Translation Practice Research Articles

Indirect (pivot) audiovisual translation: a burning issue for research and training

ABSTRACT This article serves as an introduction to the special issue on the practice of translating audiovisual content through an intermediate language or text. This increasingly common yet underexplored area presents numerous challenges and opportunities for research and training. By employing a broad definition of this practice, we aim to highlight its significance and complexity. We start by discussing the rationale behind focusing on this topic, noting the conceptual ambiguities and diverse terminology associated with it. Then, we review past, present, and anticipated developments in the field, and provide an overview of the contributions within this special issue. To conclude, we identify research questions and potential future directions, emphasising the need for continued exploration and reflection. Ultimately, with this introduction and the special issue as a whole, we aim to bring attention to this critical practice in audiovisual translation, encouraging further scholarly inquiry and practical advancements.

Influence of Cultural Nuances on Translation Accuracy between English and Chinese

This review aims to identify key cultural factors that affect translation quality and propose strategies to enhance accuracy in cross-cultural translation. A programmatic method is a viable culture competency approach that involves learning by participating, interacting, and immersing in the target culture through intercultural exchange programs or by interacting with native speakers. The analysis begins with data extraction, where valuable information is collected from selected articles on author(s), publication year, research design, methodology, findings, and translation practice implications. the results are synthesized to provide a comprehensive overview of the themes and patterns that emerged from the data, presented in a narrative format. NVivo or similar software will be used to facilitate data analysis, coding, and theme identification. Your conclusion provides a comprehensive overview of the importance of cultural awareness in translation and offers practical solutions for enhancing translation accuracy in cross-cultural contexts.

The Influence of Cultural Factors on English Translation Practices

The Influence of Cultural Factors on English Translation Practices

Impacts of LMS Socio-Linguistic and Psychometric Factors on Students' English and Translation Proficiency and Communicative Competence: A Paradigm Shift During COVID-19 Pandemic

This quantitative study investigated the impacts of Learning Management Systems’ (LMS) socio-linguistic and psychometric factors on students' English and translation proficiency and communicative competence. The participants were enrolled at the College of Languages and Translation, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The results highlighted the positive experiences students had with the LMS platforms, with a notable frequency of (79.6%). Additionally, a significant percentage (86.2%) affirmed the effectiveness of these platforms in aiding them in achieving academic objectives. However, (52%) indicated that students consistently or often faced challenges when using technology. The findings highlighted improvements in various areas, including linguistic abilities (71.7%), translation skills (73.7%), social skills (62.5%), and psychometric abilities (70.3%), emphasizing the role of online environments in fostering effective communicative skills. The study also revealed the benefits of language and translation technology for students, with (84.1%) using computer-assisted translation, (82.9%) engaging in dubbing and voice translation, and (75.6%) utilizing language audio/video resources. Positive impacts on proficiency and communicative competence were evident, with frequencies of (74.4%) and (69.1%), respectively. These findings underscore the positive influence of technology on language and translation learning, emphasizing communicative approaches that enable students to develop competencies based on language socialization and real-time translation practices. The study recommends ongoing technology training for students and advocates for the use of psychometric tools embedded in LMS to encourage self-assessment and independent learning. The study's significance lies in understanding the intricate relationship between cognition, educational technology, and language and translation learning, particularly in the context of higher education.

A Corpus-Assisted Study of Translation Criticism and Translation Quality Assessment

Translation criticism is mainly used to assess the quality and value of translation works, which is different from the traditional descriptive translation research. At present, some researchers often confuse the two, resulting in some corpus-based translation criticism stopping at the descriptive level and hindering the development of translation criticism. In view of this, this paper attempts to clarify the difference between corpus-assisted translation criticism and corpus translation studies, corpus translation criticism, and to explore the research scope of corpus-assisted translation criticism and refine its research design. In addition, the paper explores the development direction of this research paradigm and the limitations due to the constraints of current corpus technology and natural language processing technology. This paper aims to further promote the development of translation criticism in a scientific and systematic direction, so that scholars can more effectively assess translation quality and guide translation practice.

