Translation processes in time
Published online: 19 June 2003
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.14.2.03bre
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.14.2.03bre
In think-aloud protocol studies of cognitive processes in translation, the analysis of TAPs very often results in the description of overall characteristics of the processes of individual translators or proficiency groups of translators. The problem with this approach is that it does not allow the researcher to draw conclusions about the actual organisation of the cognitive processes and its effects on text quality. In writing research, functional dependency of cognitive processes—the fact that the context, function and effect of different cognitive processes vary according to the moment in the process on which they occur—was demonstrated by Rijlaarsdam, Gert and Huub van den Bergh. 1996. “The dynamics of composing—An agenda for research into an interactive compensatory model of writing: Many questions some answers”. Michael C. Levy and Sarah Ransdell, eds. The science of writing: Theories, methods, individual differences, and applications. Mahwah, New Jersey: LEA, 1996. 107–126.. In the present paper the idea is developed that in translation process research, the inclusion of time as a variable may prove to be useful in improving understanding of the effect of process characteristics on process outcome. A dynamic approach, in which a translation process is viewed and analysed as belonging to a changing task situation, is proposed.
Résumé
L’étude des protocoles de pensée à voix haute se ramène souvent à une description des caractéristiques générales des processus accomplis par des traducteurs individuels ou par des groupes de traducteurs spécialistes.Une telle approche fait difficulté parce qu’elle ne permet pas au chercheur de tirer des conclusions concernantl’organisation réelle de processus cognitifs ou concernant I’influence de ces derniers sur la qualité des textes. Les travaux de Rijlaarsdam et Van den Bergh sur la production écrite (1996) ont pu montrer la dépendance fonctionnelle des processus cognitifs, à savoir le fait queles contextes, les fonctions ainsi que les effets engendrés par différents processus cognitifs, varient selon le moment où ils seproduisent.Cet article suggère que la recherche sur les processus de traduction prenne en comptele facteur temporel, de manière à mieux comprendrel’impactdes caractéristiques du processus sur son résultat.D’où la proposition d’une approche dynamique qui considère leprocessus de la traduction comme relevant d’une situation de changement de tâche.
Article outline
- Introduction
- Thinking aloud as a method for data elicitation
- Data processing and/or inclusion of groups
- Translation processes revisited
- Differentiation within “process”
- A closer look at functional dependency
- Differences between translators
- Concluding remarks
- Notes
References
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