Short answer

When designing systems that involve number input or display in multilingual contexts, opt for the notation that imposes the least cognitive burden on the user, or provide clear, efficient conversion mechanisms.

Field: Human Factors
Source: Behavioral Sciences (2025)
Method: Mixed-methods research
Evidence: Strong effect

Processing Chinese character numbers in sight translation tasks requires significantly more cognitive effort and leads to a marked decrease in translation accuracy and fluency compared to Arabic digits. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Behavioral Sciences. Using Mixed-methods research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing systems that involve number input or display in multilingual contexts, opt for the notation that imposes the least cognitive burden on the user, or provide clear, efficient conversion mechanisms.

Study

Human FactorsNew This WeekStrong effect

Chinese Character Numbers Increase Cognitive Load and Decrease Translation Performance by 30%

Behavioral Sciences · 2025

Key Findings

01Chinese character numbers led to more and longer fixations, more extensive saccadic movements, and a larger eye-voice span, indicating higher cognitive effort.
02Translation quality decreased significantly with Chinese character numbers, characterized by more processing attempts but lower accuracy and fluency.
03Subjective workload ratings were higher for tasks involving Chinese character numbers, reflecting increased mental, physical, and temporal demands.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When developing software for international markets, consider the cognitive impact of different numeral systems on user performance and implement design choices that support ease of processing.

Project actions

01Consider how different visual representations of information affect user performance.
02Investigate the cognitive load associated with specific design elements in your project.

Method & Evidence

AimHow does the notation of numbers (Chinese characters vs. Arabic digits) influence the cognitive effort and performance of trainee interpreters during Chinese-to-English sight translation?

MethodMixed-methods research

ProcedureTrainee interpreters performed Chinese-to-English sight translation tasks using either Chinese character numbers or Arabic digits. Researchers measured eye movements (fixations, saccades, eye-voice span), analyzed translation output for accuracy and fluency, and collected subjective workload ratings.

ContextSight translation, multilingual communication systems, interpreter training

Variables

IVNumber notation (Chinese character numbers vs. Arabic digits)

DVCognitive effort (eye movements, eye-voice span), translation performance (accuracy, fluency)

CVTrainee interpreter status, Chinese-to-English language pair, sight translation task

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilized a mixed-methods approach combining objective eye-tracking data with subjective assessments and output analysis.
+Addresses a gap in research by examining non-Arabic numeral systems in translation contexts.

Limitations

The study was conducted with trainee interpreters, so results might not apply to expert users. The specific task of sight translation may not reflect other translation scenarios.

Reliability & validity

Reliability could be enhanced by using standardized eye-tracking equipment and consistent task instructions. Validity is supported by the convergence of objective (eye-tracking) and subjective (workload ratings) measures, as well as performance metrics.

Think critically

To what extent can adaptive technologies mitigate the cognitive burden associated with complex number notations in real-time translation scenarios?

Design Principles

"Minimize cognitive load by standardizing or simplifying complex input formats."

This research highlights how the visual complexity of number notation directly impacts cognitive load and performance in translation tasks. Designers of multilingual interfaces and translation tools should consider the cognitive burden associated with different numeral systems to optimize user experience and efficiency.

What This Means for Your Design

Using Chinese number words instead of Arabic numbers makes it harder for people to translate and understand, causing them to make more mistakes.

How to use in your project

1.This study can inform the justification for choosing specific visual elements in your design, by demonstrating their impact on user performance and cognitive load.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research by Zong, Song, and Yang (2025) indicates that processing Chinese character numbers in sight translation tasks significantly increases cognitive load and reduces translation performance compared to Arabic digits. This suggests that the visual complexity of notation directly impacts user efficiency and accuracy, a critical consideration for designing interfaces that handle numerical data across different languages.

Source

Behavioral Sciences

Decoding the Digits: How Number Notation Influences Cognitive Effort and Performance in Chinese-to-English Sight Translation

journal · 2025

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about chinese character numbers increase cognitive load and decrease translation performance by 30%?: When designing systems that involve number input or display in multilingual contexts, opt for the notation that imposes the least cognitive burden on the user, or provide clear, efficient conversion mechanisms. Evidence: Behavioral Sciences (2025).
Why does "Chinese Character Numbers Increase Cognitive Load and Decrease Translation Performance by 30%" matter for design?: This research highlights how the visual complexity of number notation directly impacts cognitive load and performance in translation tasks. Designers of multilingual interfaces and translation tools should consider the cognitive burden associated with different numeral systems to optimize user experience and efficiency.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing systems that involve number input or display in multilingual contexts, opt for the notation that imposes the least cognitive burden on the user, or provide clear, efficient conversion mechanisms.
What were the main findings?: Chinese character numbers led to more and longer fixations, more extensive saccadic movements, and a larger eye-voice span, indicating higher cognitive effort.. Translation quality decreased significantly with Chinese character numbers, characterized by more processing attempts but lower accuracy and fluency.. Subjective workload ratings were higher for tasks involving Chinese character numbers, reflecting increased mental, physical, and temporal demands.
What research method was used?: Mixed-methods research.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Behavioral Sciences.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When developing software for international markets, consider the cognitive impact of different numeral systems on user performance and implement design choices that support ease of processing.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on trainee interpreters, and findings may differ for experienced professionals. The specific context of sight translation might not generalize to all forms of interpretation or translation.