Results of the validation of the PACTE translation competence model

The PACTE Group has been carrying out experimental research into translation competence since 1977. The aim of this paper is to present the results obtained for one of our study variables: Identification and Solution of Translation Problems. A brief introduction to the PACTE Group’s research project on translation competence is followed by a description of the variable Identification and Solution of Translation Problems, its indicators, and the instruments used for data collection. Finally, the results obtained are presented. These show that the translation problems identified by subjects varied greatly depending on the individual; directionality plays a role in the definition of the difficulty of translation problems; there was no relation between subjects’ perception of the overall difficulty of a text to be translated and the acceptability of their solutions to translation problems; and, finally, the characterisation of translation problems would not appear to be a feature of translation competence.