Translation Analysis of the Article in National Geographic Magazine Entitled “The End of Trash” by Robert Kunzig, 2020 Edition

This study aimed to identify the translation techniques and quality of the article "The End of Trash” from the 2020 edition of National Geographic Magazine. The data comprises sentences from three subchapters Food, Clothes, and Metal in both English and Indonesian. This research used a descriptive qualitative method to analyze data. The study identifies translation techniques based on Molina and Albir's (2002) theory and evaluates translation quality according to Nababan's (2012) framework. The analysis reveales 14 translation techniques, Established Equivalent (34.9%), Reduction (17.8%), Literal Translation (8.3%), Borrowing (6.9%), Amplification (6.6%), Discursive Creation (5.5%), Transposition (4.2%), Modulation (4.2%), Adaptation (3.1%), Calque (3%), Particularization (3%), Linguistic Compression (1%), Generalization and Linguistic Amplification at (0.6%). The quality assessment indicates a high level of accuracy, with 80.9% of the translations classified as accurate, 78.5% considered acceptable, and 80.1% readable. The study suggests that future research could explore other editions of National Geographic to provide a broader perspective on translation practices.

Role making in translational contexts

Abstract This study examines the roles of intercept interpreters/translators (IITs) in covert communication surveillance. Despite their increasing importance in global criminal investigations, their roles remain underexplored in academic research. Utilizing sociological theories of role taking and role making, three distinct IIT roles emerge: “distant service providers,” “deputy police officers,” and “masters of balance.” Each role reflects unique approaches influenced by professional identity and self-defined involvement in police investigations. At the same time, the research highlights the relevance of police trust in IITs. According to our study, role making functions as a negotiation between all stakeholders involved, challenging dichotomous perspectives on norms and expectations. The study advocates for a nuanced approach to IIT roles that integrates forensic-criminalistic considerations into translation practices. It also urges criminal justice authorities to rethink interpreting and translation methods by prioritizing meaningful translations that align with ethical standards and forensic principles.

Linguistics for Translators

What makes a translator truly exceptional? Is it their grasp of both source and target languages, or perhaps their sensitivity to cultural nuances? Linguistics for Translators by Ali Almanna and Juliane House delves into these questions with the ambition to bridge the gap between linguistic theory and translation practice. This ambitious textbook does not just present linguistic concepts but intricately weaves them into the fabric of translation studies, making it an indispensable resource “for a diverse audience, including students of translation and linguistics, practising translators, and readers from neighbouring disciplines who are interested in the subject” (Alamnaa and House, 2024, p.4). Almanna and House (2024) begin with a captivating premise: understanding the intricate mechanisms of language is fundamental for any translator. They set the stage by discussing why linguistic knowledge is crucial, not just as an academic exercise, but as a practical toolkit for enhancing translation quality. “Our aim with Linguistics for Translators is to emphasize that the linguistic dimension of translation cannot be overlooked,” Almanna and House (p.1) assert, highlighting the book’s relevance from the outset. This approach aligns with the views of Hatim and Munday (2004), who also emphasize the significance of linguistic competence in translation. The book’s twelve chapters cover a broad spectrum of linguistic areas, each crucial for the aspiring translator. Each chapter is meticulously designed to build on the previous one, from the basics of phonetics and phonology to the complexities of cognitive linguistics. The authors provide an engaging overview of linguistics, linking it directly to translation through practical exercises and discussion points. They introduce linguistic universals and translation universals, sparking curiosity about their application in real-world translation. This discussion echoes the foundational work of Catford (1965), who first articulated the need for linguistic theory in translation.

Unravelling the stylistic nuances: a comparative multidimensional analysis of amateur and professional translations of Legends of the Condor Heroes

Style research has always been an important field in corpus-based translation studies. However, the stylistic differences between amateur and professional translations of epic Chinese martial arts fiction have received limited attention in the existing literature. This study addresses this gap by examining the stylistic differences in amateur and professional translations of the novel Legends of the Condor Heroes, a representative work of this genre gaining popularity through fan-translation websites. Employing Biber’s multidimensional analysis, this study investigates fictional speech and narration in both amateur and professional translations. The findings reveal that amateur translations exhibit less variation between speech and narration, characterized by lower levels of involvement in dialog and reduced informational density in narrative passages. Moreover, amateur translations tend to employ more abstract language across both speech and narration compared to their professional counterparts. These stylistic disparities may influence readers’ comprehension and engagement with the text, potentially affecting their access to critical narrative elements. The study posits that the lack of professional training and experience, as well as the collaborative and open-source nature of amateur translation communities, may contribute to these observed differences in amateur translations. This research contributes to translation studies by examining stylistic differences between amateur and professional translations of Chinese martial arts fiction, potentially informing future studies on reader engagement and the reception of translated Chinese literature. The findings also highlight the importance of considering the impact of amateur translation practices on the dissemination and reception of popular genres in cross-cultural contexts.

