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Target
Vol. 14:2 (2002) ► pp.221–240

Translation processes in time

| Utrecht Institute for Linguistics

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 and Van den Bergh (1996). 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.

Keywords: Cognitive processes, Translation processes, Changing task situation, Variability in translation processes, TAP-analysis, Think-Aloud Protocols
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
Published online: 19 June 2003
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.14.2.03bre
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