Saturday, June 30, 2018

Chesterman, A. (2000). A causal model for translation studies.

In this paperAndrew Chesterman (2000) discusses models for translation research. He starts by explaining the differences between a theory, hypothesis, and a model. According to Chesterman, a theory is a set of concepts and statements (claims, hypotheses) that provides a systematic perspective that allows us to understand something in any way, and consequently attempt to explain it. A model, he elaborates, is less abstract, and oftentimes viewed in an intermediate position between theory and data. A model is typically used to illustrate a theory or a part of a theory. When it comes to 'Models of translation' Chesterman defines them as 'preliminary, pre-theoretical setting the object of research that has specific methodological...they constrain research models, and hence the construction of translation theories' (p. 16). 

The paper introduces four types of models of translation: 
1. Comparative model, commonly used in contrastive research, and it aligns translations with source texts of parallel text to explore correlations between them.
2. Process modelrepresented by communication approaches, and it maps different phases of the translation process over time. 
3. Causal model, where translations are seen as both affected by precursor conditions and as inducing effects on readers and cultures. 

The paper also provides a discussion of for types of hypotheses traditionally used to understand the phenomenon of translation: interpretive, descriptive, explanatory and predictive

According to Chesterman, only a causal model enables us to generate all four types of hypotheses, therefore, we should 'explicitly seek to develop in translation research'. Furthermore, a causal model can provide a comprehensive empirical research programme for translation studies, and operate as a basis on which to construct a translation theory or theories. Another practical consequence of research based on a causal model would be its applicability to translator training and quality assurance. If we can illustrate particular ties between causal conditions, translation profile features, and observed effects, this might lead to a greater perception of how to produce translations that have more desired effects and less undesired ones.

This paper is a required reading for the Ph.D. in Translation Studies candidacy exam (Comps) at the Institute for Applied Linguistics at Kent State University. This Xmind map (you can view and download by clicking the Xmind icon) provides a summary of the main concepts presented in this paper: 

Chesterman, A. (2000). A causal model for translation studies. Intercultural faultlines, 15-27.





Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Consciousness and the strategic use of aids in translation.

In this paper, Juliane House (2000) discusses the role of consciousness in translation process research and provides the background for a small empirical study using thinking-aloud techniques to investigate language learners' use of translational aids.

The study analyzed and compared the thinking-aloud protocols, the retrospective interviews, and the translations produced under the two treatments with the availability versus non-availability of translational aids.

The paper concluded that TAPs might contribute to improving our understanding of translation process. However, House (2000) favors the use of dialogic against monologic TAPs and retrospective immediate interviews as the data produced by pairs of subjects were generally less artificial, richer in translational strategies and often much more interesting.

On the translation teaching side, House (2000) proposes teaching translation in and as interaction (House 1986 and forthcoming) giving preference to collaborative translation work over the popular practice of asking students to translate in isolation. She also suggests deliberately exposing language learners and translation students to the two conditions (use versus non-use of translational aids), claiming such a treatment can be beneficial for making students reach a heightened awareness of their own strategic potential in translating as well as force them to recognize the real limits of their linguistic-cultural knowledge and translational competence.

This paper is a required reading for the Ph.D. in Translation Studies candidacy exam (Comps) at the Institute for Applied Linguistics at Kent State University. This Xmind map (you can view and download by clicking the Xmind icon) provides a summary of the main concepts presented in this paper: 

House, J. (2000). Consciousness and the strategic use of aids in translation. Benjamins translation library, 37, 149-162.



Sunday, June 24, 2018

Uncertainty in Translation Processes

Sonja (2001) examined think-aloud protocols (TAPs) of six protocols selected from amongst twenty TAPs originating from four experiments conducted by Tirkkonen-Condit, Jääskeläinen, and Pöntinen and Romanov at Savonlinna in the late 1980's and early 1990's.

The purpose of the study was to examine uncertainty in translation processes and show that translators might display identifiable patterns (strategies) of uncertainty management.

The paper concluded that translators shared the strategy of producing tentative solutions to translation problems. In TAPs. uncertainty was verbalized by markers of a processing phenomenon and markers of uncertainty. 

This paper is a required reading for the Ph.D. in Translation Studies candidacy exam (Comps) at the Institute for Applied Linguistics at Kent State University. This Xmind map (you can view and download by clicking the Xmind icon) provides a summary of the main concepts presented in this paper: 

Tirkkonen-Condit, Sonja. 2001. “Uncertainty in Translation Processes.” Sonja Tirkkonen-Condit and Riitta Jääskeläinen, eds. Tapping and Mapping the Processes of Translation and Interpreting. Amsterdam: Benjamins.


Thursday, June 21, 2018

Are all professionals experts?

This study by Riitta Jääskeläinen looks at the different ways of defining professionalism and expertise. It shall attempt to reinterpret the earlier findings in process studies from the point of view of expertise research. Lastly, it discusses some implications for future research.

This paper is a required reading for the Ph.D. in Translation Studies candidacy exam (Comps) at the Institute for Applied Linguistics at Kent State University. This Xmind map (you can view and download by clicking the Xmind icon) provides a summary of the main concepts presented in this paper: 

Jääskeläinen, R. (2010). Are all professionals experts?. Translation and Cognition, 15, 213-227.






Riitta Jääskeläinen, Ph.D., is Professor of English (translation and interpreting) at the University of Eastern Finland (former University of Joensuu). Her research has focused on translation processes, with a special interest in methodology. Her dissertation Tapping the Process was published in 1999 (University of Joensuu Publications in the Humanities 22). Her other publications include several co-edited volumes, co-edited special issues of scholarly journals, and articles in journals and collective volumes.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Shreve M. (2002) 'Knowing Translation'

This paper by Gregory M. Shreve discusses the concept of expertise in translation studies from a cognitive perspective. It highlights the differences between Novice and Expert translators. This paper is a required reading for the Ph.D. in Translation Studies candidacy exam (Comps) at the Institute for Applied Linguistics at Kent State University. This Xmind map (you can view and download by clicking the Xmind icon) provides a summary of the main concepts presented in this paper:

Shreve, Gregory. 2002. “Knowing Translation: Cognitive and Experiential Aspects of Translation Expertise from the Perspective of Expertise Studies.” Alessandra Riccardi, ed. Translation Studies: Perspectives on an Emerging Discipline. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 150–171.





Thursday, June 14, 2018

Mapping the Major Approaches to Translator Training

I've been studying for my Ph.D. Candidacy exam at the Institue for Applied Linguistics at Kent State University.

One of the required readings is concerned with Pedagogy in Translation Studies. I summarised the major approaches to translator training using Xmind.  Click on the Xmind icon below to view and download.

Glossary of World Migration Report of the UN IOM -- مسرد مصطلحات تقرير وكالة الأمم المتحدة للهجرة

مسرد مصطلحات مستخلص من تقرير وكالة الأمم المتحدة للهجرة  Term Google Translate ( بتصرف ) accountability fram...