OligoM-Cancer: A multidimensional information platform for deep phenotyping of heterogenous oligometastatic cancer

Patients with oligometastatic cancer (OMC) exhibit better response to local therapeutic interventions and a more treatable tendency than those with polymetastatic cancers. However, studies on OMC are limited and lack effective integration for systematic comparison and personalized application, and the diagnosis and precise treatment of OMC remain controversial. The application of large language models in medicine remains challenging because of the requirement of high-quality medical data. Moreover, these models must be enhanced using precise domain-specific knowledge. Therefore, we developed the OligoM-Cancer platform (http://oligo.sysbio.org.cn), pioneering knowledge curation that depicts various aspects of oligometastases spectrum, including markers, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy choices. A user-friendly website was developed using HTML, FLASK, MySQL, Bootstrap, Echarts, and JavaScript. This platform encompasses comprehensive knowledge and evidence of phenotypes and their associated factors. With 4059 items of literature retrieved, OligoM-Cancer includes 1345 valid publications and 393 OMC-associated factors. Additionally, the included clinical assistance tools enhance the interpretability and credibility of clinical translational practice. OligoM-Cancer facilitates knowledge-guided modeling for deep phenotyping of OMC and potentially assists large language models in supporting specialised oligometastasis applications, thereby enhancing their generalization and reliability.

Translating Open-Ended Questions in Cross-Cultural Qualitative Research: A Comprehensive Framework.

Globalization has increased the importance of multicultural research to address health disparities and improve healthcare outcomes for underrepresented communities. The International Nursing Network for HIV Research (The Network) serves as a platform for researchers to collaborate on cross-cultural and cross-national HIV studies. This article discusses the Network's approach to overcoming barriers in multicultural and multinational research in a qualitative context. The network created a protocol to guide decision-making throughout the translation process of qualitative data collected from participants in their native languages. The protocol includes aspects of why, when, what, who, how, where, and by what means the translation is completed. The protocol has allowed researchers to enhance the validity, reliability, and cultural sensitivity of translation process, ensuring the clarity and impact of their research findings. Rigorous translation practices promote cross-cultural understanding and respect for participants' perspectives, fostering global collaborations and knowledge exchange.

Unveiling Pedagogical Translanguaging: Investigating Teachers’ Translingual Practices and Purposes in ELT Classrooms

Unveiling Pedagogical Translanguaging: Investigating Teachers’ Translingual Practices and Purposes in ELT Classrooms

Regulator of G-protein signaling expression in human intestinal enteroendocrine cells and potential role in satiety hormone secretion in health and obesity

Gut L-type enteroendocrine cells (EECs) are intestinal chemosensory cells that secrete satiety hormones GLP-1 and PYY in response to activation of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) by luminal components of nutrient digestion and microbial fermentation. Regulator of G-protein Signaling (RGS) proteins are negative regulators of GPCR signaling. The expression profile of RGS in EECs, and their potential role in satiety hormone secretion and obesity is unknown. Transcriptomic profiling of RGS was completed in native colonic EECs was completed using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) in lean and obesity, and human jejunal EECs with data obtained from a publicly available RNAseq dataset (GSE114853). RGS validation studies were completed using whole mucosal intestinal tissue obtained during endoscopy in 61 patients (n=42 OB, n=19 Lean); a subset of patients' postprandial plasma was assayed for GLP-1 and PYY. Exvivo human intestinal cultures and invitro NCI-H716cells overexpressing RGS9 were exposed to GLP-1 secretagogues in conjunction with a nonselective RGS-inhibitor and assayed for GLP-1 secretion. Transcriptomic profiling of colonic and jejunal enteroendocrine cells revealed a unique RGS expression profile in EECs, and further within GLP-1+ L-type EECs. In obesity the RGS expression profile was altered in colonic EECs. Human gut RGS9 expression correlated positively with BMI and negatively with postprandial GLP-1 and PYY. RGS inhibition in human intestinal cultures increased GLP-1 release from EECs exvivo. NCI-H716cells overexpressing RGS9 displayed defective nutrient-stimulated GLP-1 secretion. This study introduces the expression profile of RGS in human EECs, alterations in obesity, and suggests a role for RGS proteins as modulators of GLP-1 and PYY secretion from intestinal EECs. AA is supported by the NIH(C-Sig P30DK84567, K23 DK114460), a Pilot Award from the Mayo Clinic Center for Biomedical Discovery, and a Translational Product Development Fund from The Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science Office of Translational Practice in partnership with the University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Navigating Ethics in AI-Driven Translation for a Human-Centric Future

