The use of translation theory through reconciling between Englishisation and translanguaging by Arab instructors in EMI higher education classes: Training postgraduate students to be translators and interpreters

Translation theory is taught at a postgraduate level in Arab countries through the use of English as a medium of instruction (EMI). It is often studied as a theoretical course, which is a major part of any EMI postgraduate translation/interpreting program taught in Arab universities. The present pap...

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Main Author: Rafat Y. Alwazna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1010704/full
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author Rafat Y. Alwazna
author_facet Rafat Y. Alwazna
author_sort Rafat Y. Alwazna
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description Translation theory is taught at a postgraduate level in Arab countries through the use of English as a medium of instruction (EMI). It is often studied as a theoretical course, which is a major part of any EMI postgraduate translation/interpreting program taught in Arab universities. The present paper examines whether or not Arab instructors use translation theory when they train students in practical courses to be translators/interpreters in EMI higher education in a selection of Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East. It also investigates whether or not translation theory, if used by Arab instructors in the translation/interpreting training at a postgraduate level, is utilized through English only or through translanguaging. It adopts a mixed method, consisting of a questionnaire, which has been distributed to 60 Arab translation/interpreting instructors/trainers from the selected Arab countries alongside three semi-structured interviews with three Arab professors who have been chosen from the 60 instructors for their long experience of translation/interpreting training. The paper argues that most of the participants use translation theory when training postgraduate students in practical courses to be translators/interpreters. This is because the use of theory offers students a solid ground for their problem-solving, decision-making and the ability to explain the logic behind their choice. The paper also shows that the participants do not completely adhere to English as a medium of instruction, rather they exercise translanguaging while using translation theory in practical courses. This is due to the specific translation/interpreting terminology contained in such theories, which may not be easily comprehended by students through the use of English on its own. Finally, the paper claims that the majority of the participants use multiple theories through translanguaging in their training. They argue that each theory has its own use and students should be exposed to as many theories as possible in EMI higher education in the selected Arab countries through translanguaging. This paper offers a baseline for using translation theory for the purpose of the translation/interpreting training through translanguaging in EMI higher education in the selected Arab countries, which may have implications for bilingual instruction of translation theory in other similar contexts.
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spelling doaj.art-ade5922631d04ca1b4e3c0743a97d3912023-01-06T17:39:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-01-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.10107041010704The use of translation theory through reconciling between Englishisation and translanguaging by Arab instructors in EMI higher education classes: Training postgraduate students to be translators and interpretersRafat Y. AlwaznaTranslation theory is taught at a postgraduate level in Arab countries through the use of English as a medium of instruction (EMI). It is often studied as a theoretical course, which is a major part of any EMI postgraduate translation/interpreting program taught in Arab universities. The present paper examines whether or not Arab instructors use translation theory when they train students in practical courses to be translators/interpreters in EMI higher education in a selection of Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East. It also investigates whether or not translation theory, if used by Arab instructors in the translation/interpreting training at a postgraduate level, is utilized through English only or through translanguaging. It adopts a mixed method, consisting of a questionnaire, which has been distributed to 60 Arab translation/interpreting instructors/trainers from the selected Arab countries alongside three semi-structured interviews with three Arab professors who have been chosen from the 60 instructors for their long experience of translation/interpreting training. The paper argues that most of the participants use translation theory when training postgraduate students in practical courses to be translators/interpreters. This is because the use of theory offers students a solid ground for their problem-solving, decision-making and the ability to explain the logic behind their choice. The paper also shows that the participants do not completely adhere to English as a medium of instruction, rather they exercise translanguaging while using translation theory in practical courses. This is due to the specific translation/interpreting terminology contained in such theories, which may not be easily comprehended by students through the use of English on its own. Finally, the paper claims that the majority of the participants use multiple theories through translanguaging in their training. They argue that each theory has its own use and students should be exposed to as many theories as possible in EMI higher education in the selected Arab countries through translanguaging. This paper offers a baseline for using translation theory for the purpose of the translation/interpreting training through translanguaging in EMI higher education in the selected Arab countries, which may have implications for bilingual instruction of translation theory in other similar contexts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1010704/fulltranslation theoryEnglishisationtranslanguagingEMI higher educationArab instructorspostgraduate students
spellingShingle Rafat Y. Alwazna
The use of translation theory through reconciling between Englishisation and translanguaging by Arab instructors in EMI higher education classes: Training postgraduate students to be translators and interpreters
Frontiers in Psychology
translation theory
Englishisation
translanguaging
EMI higher education
Arab instructors
postgraduate students
title The use of translation theory through reconciling between Englishisation and translanguaging by Arab instructors in EMI higher education classes: Training postgraduate students to be translators and interpreters
title_full The use of translation theory through reconciling between Englishisation and translanguaging by Arab instructors in EMI higher education classes: Training postgraduate students to be translators and interpreters
title_fullStr The use of translation theory through reconciling between Englishisation and translanguaging by Arab instructors in EMI higher education classes: Training postgraduate students to be translators and interpreters
title_full_unstemmed The use of translation theory through reconciling between Englishisation and translanguaging by Arab instructors in EMI higher education classes: Training postgraduate students to be translators and interpreters
title_short The use of translation theory through reconciling between Englishisation and translanguaging by Arab instructors in EMI higher education classes: Training postgraduate students to be translators and interpreters
title_sort use of translation theory through reconciling between englishisation and translanguaging by arab instructors in emi higher education classes training postgraduate students to be translators and interpreters
topic translation theory
Englishisation
translanguaging
EMI higher education
Arab instructors
postgraduate students
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1010704/full
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