Cognitive load in interpreting is defined as the “portion of an interpreter’s limited cognitive capacity devoted to performing an interpreting task in a certain environment” (Chen, 2017, p. 643). Cognitive load can be seen as a complex construct in which the interaction of variables related to the task, the environment, and interpreter characteristics are reflected (Chen, 2017). For an overview of variables, see Table 1.4. Another definition of cognitive load is “the amount of capacity the performance of a cognitive task occupies in an inherently capacity-limited system” (Seeber, 2013, p. 19). Cognitive load-related approaches to interpreting are important in Interpreting Studies for the following reasons:

 

 

Seeber (2011) was inspired by Gile’s Effort Models to devise his Cognitive Load Model (CLM). It was originally created to describe simultaneous interpreting, with the aim of introducing the construct of cognitive load into Interpreting Studies. According to the model, the concurrent tasks of simultaneous interpreting include the following from the perspective of cognitive load:

 

Bóna and Bakti (2020) adapted Seeber’s model to sight translation and consecutive interpreting as well (Table 1.5).