General Background: The rapid growth of AI technology is reshaping various industries, including translation, bringing both opportunities and ethical challenges. Specific Background: AI's integration into translation processes promises automation and efficiency but raises concerns about the role of human translators, translation quality, and cultural nuances. Additionally, issues like machine bias and privacy preservation are emerging as critical ethical considerations. Knowledge Gap: While much attention has been given to AI's technical advancements, there is a lack of comprehensive research addressing the ethical implications of AI in translation and its impact on professional roles and requirements. Aims: This study aims to critically review the literature on AI's impact on the translation profession and explore the ethical challenges arising from AI integration. It seeks to provide recommendations for ethical translation practices in an AI-enhanced environment. Results: Through in-depth interviews with professional translators, educators, and industry experts, the study identified key themes such as transparency in AI systems, the responsibility of human translators, bias in AI systems, and the impact on human translators. Novelty: This research offers a unique perspective by combining insights from diverse stakeholders and emphasizing ethical considerations in AI-assisted translation. It proposes an action-oriented approach to addressing ethical concerns to ensure the survival of the translation profession in an AI-driven society. Implications: The findings serve as valuable guidance for translators, educators, and policymakers, highlighting the need for ethical frameworks and guidelines specific to AI integration in translation. This study underscores the importance of balancing AI advancements with ethical standards to achieve high-quality, culturally sensitive translations. Highlight: Ethical Considerations: Address bias and privacy in AI-assisted translation. Human Expertise: Maintain human involvement for quality and cultural nuance. Future Research: Enhance ethical practices with diverse, comprehensive studies. Keyword: AI integration, translation ethics, machine bias, human translators, cultural sensitivity

Latinx Youth as Linguistic Experts: Documenting Translanguaging Moments in Youth Participatory Action Research

ABSTRACT Drawing on Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) and translanguaging frameworks, the purpose of this study is to demonstrate how Latinx youth leverage their community knowledge and language practices in community-based research. Through a multimodal and ethnographic examination of the students engagement in youth-driven research this article highlights how language is central to the expertise they cultivate of their everyday socio-political worlds. Findings showcase how the youth in this study drew on their linguistic expertise alongside their community knowledge and sociopolitical awareness to make sense of the various components of the research process. Further, they document translingual practices that are reflective of the lived realities and of the multilingualism located within their community. Engaging in translingual practices throughout the YPAR project reflected authentic, joyful, and critical practices of meaning making throughout their inquiry. Implications for this study include co-designing linguistically transformative spaces for youth and the importance of recognizing the community knowledge and experience that shapes their linguistic practices.

Comparative Study of Google Translate and Yandex of English Latin-Originated Legal Phraseology into Arabic: A corpus-based approach

