Investigating Translation Competence: Conceptual and Methodological Issues

The PACTE group uses empirical-experimental research methods to investigate translation competence and how it is acquired. This article presents the design of our Translation Competence research project and the first results of a pilot test carried out to evaluate our research design and the instruments that will be used in the experiment. The first results of the pilot test are related to decision-taking in the translation process and the interrelation between the use of internal and external support. The results point to differences in the processes followed by professional translators and other language professionals. Furthermore, the pilot test has proved the reliability of our instruments.Le groupe PACTE conduit une recherche empirique-expérimentale sur la compétence de traduction et son processus d’acquisition en traduction écrite. Cet article explique comment est conçue la recherche sur la compétence de traduction et rend compte des résultats d’une épreuve pilote dont l’objectif était d’évaluer les modalités de la recherche et l’efficacité des instruments qui seraient utilisés pour l’expérimentation définitive. Ces premiers résultats concernant le mode de fonctionnement de la prise de décisions au cours du processus de traduction ainsi que l’interrelation entre l’utilisation de l’aide interne et de l’aide externe montrent, d’une part, que ce fonctionnement est différent entre traducteurs professionnels et autres professionnels enseignant des langues, et, d’autre part, que les instruments à disposition sont efficaces

First results of PACTE group’s experimental research on translation competence acquisition: the acquisition of declarative knowledge of translation

This paper presents the first results of empirical-experimental research into the Acquisition of Translation Competence (ATC): the acquisition of declarative knowledge about translation. This study is based on our previous research about Translation Competence (TC). Some of the data collection instruments have, however, been adapted for current use. Details of our research design include type of study, universe and sample population, study variables, data collection instruments, and data analysis processes. The dependent variables were knowledge of translation; translation project; identification and solution of translation problems; decision-making; efficacy of the translation process; and use of instrumental resources. The results of the first variable analysed (“Knowledge of Translation”) will be presented. A questionnaire with 27 items was used to obtain data on translator trainees’ knowledge of translation: their concept of translation and TC; translation units; types of translation problems; the different phases involved in the translation process; methods required; procedures used (strategies and techniques); and the role of the translation brief and the target reader. Indicators of this variable were ‘dynamic index’ and ‘coefficient of coherence’. We understand a ‘dynamic’ concept of translation to be textual, interpretative, communicative and functional; as opposed to a ‘static’ concept that may be defined as linguistic and literal. The dynamic index allows us to see whether a subject’s implicit knowledge about how translation works is more dynamic or more static, whereas the coherence coefficient allows us to see whether the subject’s vision of different aspects of translation is coherent.Este trabajo presenta los primeros resultados de una investigación empírico-experimental sobre la Adquisición de la Competencia Traductora (ACT): la adquisición de conocimientos declarativos sobre la traducción. Este estudio se basa en nuestra investigación anterior sobre Competencia Traductora (CT), si bien, algunos instrumentos de recogida de datos sobre CT se adaptaron para investigar la ACT. La información sobre el diseño de la investigación incluye tipo de estudio, universo y muestra, variables de estudio, instrumentos para la recogida de datos y proceso de análisis de datos. Las variables dependientes son conocimientos de traducción, proyecto traductor, identificación y resolución de problemas de traducción, toma de decisiones, eficacia del proceso de traducción, y uso de recursos instrumentales. Aquí se presentan los resultados de la primera variable analizada (“Conocimientos de traducción”). Se usó un cuestionario de 27 ítems para obtener datos sobre los conocimientos de los estudiantes en torno a: concepción de traducción y de la CT, unidad de traducción, tipo de problemas de traducción, etapas que intervienen al traducir, métodos requeridos, procedimientos utilizados (estrategias y técnicas), función del encargo de traducción y del destinatario. Los indicadores de esta variable son: “Índice de dinamismo” y “Coeficiente de coherencia”. Diferenciamos entre una concepción “dinámica” de la traducción (textual, interpretativa, comunicativa y funcional) y una concepción “estática” (lingüística y literal). El Índice de dinamismo nos permite determinar si los conocimientos implícitos de los sujetos sobre el funcionamiento de la traducción son más dinámicos o más estáticos, mientras que el Coeficiente de coherencia nos permite saber si la visión de los sujetos sobre diferentes aspectos de la traducción es coherente

TRANSLATING MEDICAL TEXTS FOR LEGAL PURPOSES: A GROWING CHALLENGE FOR COURT TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS

Przekład tekstów medycznych obejmuje cały szereg różnego typu tekstów, takich jak wypisy szpitalne, epikryzy, artykuły naukowe w czasopismach medycznych, ulotki informacyjne dla pacjenta (PILs) czy też wskazówki dotyczące stosowania leku (IFU). Wkracza również w sferę zainteresowania zawodowego tłumaczy przysięgłych z racji takich czynników jak np. migracja obywateli lub członkostwo Polski w UE i wynikające z tego procedury implementacji prawa unijnego do polskiego oraz wprowadzania wyrobów medycznych na rynek. Tłumacze przysięgli z konieczności więc mają do czynienia z całym szeregiem tekstów z różnych dziedzin medycyny (oraz dziedzin pokrewnych, takich jak np. farmakologia czy biologia). Trudnością i jednocześnie wyzwaniem dla tłumacza w takiej sytuacji stają się: brak wiedzy medycznej, problemy ze znajomością terminologii medycznej (oraz wszechobecnych skrótów i skrótowców) czy ogólnie pojętego dyskursu medycznego. Pociąga to za sobą rozwój nowego profesjonalnego podejścia do tłumaczenia takich tekstów jak również specyficznych kompetencji (dlatego w artykule pokrótce wyjaśnione zostaną pojęcia takie jak profesjonalizm i kompetencja). Podejście zaprezentowane w artykule będzie podejściem zorientowanym na tłumacza.Medical translation has been an area of an increased growth in the demand for translation services. It is considered to cover an extensive variety of genres, starting from hospital discharge reports, epicrises, specialist articles in medical journals, patient information leaflets (PILs) or instructions for use (IFU). It also has entered the area of activity of court translators due to e.g. migration or Poland’s membership in the EU and resultant EU-law implementation procedures (i.e., implementation of the Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EEC) and commercialisation of medical devices, thus generating the need to deal with an array of texts from the entire realm of various fields of medicine, and related disciplines (pharmacy, pharmacology, biology, etc.). Court translators are therefore facing difficulties and at the same time challenges, among which most important are the lack of medical knowledge, medical terminology (including acronyms and abbreviations) or medical phraseology in general. This entails the development of a new professional approach towards proceeding with such tasks, and requires constant improvement of skills and knowledge as well as special competencies that might be of help for translators (for this reason the notions of professionalism and translation competence shall be briefly elucidated). The focus of the article is placed on translation of medical texts seen from the point of view of translators and the purpose of translation, and not from the perspective of users, thus the approach is translator-centred

