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Article published In: Translation Spaces
Vol. 14:2 (2025) ► pp.221–252

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The effects of corpus-focused instruction on the development of stylistic translation revision competence in future translators

ORCiD logo with link | University of Antwerp
ORCiD logo with link | University of Antwerp
ORCiD logo with link | University of Antwerp
ORCiD logo with link | University of Antwerp
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Open Access publication of this article was funded through a Transformative Agreement with University of Antwerp.

Published online: 6 October 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ts.24038.die
Abstract
In this paper, we investigate stylistic translation revision competence, more specifically if and how corpus-focused instruction (CFI) improves translation trainees’ ability to detect and correct stylistic inappropriateness in Dutch — English translations of academic texts. Two forms of CFI — ‘do-it-yourself’ (DIY) and prepared corpora — are compared to find out (1) if CFI helps trainees to make more informed style-related revision decisions and (2) which form of CFI triggers the highest success rates. Adopting an experimental crossed-conditions design, we assigned 32 trainees to two groups (DIY vs prepared). We collected quantitative data, using four stylistic revision tests. We found that CFI did not have a statistically significant effect on participants’ revision products, but it did affect their revision processes. This indicates that corpora can be used as effective translation revision tools, but more research is required to find out how CFI could be adjusted to improve revision success rates in the future.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Literature review
      • 1.1.1The effects of CFI on developing (FL) sociolinguistic competence and sensitivity to stylistic (In)appropriateness
      • 1.1.2The use of corpora as translation (revision) tools and the effects of CFI on developing translation (revision) competence
    • 1.2Motivation study
    • 1.3Research questions
  • 2.Methods
    • 2.1Participants
    • 2.2Materials
      • 2.2.1Materials — treatment
      • 2.2.2Materials — data collection
    • 2.3Procedures
      • 2.3.1Procedures — data collection
      • 2.3.2Procedures — data analysis
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1Results — revision product
    • 3.2Results — revision process
  • 4.Discussion
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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