In:Translation in Transition: Between cognition, computing and technology
Edited by Arnt Lykke Jakobsen and Bartolomé Mesa-Lao
[Benjamins Translation Library 133] 2017
► pp. 55–77
Chapter 2Four fundamental types of reading during translation
Published online: 30 September 2017
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.133.02hve
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.133.02hve
This chapter concerns reading during translation and the cognitive activities which underlie the different types of reading. Its aim is to characterise and discuss different kinds of reading during the translation process, and it does so through the exploration of recordings of eye movement data. The chapter specifically identifies and discusses four types of reading during translation: source text reading, source text reading while typing, reading of existing target text, and reading of emerging target text. The study identifies considerable differences in terms of fixation duration, fixation count and pupil size for the four different types of reading. These differences are explained by the different reading purposes and task objectives underlying each type of reading.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Background
- 2.1Source text reading during translation
- 2.2Target text reading during translation
- 2.3Reading while writing
- 2.4Comprehension and formulation
- 3.Research design and method
- 3.1Participants and material
- 3.2Equipment and software
- 3.3Data preparation
- 3.4Statistical analysis
- 4.Results and statistical analysis
- 4.1Fixation duration
- 4.2Pupil size
- 5.Analysis and discussion
- 5.1Source text reading without typing
- 5.2Source text reading while typing
- 5.3Reading of existing target text
- 5.4Reading of emerging target text
- 5.5Final remarks
- 6.Conclusion
References Appendix
References (29)
Baayen, Rolf Harald. 2009. Analyzing Linguistic Data: A Practical Introduction to Statistics Using R (3rd edn). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Balling, Laura Winther, and Kristian Tangsgaard Hvelplund. 2015. “Design and Statistics in Quantitative Translation (Process) Research.” In Translation as a cognitive activity (
Translation Spaces
), ed. by Fabio Alves, Amparo Hurtado, Isabel Lacruz, and Ricardo Muñoz Martín, 170–187. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Balling, Laura Winther, Kristian Tangsgaard Hvelplund, and Annette Camilla Sjørup. 2014. “Evidence of Parallel Processing during Translation”. Meta 59 (2): 234–259.
Gile, Daniel. 1995. Basic Concepts and Models for Interpreter and Translator Training. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Hess, Eckhard H., and James M. Polt. 1964. “Pupil Size in Relation to Mental Activity in Simple Problem Solving.” Science 143: 1190–1192.
Holmqvist, Kenneth, Marcus Nystrom, Richard Andersson, Richard Dewhurst, Halszka Jarodzka, and Joost van de Weijer. 2011. Eye Tracking: A Comprehensive Guide to Methods and Measures. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hvelplund, Kristian Tangsgaard. 2011. Allocation of Cognitive Resources in Translation: An eye-tracking and Key-logging Study. PhD thesis. Copenhagen: Copenhagen Business School.
. 2014. “Eye Tracking and Translation Process: Reflections on the Analysis and Interpretation of Eye Tracking Data”. In MonTI Special Issue: Minding Translation. Con la traducción in mente, ed. by Ricardo Muñoz Martín, 201–224. Alicante: Publicaciones de la Universidad de Alicante.
Jääskeläinen, Riitta, and Sonja Tirkkonen-Condit. 1991. “Automated Processes in Professional vs. Non-professional Translation: a Think-aloud Protocol Study.” In Empirical Research in Translation and Intercultural Studies, ed. by Sonja Tirkkonen-Condit, 89–109. Tübingen: Gunter Narr.
Jakobsen, Arnt Lykke. 2002. “Translation drafting by professional translators and by translation students.” In Traducción & Comunicación vol. 3, ed. by Elena Sánchez Trigo, and Óscar Diaz Fouces, 89–103. Vigo: Universidade de Vigo.
Jakobsen, Arnt Lykke, and Kristian Tangsgaard Hvelplund Jensen. 2008. “Eye Movement Behaviour across Four Different Types of Reading Task.” In Looking at Eyes. Eye-Tracking Studies of Reading and Translation Processing (Copenhagen Studies in Language 36), ed. by Susanne Göpferich, Arnt Lykke Jakobsen, and Inger. M. Mees, 103–124. Copenhagen: Samfundslitteratur.
Jakobsen, Arnt Lykke, and Lasse Schou. 1999. “Translog Documentation Version 1.0.” In Probing the Process of Translation: Methods and Results Appendix 1 (Copenhagen Studies in Language 24), ed. by Gyde Hansen, 1–36. Copenhagen: Samfundslitteratur.
