As one of the research methodologies on simultaneous interpretation (SI), discourse analysis of real-life SI data can have explanatory power with educational implications for interpreter training. In this context, analysis of temporal aspect of SL (source language) and TL (target language) can provide one of the most reliable and precise indexes for quantitative research. This paper examines some sound-editing software that can replace the traditional stopwatch in measuring temporal aspects of SI. Reviewed are Wave Studio, Sound Forge and some other commercial computer software that can analyse temporal aspects of SL and TL on a millisecond basis. These tools enable researchers to easily obtain the temporal indexes of SI including the length of pauses, sentences and EVS (ear voice span). With this data, speech proportion (SP), articulation rate, and words per minute (WPM) can be calculated for statistical treatment. These pieces of software also have the function of increasing the volume level of already recorded soundfiles and can filter some of the noise in the soundfiles. Since researchers can repeatedly play back parts of the acoustic signals in SL on the upper portion of the computer screen and TL on lower portion, they can scrutinize the process of time management by the interpreters being studied.
