1. Process Studies: Tools
Serafima Khalzanova
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2. Process-oriented studies
What can we learn from studying the translating process?
What tools and techniques can be used for studying the translating process?
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Tools
TAPs
Translog /Inputlog
Screen recording
Eye-tracking
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4. Think-Aloud Protocols
Ericsson and Simon. 1993/1984. Protocol Analysis. Verbal Reports as Data.
Information is kept in STM and LTM
STM is easily accessed and has limited storage space
STM information can be directly reported
If the information is verbally encoded, the verbalization does not interfere with the cognitive process, only slowing it down
Think-aloud protocols are “most likely to yield direct evidence of cognitive processes” (1984/1993: 30)
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Discussion of TAPs
Do you agree with Ericsson and Simon’s claims?
What factors can interfere with the verbalization of mental processes?
How can verbalization itself influence the process?
Jakobsen (2003) demonstrated that use of concurrent TAPs results in a slow-down (by about 25%) and break-down of the cognitive processes.
Solutions:
“Joint translation protocols” (see Séguinot 1996; Kussmaul 1991)
Retrospective TAPs (see Hansen 1999; Jakobsen 2003; Buchweitz and Alves 2006 )
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6. Keyboard logging programs
Translog (
created by Arnt Lykke Jakobsen and Lasse Schou to “the need felt for quantitative reinforcement of assumptions about translating based on qualitative data only” (Jakobsen 1999: 11)
Translog has little to say about the processes taking place during the pause: “As text production is ongoing, the statistics of Translog can be very informative, but as it halts, the silence in text production elicits further investigation” (Buchweitz and Alves 2006: 268)
Inputlog (
created by Mariëlle Leijten & Luuk Van Waes, University of Antwerp, for research purposes.
New functionalities will be added enabling researchers to log input generated by speech recognition software and combine the logging with process data generated by other registration program.
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Screen recording
It has not been used very extensively in Translation studies, and perhaps the main reason is the difficulty it presents when it comes to coding the data manually, which is extremely time-consuming
It is an invaluable instrument when combined with Translog as it affords an excellent opportunity to see what happens on the screen in each moment. Extra-textual activities like looking up words in electronic dictionaries or Internet searches can be followed = Triangulation
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Eye-tracking
We can get insight into the translation process as there is a firm link between cognitive effort and eye movement, and in particular, between cognitive effort and pupil dilation (O’Brien 2006: 186).
Gaze direction gives valuable information regarding the processes taking place and serves as a support for the claim that the translation process is not linear.
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Bibliography 1
Bernardini, Silvia “Using think-aloud protocols to investigate the translation process: Methodological aspects”. In J. Williams (ed.), RCEAL Working papers in English and applied linguistics 6.
Buchweitz, Augusto and Alves, Fábio “Cognitive Adaptation in Translation: an interface between language direction, time, and recursiveness in target text production”. Letras de Hoje 41 (2): Porto Alegre.
Ericsson, K. Anders, and Herbert A. Simon. 1984/1993. Protocol Analysis. Verbal Reports as Data. Cambridge, MA & London: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Hansen, Gyde “Das kritische Bewußtsein beim Übersetzen Eine Analyse des Überzetzungsprozess mit Hilfe von Translog und Retrospektion.” In G. Hansen (ed.), Probing the process in translation: methods and results.
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Bibliography 2
Jakobsen, Arnt Lykke “Logging target text production with Translog”. In G. Hansen (ed.), Probing the process in translation: methods and results
Jakobsen, Arnt Lykke “Effects of think aloud on translation speed, revision and segmentation”. In Fábio Alves (ed.), Triangulating translation: perspectives in process oriented research. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins
O’Brien, Sharon "Eye-tracking and translation memory matches”. Perspectives: Studies in Translatology 14 (3):
Séguinot, Candace “Some thoughts about think-aloud protocols”. Target 8(1):
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