The limits of expectations vs. assessment questionnaire-based surveys on simultaneous interpreting quality: the need for a gestaltic model of perception

This paper deals with a literature review on Interpreting Studies on the evaluation of quality in simultaneous interpreting. The analysis has been made in function of a proposal for a gestaltic evaluation, and the studies have been divided into two categories: quality expectations surveys (ideal expression of preferences) and quality assessment surveys (judgments after a real experience). Conclusions are drawn from the comparison of results of quality expectations and quality assessment surveys, and the interrelation and interdependence of quality criteria. Conclusions lead to the need for a model to elicit a gestaltic perception of simultaneous interpreting quality. Such a model has already been developed and has been applied to a proposal for a new questionnaire for a gestaltic quality assessment of TV broadcast simultaneous interpreting (De Gregoris, submitted).