Simultaneous interpreting experience enhances semantic prediction in Turkish

Abstract This study investigates prediction based on verb semantics in a Turkish monolingual comprehension task in professional and student Turkish (A)–English (B) interpreters. Predictive eye movements were compared between the two groups to examine potential differences in the size of the semantic prediction effect. In addition, the participants’ working memory capacity was measured to see whether working memory facilitates prediction and whether this facilitatory effect differs between the two groups. We found a stronger semantic prediction effect in professional than student interpreters. Moreover, student interpreters with higher working memory capacity showed a stronger semantic prediction effect than students with lower working memory capacity. No such difference was observed for professionals. Our findings suggest that professional interpreters do not need to use additional resources to predict meaning, unlike students. Together with previous findings, we observe an interpreting experience related advantage for prediction in non-interpreting tasks irrespective of type of predictive cue under investigation.