Directionality and lexical selection in professional translators: Evidence from verbal fluency and translation tasks

Lexical selection is a key process in any language-based communicative event, but in translation it occurs in the semantic network activated by two languages. The question asked in this article is how the direction in which translation proceeds affects the process and outcome of lexical selection by...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ewa Tomczak, Bogusława Whyatt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Western Sydney University 2022-07-01
Series:Translation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.trans-int.org/index.php/transint/article/view/1370
_version_ 1811315708929245184
author Ewa Tomczak
Bogusława Whyatt
author_facet Ewa Tomczak
Bogusława Whyatt
author_sort Ewa Tomczak
collection DOAJ
description Lexical selection is a key process in any language-based communicative event, but in translation it occurs in the semantic network activated by two languages. The question asked in this article is how the direction in which translation proceeds affects the process and outcome of lexical selection by experienced bidirectional translators. The prediction from the available empirical evidence that lexical selection when translating into the translator’s L2 (learned language) is more cognitively demanding than when working into L1 (native language) is tested in an experimental study with translators who regularly translate into their L1 (Polish) and L2 (English). The participants performed verbal fluency tasks and translated two texts (a product description text and a film review) into their L1 and L2 (four texts in total). The entire process was recorded by key-logging, eye-tracking and screen capture programs. The results confirm that lexical selection is more demanding and less successful in L1"L2 translation, thus confirming the L2 cognitive disadvantage. Equipping translation students with effective error-preventing strategies and encouraging collaboration between translators and proofreaders could optimise lexical selection in L1"L2 translation.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T11:34:59Z
format Article
id doaj.art-569b91d801e946bf9b1ed67a9470411b
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1836-9324
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T11:34:59Z
publishDate 2022-07-01
publisher Western Sydney University
record_format Article
series Translation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research
spelling doaj.art-569b91d801e946bf9b1ed67a9470411b2022-12-22T02:48:27ZengWestern Sydney UniversityTranslation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research1836-93242022-07-01142120136Directionality and lexical selection in professional translators: Evidence from verbal fluency and translation tasksEwa Tomczak0Bogusława Whyatt1Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, PolandAdam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, PolandLexical selection is a key process in any language-based communicative event, but in translation it occurs in the semantic network activated by two languages. The question asked in this article is how the direction in which translation proceeds affects the process and outcome of lexical selection by experienced bidirectional translators. The prediction from the available empirical evidence that lexical selection when translating into the translator’s L2 (learned language) is more cognitively demanding than when working into L1 (native language) is tested in an experimental study with translators who regularly translate into their L1 (Polish) and L2 (English). The participants performed verbal fluency tasks and translated two texts (a product description text and a film review) into their L1 and L2 (four texts in total). The entire process was recorded by key-logging, eye-tracking and screen capture programs. The results confirm that lexical selection is more demanding and less successful in L1"L2 translation, thus confirming the L2 cognitive disadvantage. Equipping translation students with effective error-preventing strategies and encouraging collaboration between translators and proofreaders could optimise lexical selection in L1"L2 translation.http://www.trans-int.org/index.php/transint/article/view/1370directionalityverbal fluencylexical selectionbidirectional translatorsexpertisekey-loggingeye-trackingscreen capture
spellingShingle Ewa Tomczak
Bogusława Whyatt
Directionality and lexical selection in professional translators: Evidence from verbal fluency and translation tasks
Translation and Interpreting : the International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research
directionality
verbal fluency
lexical selection
bidirectional translators
expertise
key-logging
eye-tracking
screen capture
title Directionality and lexical selection in professional translators: Evidence from verbal fluency and translation tasks
title_full Directionality and lexical selection in professional translators: Evidence from verbal fluency and translation tasks
title_fullStr Directionality and lexical selection in professional translators: Evidence from verbal fluency and translation tasks
title_full_unstemmed Directionality and lexical selection in professional translators: Evidence from verbal fluency and translation tasks
title_short Directionality and lexical selection in professional translators: Evidence from verbal fluency and translation tasks
title_sort directionality and lexical selection in professional translators evidence from verbal fluency and translation tasks
topic directionality
verbal fluency
lexical selection
bidirectional translators
expertise
key-logging
eye-tracking
screen capture
url http://www.trans-int.org/index.php/transint/article/view/1370
work_keys_str_mv AT ewatomczak directionalityandlexicalselectioninprofessionaltranslatorsevidencefromverbalfluencyandtranslationtasks
AT bogusławawhyatt directionalityandlexicalselectioninprofessionaltranslatorsevidencefromverbalfluencyandtranslationtasks