How Should Translation Competence Be Taught: a Quest for a Better Approach in Translation Class

It is widely agreed that the main aim of translation education is to develop students' translation competence, therefore most researches in translation education contexts focus on identifying the components of transla-tion competence and appropriate curriculum models that integrate these components with suitable teaching strategies. Since translation competence consists of many sub-competences, developing these sub-competences therefore should be the main consideration in translation education. This article is aimed at discussing translation competence in general and how this competence should be de-veloped in a translation class context. Understanding these sort of things is important in formulating the best approach in translation teaching and learning in order to avoid the possible overlap between ‘translation teaching' and ‘language teaching', due to the fact that in some cases what the students get in translation class is not ‘how to be a good translator' but ‘how to be a good language learner'. Further, understanding the nature of students' translation competence and how this should be developed can give an important conceptual framework in formulating a better translation curriculum which considers all aspects the students need to build their translation competence. Keywords: students, translation, competence, teaching

Le pacte de préférence rapproché des droits de préemption

National audienceL'évolution du pacte de préférence en jurisprudence tend à aligner son régime sur celui des droits légaux de préemption. Comme pour les droits de préemption, le pacte de préférence se comprend comme une restriction à la liberté de choisir son contractant et non comme une restriction à la liberté de disposer. L'aspect le plus frappant de ce rapprochement est sans doute l'affirmation jurisprudentielle de la substitution du bénéficiaire du pacte au tiers acquéreur de mauvaise foi. L'analyse du droit du bénéficiaire en tant que préemption conventionnelle pèse également sur la détermination des cas d'inexécution imputables au promettant, sur ses conditions de validité ou sur le délai d'exercice du droit du bénéficiaire

The new political economy of Dirigisme: French macroeconomic policy, unrepentant sinning and the stability and growth pact

This article traces the enduring influence of the dirigiste traditions on contemporary French macroeconomic policy-making, arguing that French policy both within and towards the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) is consistent with long-standing French dirigiste preferences and policy traditions. Specifically it explores how, within the SGP, French governments have created and defended significant fiscal policy space, and how the scope for discretionary policy-making has in fact been enhanced by the credibility accrued through European rule-based governance. Furthermore, it analyses how, in their policies towards the SGP, French governments have successfully influenced the reshaping of the fiscal policy architecture, introducing a more dirigiste interventionism in the interpretation and implementation of the SGP, loosening constraints in accordance with dirigiste preferences. French policy-makers have thus played a 'long-run game' with European economic governance—initially accepting ordo-liberal orthodoxy, only to subsequently 'move the goalposts' in a more dirigiste direction

Una fiera senza luogo. Was Bisenzone an offshore capital market in sixteenth-century Italy?

This paper discusses how Genoese bankers collected money at exchange fairs. This money was then lent to the King of Spain - through the asientos - from the mid-sixteenth to the early seventeenth centuries. Genoese bankers raised capital at the exchange fairs , which were typical short-term credit mechanism, where foreign bills of exchange were discounted over a three-month period. The Genoese funded long-term obligations by means of short term loans which meant they were able to enforce payment to the King and at the same time successfully manage the supply of finance from a large number of easily substitutable markets, located in different states. The Bisenzone fair of exchange was the forerunner to an efficient, widely integrated international capital market where Genoese pre-eminence was firmly established and which the Genoese kept firmly under their control. The success of the Bisenzone fairs of exchange directly challenges the theory which suggests that the laws against usury restrained the development of capital markets in early modern Italy.Financial markets, market integration, financial institutions

Place and Identity in two autobiographical novels set in Vietnam: Metisse blanche by Kim Lefevre and L'Amant by Marguerite Duras

1998-01-01

La Gestació del pacte

The general elections of 1996 did not provide a clear majority for the winning centre right Popular Party. Two months later all agreement to govern was reached with the Catalan nationalists. The agreement was then extended to the Basque Nationalist Party and the Canarian Coalition. The surprising U-turn for the Popular party included its position on financing the Autonomies or states. The Government of Catalonia has been the poor financial relation of the new democratic Spain. The initial pact of democracy wanted to assimilate Catalonia and the Basque Country by extending autonomy to all Spanish regions. This had been lost with the demands on Catalan solidarity that no other Administration provided. The initial democratic pact seemed to have become merely a only better social distribution to the backward regions. The new agreement, whose financial proposals were written by this author and are published here for the first time, returns to the initial ideas that established democracy in Spain