Impact of technology on interpreting practice: a review of studies on technology and interpreting practice from2013 to 2024

Abstract

Purpose Studies on technology and interpreting have increasingly explored how technology influences the role and performance of interpreters in their practice; however, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews and analyses. This paper aims to synthetically review the state-of-the-art application and integration of various interpreting technologies, identify the key trends of recent studies, and evaluate the associated opportunities and challenges. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a systematic review approach, 40 articles on technology and interpreting practice from 2013 to 2024 were selected and analysed. Findings A growing number of empirical studies on technology-mediated remote interpreting and technology-supported interpreting is observed in public service settings, suggesting that mobile and emerging technologies have gained more attention alongside phone and video. In addition, mixed results are revealed with respect to the impact of technology on interpreting performance. Originality/value This review not only provides a bird’s-eye view of how interpreting practice has reconciled with different technologies but also offers insights into the changing role of interpreters, the need for training, and the direction for future research.