Levels of Explanation and Translation Expertise

Gregory M Shreve

doi:10.7146/hjlcb.v0i57.106203

Gregory M Shreve

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7146/hjlcb.v0i57.106203

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Abstract

The observable activity of translation, the series of text comprehension and text production bursts we identify as translation, is the result of the activation of complex underlying cognitive systems. In the conduct of research it is often useful to approach such complex systems using a ‘levels of explanation’ framework. This paper considers David Marr’s (1982) three levels of explanation as they might apply to understanding translation and translation expertise more robustly. In cognitive translation studies to date, we have not really extended our understanding of expertise much past the second (algorithmic/representational) level in Marr’s scheme; we have failed to grapple as effectively as we might with the problem of how the second generation computationalist expertise constructs we adopted almost twenty years ago could be integrated with, for instance, connectionist neural network models of the mind, creating a third generation of expertise models. This paper offers some frameworks laying out how that end might be achieved using, for instance, symbolic connectionism and implementational connectivism. Further, it argues that given the overtly symbolic nature of translation language processing, cognitively-oriented translation scholars are uniquely suited to benefit from approaches that bridge the divide between symbol processing models and connectionist ones.

Highlights

The observable activity of translation, the series of text comprehension and text production bursts we identify as translation, is the result of the activation of complex underlying cognitive systems
The behavior of a complex system, a particular organism, or even the functioning of the mind, might be explained at various levels of explanation depending on what entities and events are chosen as the focus of observation, what the research interest is, or the level of abstraction chosen for analysis
This paper argues that regardless of the apparent unitary seamlessness of the system under observation, levels of explanation may still be of significant relevance for research, especially in cognitive translation studies, where our research object, we consider, is uniquely suited to such an explanatory approach because of its systemic complexity

Summary

Introduction

The observable activity of translation, the series of text comprehension and text production bursts we identify as translation, is the result of the activation of complex underlying cognitive systems. It is important to understand that the output of the complex systems we observe when we watch a translator translate, e.g., with keystroke logging or eye tracking, is produced only during task performance, the imperative for us, as translation researchers, to constantly keep in mind the pervasive influence of the functional goal-orientation of the highest level of explanation.

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Conclusion