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Article published In: Translation, Cognition & Behavior
Vol. 1:1 (2018) ► pp.147–167

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Translation competence from the acquisition point of view

A situation-based approach

 | University of Eastern Finland
Published online: 2 March 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/tcb.00007.kum
Abstract
This article discusses translation competence (TC) and its acquisition, introducing a framework, which depicts TC as a situation-based construct with interlingual skills at its core. In this framework, translation is defined as any mediation between different languages and cultures, from everyday conversations to professional translation practise. This view is assumed to reflect the acquisition of TC (ATC), since a rudimentary ability to mediate between two languages can be regarded as the first step towards professional translation skills. The model is built around interlingual text production skills, and it conceptualizes various types of extra-linguistic knowledge as task-specific: the extent to which they are needed in translation is situation-bound. The framework is designed to be used as a theoretical framework in empirical studies into ATC, an example of which is presented in the article.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Towards a situation-based TC framework
  • 3.Situation-based framework explained
    • 3.1Situation as the determiner of expected level of TC
    • 3.2Knowledge about translation
    • 3.3Language skills and interlingual text production skills
    • 3.4Task-specific knowledge
    • 3.5Information search skills
    • 3.6Cognitive framework of knowledge
  • 4.Using the model in an empirical study
    • 4.1Study design
    • 4.2Results
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
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