Just, Marcel Adam, and Patricia A. Carpenter. 1980. “A Theory of Reading: from Eye Fixations to Comprehension.” Psychological Review 87 (4): 329–354.
Kellogg, Ronald Thomas. 1996. “A Model of Working Memory in Writing.” In The Science of Writing, ed. by C. Michael Levy, and Sarah E. Ransdell, 57–71. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Kellogg, Ronald Thomas, Thierry Olive, and Annie Piolat. 2007. “Verbal, Visual, and Spatial Working Memory in Written Language Production.” Acta Psychologica 124: 382–397.
Kintsch, Walter. 1988. “The Role of Knowledge in Discourse Comprehension: a Construction-Integration Model.” Psychological Review 95: 163–182.
Kintsch, Walter, and Teun van Dijk. 1978. “Toward a Model of Text Comprehension and Production.” Psychological Review 85: 363–394.
Macizo, Pedro, and Maria Teresa Bajo. 2006. “Reading for Understanding and Reading for Translation: Do They Involve the Same Processes?” Cognition 99: 1–34.
Mossop, Brian. 1998. “The Workplace Procedures of Professional Translators.” In Translation in Context, ed. by Andrew Chesterman, Natividad Gallardo,San Salvador, and Yves Gambier, 39–48. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Padilla, Presentación, Maria Teresa Bajo, and Francisca Padilla. 1999. “Proposal for a cognitive theory of translation and interpreting: a methodology for future empirical research.” The Interpreter’s Newsletter 9: 61–78.
Rayner, Keith. 1998. “Eye Movements in Reading and Information Processing: 20 Years of Research.” Psychological Bulletin 124: 372–422.
Rayner, Keith, and Alexander Pollatsek. 1989. The Psychology of Reading. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
Ruiz, Carmen, Natalia Paredes, Pedro Macizo, and Maria Teresa Bajo. 2008. “Activation of Lexical and Syntactic Target Language Properties in Translation.” Acta Psychologica 128: 490–500.
Rumelhart, David E. 1977. “Toward an Interactive Model of Reading.” In Attention and Performance, Vol VI, ed. by Stan Dornic, 573–603. Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Sharmin, Selina, Oleg Špakov, Kaari-Jouko Räihä, Arnt Lykke Jakobsen. 2008. “Where on the Screen do Translation Students Look While Translating, and for How Long?” In Looking at Eyes. Eye-Tracking Studies of Reading and Translation Processing (Copenhagen Studies in Language 36), ed. by Susanne Göpferich, Arnt Lykke Jakobsen, and Inger. M. Mees, 31–51. Copenhagen: Samfundslitteratur.
Shreve, Gregory M., Christina Schäffner, Joseph H. Danks, and Jennifer Griffin. 1993. “Is There a Special Kind of Reading for Translation?: an Empirical Investigation of Reading in the Translation Process.” Target 5 (1): 21–41.
Cited by (11)
Cited by 11 other publications
Li, Defeng, Jiayi Wang & Zhengyu Zhang
Valdez, Susana, Leticia Pablos Robles & Karin van den Berg
2025. The reception of translated vaccination information. Target. International Journal of Translation Studies 37:2 ► pp. 213 ff.
Wu, Kan, Victoria L.C. Lei & Defeng Li
Gieshoff, Anne Catherine, Caroline Lehr & Andrea Hunziker Heeb
2021. Stress, cognitive, emotional and ergonomic demands in interpreting and translation. Cognitive Linguistic Studies 8:2 ► pp. 404 ff.
Hunziker Heeb, Andrea, Caroline Lehr & Maureen Ehrensberger-Dow
Ehrensberger-Dow, Maureen, Michaela Albl-Mikasa, Katrin Andermatt, Andrea Hunziker Heeb & Caroline Lehr
Halverson, Sandra L.
Huang, Jin
2018. Working styles of student translators in self-revision, other-revision and post-editing. In Eye tracking and multidisciplinary studies on translation [Benjamins Translation Library, 143], ► pp. 145 ff.
Hvelplund, Kristian Tangsgaard & Barbara Dragsted
2018. Genre familiarity and translation processing. In
Innovation and Expansion in Translation Process Research [American Translators Association Scholarly Monograph Series, XVIII], ► pp. 55 ff.
Hvelplund, Kristian Tangsgaard
2016. Cognitive efficiency in translation. In Reembedding Translation Process Research [Benjamins Translation Library, 128], ► pp. 149 ff.
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 15 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
