Resumen de Effects of Specific Training on the Ability to Deal with Cultural References in Translation

Christopher Scott-Tennent, Maria González-Davies

• The aim of this empirical study (carried out as part of a wider research project - see "Credits" below) was to discover the effects of specifically designed pre-service translator training on the trainees' ability to deal with cultural references, a text segment type which is widely considered as potentially problematic for the translator.[1] Specifically, we set out to discover any significant differences, as a result of said training, in trainees' ability to: (a) detect cultural references within a text, (b) provide multiple feasible options (variants) to translate them, (c) evaluate those potential options, and (d) apply reasoning in making a final choice from the options. The rationale and nature of the specific training involved has already been extensively reported in González Davies and Scott-Tennent (2005). In the present article, we focus our attention on reporting and discussing its observed effects. The design of the specific training drew heavily on a previous study on specific translator training in problem-solving, reported in Scott-Tennent et al. (2000) and González Davies et al. (2001).

  
  
  Plan de l'article
  
  Introduction
  Design of the study
  Context
  Nature of specific training
  Aims of this empirical study
  Procedures
  Pilot study
  Detection of cultural references
  Proposal of multiple variants, self-evaluation of variants, and final choice
  Data analysis and results
  Detection of cultural references
  General criteria for validity of data in the Written Protocols
  Proposal of multiple variants
  Self-evaluation of variants
  Final choice
  Conclusions
  Credits
  Appendix
  Instructions
  Translation brief for Pre- and Post-Test assignments
  Pre-Test Source Text
  Post-Test Source Text