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Article published In: Translation and Interpreting Studies
Vol. 14:3 (2019) ► pp.392–415

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Analyzing translation and interpreting textbooks

A pilot survey of business interpreting textbooks

ORCiD logo with link | Xi’an International Studies University
Published online: 21 August 2019
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.19041.li
Abstract
Textbooks are a significant source of knowledge and a major factor in shaping teaching and learning; however, textbook analysis has been a neglected area of research. This pilot study examines the coverage of business interpreting competences and their pedagogical treatment in thirty-two business interpreting textbooks. Two analysis frameworks, on business interpreting expertise and pedagogical expertise, were developed. The results indicate that most competences are weakly present in the textbooks and that most pedagogical principles are not well applied. This inadequacy has two potential consequences: (1) students may leave the classroom ill-equipped and form biased views of the profession, by considering topics well-covered in the textbooks as important and legitimate while seeing others as unimportant and (2) students may not be adequately assisted in internalizing and acquiring competences efficiently. This study has implications for translation and interpreting textbook analysis, adaptation, and development.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • The importance of textbooks
  • Textbook analysis frameworks
    • BIC framework
    • Pedagogical treatment framework
  • Methodology
    • Content analysis
    • Textbook selection
    • Procedure
  • Results and discussion
    • Coverage of BICs in BITs
    • Pedagogical treatment of BICs
  • Pedagogical implications on BIT adaptation
  • BIT development
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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