ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the relationships between the quality of interpreter trainees’ interpreting performance (both consecutive and simultaneous), motivation, and amount of completed training. The results show that there is a statistically significant relationship between interpreter training duration and simultaneous interpreting performance. However, no similar correlation was identified between training duration and consecutive interpreting performance. The research further confirmed a statistically significant relationship between the semantic and formal components of interpreting performances (both consecutive and simultaneous). This attests to one of the main principles of interpreting and its training – the interconnectedness of content and form. Finally, the study confirmed a statistically significant correlation between motivation (preference for interpreting over translation) and interpreting performance quality (both consecutive and simultaneous). The study also showed that more than half of the trainees preferred translation to interpreting (lacking motivation), which was in turn reflected in their interpreting performances. To obtain more relevant findings, further research should involve students with a preference for interpreting (motivation).
