result of divided attention is a general characteristic of low self-esteem. Another typical feature of low self-assuredness is the inability to convey the appropriate emotion related to the message. The transcriber is unable to connect with the issues; thus, they come out as flat.

The second behavior associated with distress is the tendency to have irrational anxiety. The interpreter is conscious of everything happening around, including irrelevant details (Shahat). They tend to focus on the minor issues like how the speaker is moving their lips, why people in the back appear as though they are elsewhere, and why the decor is not up to standard. Blinking of lights affects them also. Their concentration span becomes very weak. They omit information which their cognitive senses cannot comprehend. They experience poor judgment with the choice of words or signs to use. Continuous delayed speech or gesticulations are a symptom of worry, which is at times not warranted. They also experience panic whenever they miss the content of the speaker's words, bearing in mind that, they are supposed to transcribe material, not just words.

Thirdly, they undergo anxiety over failure, whether anticipated or real. The interpreters become anxious about the likelihood of things going wrong, even when there is no clear indication of such. Every little detail that is out of place troubles them. Their "fight or flight" (Kalucky, 1979) instincts kick in rendering other functions immobile. Any interruption causes hormonal imbalances in the body, and they experience uncontrollable urges such as twitching, shaking or even more extremely, urination. The reaction is in a bid by their bodies to resist or adapt to the stressor trying to maintain a certain level of equilibrium. The biggest challenge is that the society shuns especially the "fight" instinct. The interpreter, well aware of this, has a hard time assessing such situations and knowing how to respond.

Transcribers face another challenge of susceptibility to heart disease caused by suppressing their emotions. Like anybody else undergoing stress, development of depression becomes a likely eventuality. While the body's mechanism prepares one for "fight or flight" their suppression results in hormonal unevenness. When faced by stressors, the body's sensors cause a coordinated biochemical reaction. The reaction starts with the hypothalamus releasing a hormone that alarms the body of impending danger. Immediately, blood sugar level shoots leading to a burst of energy (Hanscook, 1988). Heart rate and breathing increases. When the person suppresses the expression of these disquiets, they risk contracting high blood pressure. The continued tautness of the heart, caused by blood pressure, wears the heart muscle and leads to heart failure.

The other effect on the performance of interpreters is fatigue. Anxiety causes general tiredness and exhaustion. The transcriber experiences fatigue since their body cannot maintain the hormonal equilibrium, regardless of the effort by several internal mechanisms to balance the interior as well as the external conditions. The heightened blood pressure wears down tissues when not utilized, leading to a tired feeling and hence lowering the productivity of the interpreter or instructor (Lazarus, Deese & Osler, 1952). Fatigue causes one to lose their attention span, and also hinder appropriate communication strategies during transcription. This fatigue causes memory loss. During memory lapses, the interpreter has a hard time trying to keep tabs with the speaker, leading to either wrong or delayed interpretation. Prolonged memory loss leads to mental diseases that further inhibit the ability of an interpreter to function optimally.

Conclusion

In conclusion, stress does not have any positive impact on the productivity of the interpreter, or anyone else. High levels of distress make one susceptible to heart ailments and depression. Since this profession is still in its formative years, there are limited intervention mechanisms for pain affecting professionals in the field of transcription. It is essential for an interpreter to develop personal processes that will aid them when faced by crises, as this will reduce the ineffectiveness and unproductivity resulting from encounters with hostile environments (Roth & Cohen, 1986). Advocating for specialized counseling for this job description is imperative. Creating a socially acceptable environment is an essential aspect of the safety and protection of the interpreter. Transcribers must understand the subject, as well as the demeanor, of the speaker to avoid shock caused by abrupt connotations by the speakers.

References

Hanscook, J.N. Translators and Interpreters for the Third World, 3 (1), 5-8. 1988 Determine how stress suppressing stress leads to heart problems.

Krasnoff, J. B., Painter, P. L., Wallace, J. P., Bass, N. M., & Merriman, R. B. Healthrelated fitness and physical activity in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology, 47(4), 1158-1166.

Lazarus, R. S., Deese, J., & Osler, S. F. The effects of psychological stress upon performance. Psychological bulletin, 49(4), 293.

Moser-Mercer, B., Kunzli, A., & Korac, M. Prolonged turns in interpreting: Effects on quality, physiological and psychological stress (Pilot study). Interpreting, 3(1), 47-64.

Roth, S., & Cohen, L. J. Approach, avoidance, and coping with stress. American psychologist, 41(7), 813.

Shahat, S. Stress And The Interpreter.

Young, E. Gut instincts: The secrets of your second brain. New Scientist, 216(2895), 38-42.

2012 Explaining how our bodies react to stress.