Translation process research as interaction research: from mental to socio-cognitive processes

The main methodological approaches used in cognitive translation process research have hitherto been inspired by methods originally developed in the behavioural sciences, especially psychology. This article contends that mainstream experimental research in laboratory settings needs to be complemented with other methodological approaches such as qualitative, ethnographic research in order to be able to account for the situated, embedded and extended aspects of cognition – as described in current cognitive science approaches. In addition, it presents the empirical research design and initial results of an ethnographic field study into the socio-cognitive aspects of translation. The results show the complexity of the social network involved in the observed case of freelance translation, the tendency of the translator to externalize parts of the process and thus transform the internal processing into an interaction with self-produced outer stimuli—thereby reconfiguring the cognitive space—and the existence of distinct, iterative interaction patterns that stand out as behavioural and cognitive routines in the way the translator works.Die zentralen methodologischen Ansätze der kognitiven Translationsprozessforschung orientierten sich bisher an jenen Methoden, die ursprünglich im Rahmen der Verhaltensforschung, allen voran der Psychologie, entwickelt worden waren. In diesem Beitrag wird argumentiert, dass die etablierte Tradition der experimentellen Laborforschung mit weiteren methodologischen Herangehensweisen, etwa dem ethnographischen Forschungsansatz, ergänzt werden sollte. Entsprechend der gegenwärtigen Auffassung in der Kognitionswissenschaft bietet eine derartige Erweiterung die Möglichkeit, dem Konzept der situated, embedded und extended cognition Rechnung zu tragen. Des Weiteren werden in diesem Beitrag das empirische Forschungsdesign sowie erste Ergebnisse einer ethnographischen Feldstudie zu soziokognitiven Aspekten von Translation beschrieben. Die Beobachtungen einer freiberuflichen Übersetzerin offenbaren zunächst die Komplexität ihres sozialen Netzwerkes. Zudem wird die Tendenz der Übersetzerin deutlich, Teile des Arbeitsprozesses zu externalisieren, wobei interne Verarbeitungsprozesse zu Interaktionen mit selbst generierten Artefakten umgewandelt und kognitive Räume somit neu konfiguriert werden. Nicht zuletzt wird die Existenz verschiedener, iterativer Interaktionsprozesse veranschaulicht, die spezifische Verhaltens- und Denkmuster der Übersetzerin darstellen

Cooperation and Quality Assurance in Technical Translation Projects

The professional profile emerging to address today’s demands in business and industry bears little resemblance to the traditional view of translators as solitary all-rounders. Translators and technical writers are now increasingly seen as problem-solvers, working in teams and interacting with other experts. They act as text coordinators, language leads, localisers, information designers or content managers

Localisation of primary food production in Finland: production potential and environmental impacts of food consumption patterns

The potential for and environmental consequences of localising primary production of food were investigated by considering different food consumption patterns, based on conventional and organic production. Environmental impact was assessed according to agricultural land use and numbers of production animals, both of which depend on food consumption. The results were quantified in terms of nutrient balances, greenhouse gas and acid emissions and the diversity of crop cultivation, which indicate eutrophication of watersheds, climate change and landscape changes, respectively. The study region was able to satisfy its own needs for all farming and food consumption scenarios. Dietary choice had a marked impact on agricultural land use and on the environmental parameters considered. Organic farming for local food production resulted in higher greenhouse gas emissions. Compared with mixed diets, the vegetarian diet was associated with lower emissions and nutrient surpluses, but also with reduced crop diversity. The arable areas allocated to leys and pastures were also smaller. The study area represents a predominantly rural region and is a net exporter of agricultural produce. Therefore, only part of the environmental impact of food production results from local needs. Both the differences among the dietary options and the overall environmental benefit of localised primary food production were greatly reduced when considering total agricultural production of the region. Much of the negative impact of agriculture is due to food consumption in the densely populated urban areas, but the consequences are mainly felt in the production areas. The environmental impacts of localisation of primary food production for the rural areas are small and inconsistent. The results indicate the importance of defining ‘local’ on a regional basis and including the urban food sinks in impact assessment

Visual Aspects of Intercultural Technical Communication: A Cognitive Scientific and Semiotic Point of View

