Language Courses as Potential Indicators of Translation Performance: An Exploratory Study

Oudah Alenazi

doi:10.5539/ijel.v9n2p145

Abstract

Linguistic competence is a key factor in the preparation of translation students. Although translation competence encompasses linguistic competence, the interaction between the two calls for empirical exploration. This study examines whether students&rsquo; performance, particularly in language skills, can be a potential indicator of the quality of their translations. A total of forty-eight translation students from a college of languages and translation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were recruited to participate in the study. Students marks in previous language skills courses were statistically correlated with their marks in the final exam of a translation course. The results indicated a significant positive association between two language skills, namely grammar and reading, and students&rsquo; competence in translation. The writing skill, however, showed no significant impact on students&rsquo; performance in translation. This study has practical implications for students in translation programmes, teachers of language skills courses in these programmes, and those in charge of curriculum.

Highlights

Translation is the process of transferring a text from one language to another
The students were all enrolled in a translation course that is taught by the researcher after having successfully passed all language skills components, i.e., reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, listening and speaking
The results presented above show that the significant correlations revealed in the data analysis can be ordered according to their statistical significance

Summary

Introduction

Translation is the process of transferring a text from one language to another. A translator’s competence in translation is often referred to as ‘transfer competence’. Translation has a crucial role to play in an increasingly globalised and multilingual world where people use it daily (Leonardi, 2010). As Duff (1994) puts it, translation happens everywhere and all the time. Preparation of student translators involves, inter alia, the acquisition of linguistic skills. This is often done through the inclusion of courses like reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speaking in translation programmes

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Conclusion