This article presents a cognitive scientific view of the role of verbal and visual aspects in the translation of technical texts. The semiotic differentiation between symbols and icons is discussed from both the cognitive scientific and the translation studies perspectives. The article refers to the definition of text as a unit of communication (and translation) that includes both verbal and visual aspects and thus emphasises the function of the visual dimension in translation. The theoretical discussion is related to professional practices in the modern translation workplace: through its discussion of the results of a recent empirical field study based on participant observation over an extended period of time in a translation agency, the present research seeks to determine the extent to which the visual dimension can be taken into account in technical translation. In particular, the results point to the consequences of the use of translation technologies (translation memories, translation management systems, localisation software, etc.) in the modern translation workplace. The dominance of the verbal aspect induced by the use of some such technologies can make it increasingly difficult for translators to pay attention to the visual elements in translation. This stresses the importance of the inclusion of courses on the critical and professional use of translation technologies within translation studies programmes.L’article vise à présenter une approche cognitive scientifique du rôle du verbal et du visuel dans la traduction des textes techniques. Tout d’abord, les auteurs discutent les différences entre les symboles et les icônes en respectant les perspectives des sciences cognitives et de la traductologie. Partant d’une définition du texte en tant qu’unité de communication (et de traduction) comprenant des aspects verbaux et visuels, l’article met dans la suite l’accent sur la dimension visuelle du texte à traduire. Cette discussion théorique fournit la base pour l’analyse des pratiques professionelles en ce qui concerne l’intégration de la dimension visuelle dans le processus de traduction. Une étude de terrain dans un service de traduction fournit les données empiriques. Les résultats de cette observation participante montrent l’influence des technologies de traduction (mémoires de traduction, systèmes de gestion de traduction, logiciels de localisation) sur le rôle du visuel dans le poste de travail moderne du traducteur. L’importance que ces technologies donnent au verbal rend de plus en plus difficile pour le traducteur de faire attention aux éléments visuels. Les auteurs en tirent la conclusion que la gestion critique et professionelle de la dimension visuelle doit être intégrée dans la formation des traducteurs

Translators as Networkers: The Role of Virtual Communities

Recent years have seen a rise in the importance of virtual and real-life knowledge sharing communities and communities of practice across many fi elds of private and commercial interest, including professional translation. This article examines the characteristics of knowledge sharing communities in general, identifies their key elements, looks at the motivation for membership and presents an empirical study of life in a thriving virtual translation community. In doing so, it draws on the results of a literature review combined with a participant observation based study and member survey of a major virtual translation community. The results indicate that virtual translation communities can be lively platforms and offer translators a forum not only for sharing expert knowledge and collaborating, but also for keeping in touch with like-minded individuals

Introduction to the Thematic Section: Expertise and Behaviour: Aspects of Cognitive Translation Studies

No abstrac

Personalentwicklung im universitären Weiterbildungsbereich: Perspektiven für wissenschaftliche MitarbeiterInnen

Universitäre Weiter­bildung befindet sich im Spannungsfeld zwischen Wissen­schaftlichkeit und Wirtschaft­lichkeit. Die Donau-Universität Krems stellt aufgrund ihrer Spezialisierung als "Universität für Weiterbildung" und dem Anspruch auf hohe Eigenfinanzierungsquoten eine Besonderheit in der europäischen Univer­sitäts­land­schaft dar. Daraus ergeben sich besondere Herausforderungen in der Personal­entwicklung. Am Beispiel der Donau-Universität Krems werden die Unterschiede in der Personal­struktur der wissenschaftlichen MitarbeiterInnen und die Anforderungen hin­sichtlich Karriereentwicklung im Quervergleich zu traditionellen Universitäten analysiert. Daraus werden ein neues Modell für die Personalstruktur sowie mögliche Karriere­wege und Anreizsysteme für die wissenschaftlichen MitarbeiterInnen abgeleitet. 12.07.2007 | Sabine Steidl, Hanna Risku & Walter Mayrhofer (Krems

Ethnographic Research

Ethnography is a method of active immersion in a chosen empirical setting that allows researchers to learn and thoroughly understand the practices that are relevant in the field. In order to approximate this insider, emic view of the world, ethnographers participate in the routines of their subjects and record their observations. In this chapter, we explain the basic concepts and principles of ethnographic research and describe how ethnography can be applied to understanding the complex activities of translation and interpreting and the contexts in which their products are used. We discuss some of the contexts in which ethnographic approaches have been applied in translation and interpreting research and exemplify some special forms of ethnography that would be suited to certain applications contexts, namely cognitive ethnography, microethnography, and online ethnography. We describe the logistics and practical challenges of ethnographic research into translation or interpreting practices and discuss the issues to be resolved when selecting and entering field sites, informing, observing, and interviewing participants, and managing, analyzing, and reporting on data. Methodological concepts are illustrated with reference to two of our recent research projects: a cognitive ethnography of translation and a microethnographic study of audio description processes.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

Paikallinen ruokajärjestelmä : ympäristö- ja talousvaikutuksia sekä oppimishaasteita

vokBEL/EL

Työeläkkeiden rahoitusselvitys

Raportissa tarkastellaan TyEL-eläkkeiden rahoitusta ja TyEL-yhtiöiden asiakashyvityksiä. Raportissa kuvataan TyEL:n rahoitusympäristön muutoksia ja rahoitussäännöksiä. Keskeiset pitkän aikavälin rakenteelliset haasteet ovat matala syntyvyys sekä matala korkotaso. Raportissa arvioidaan laskelmien avulla erilaisia rahastointivaihtoehtoja. Lisäksi selvitetään mahdollisuuksia lisätä TyEL-yhtöiden asiakashyvitysten läpinäkyvyyttä. Raportin toimeksianto sisältyy työmarkkinoiden keskusjärjestöjen kesällä 2019 tekemään sopimukseen