The use of machine translation has become ubiquitous across various translation practices, especially with the advent of neural machine translation and the integration of deep learning and artificial intelligence in translation program development. While the accuracy and quality of machine translation outcomes have significantly improved, challenges persist particularly in legal translation from English to Arabic. The unique nature of legal discourse and structural differences between English and Arabic make accurately translating legal language features a daunting task. This study aims to evaluate the quality of neural machine translation in rendering legal Latin phraseology into Arabic by comparing two websites: Google Translate and Yandex. A corpus-based approach was adopted where 270 Latin-origin legal terms and phrases were collected, scrutinised, and translated using both platforms. The evaluation focuses on four criteria: inappropriate translations, no translations provided, borrowing (phonetic transliteration into Arabic), and equivalence—the culturally and functionally suitable translation. Key findings indicate that despite significant advancements in machine translation technology, accuracy remains a critical issue, with approximately half of the terms not translated correctly. While Google Translate is widely used, Yandex demonstrated higher accuracy in this context. Furthermore, the majority of phrases selected for this study were not accurately translated by either website. The solution to this problem lies in enhancing the training process. Arabic users and translators should contribute more translations to enrich Arabic corpora online. Additionally, it's been observed that there is a lack of English-Arabic dictionaries or databases dedicated to Legal Language Processing (LLP). Therefore, initiating a research project addressing this issue could be of utmost importance. Regarding specialized language, improving the quality of Neural Machine Translation (NMT) raises questions about its reliability for both learners and professional translators. Accordingly, the study recommends further research on assessing machine translation quality, improving neural machine translation terminology accuracy, and enhancing machine learning models with more Arabic content and corpora.

Impact éloquent des mots empruntés et arabisés dans la traduction: Analyse des emprunts lexicaux dans les œuvres d’Al-Ghazāli «Al-munqid Min Addalâl (Erreur et Délivrance)» et «Le livre des Bons Usages en Matière de Mariage»

Eloquent Impact of Borrowed and Arabicized Words in Translation: Analysis of loanwords in Al- Ghazāli’s work «'Al-munqid min addalâl (Erreur et Délivrance)» and «Le livre des Bons Usages en Matière de Mariage» The Arabisation of words is a common practice in Arabic translation. It involves borrowing words from other languages and adjusting their phonetics to fit Arabic phonology. Sometimes, these words undergo semantic adaptations to fit into specific contexts, enriching the Arabic lexicon with essential terms. Such linguistic borrowings have seamlessly integrated into Arabic over time, serving both specialised and everyday functions. In the French translation of two works by Al-Ghazāli, "Al-munqid Min Addalâl (The Deliverance from Error)" and "Le livre des Bons Usages en Matière de Mariage (The Book of Good Practices in Marriage)," it is noteworthy that several Arabised words have been retained without translation. Instead, they are presented alongside their equivalents or with explanatory notes. The translator’decision to preserve these Arabised words by the translator reflects a desire to convey the original author's specific messages. It underlines a commitment to maintain the semantic depth of the original texts while honoring the cultural and linguistic richness of Arabic. These words imbue the analysed texts with profound meaning, adding a semantic dimension that enhances the works in both Arabic and French. This approach caters to a French readership interested in exploring the nuances of Al-Ghazāli's works, ensuring the integrity of his writings is preserved. It guarantees an authentic and comprehensive reading experience that captures the richness and subtleties of the original texts.

On the theory and practice of intralingual translation and its typologies

ABSTRACT This article aims to advance the discussion on the nature of intralingual translation which, while having been marginalized for a long time within the field of translation studies, has currently increasingly attracted the interest of the academic community. Building on the work of previous researchers in the field, this article suggests the adoption of additional categories with a view to facilitating a more comprehensive description, analysis, and practice of this form of translation, identifying its various typologies. To demonstrate how the model proposed here can work as a useful guide to intralingual translators, the article provides examples taken from various literary and non-literary texts.

On Challenges in Translation

Translation practices could be characterised by some bumpy paths, challenging sections, even insurmountable obstacles, irrespective of language combination one works with. Metaphorical concepts, once found in the texts being translated, can only contribute to the complexity of the whole process. Being cautious with conveying the intended messages, hidden behind abstract language, avoiding calques, integrating culture-bound connotations, and, above all, finding the adequate counterparts in the target language/-es are common guidelines along the way. This paper aims to compare the translation practices of EFL students with those of AI-supported engines when translating English passages, brimming with idiomatic language, into Lithuanian. The decision to choose students over language professionals is based on the aspiration to – obtain an insight into their knowledge of metaphorical language and – to be able, at later stages, to introduce them, as future language teachers and translators to the practices and potential of machine translation. Strengths and weaknesses characterising both sides are discussed, accompanied with some implications pertaining to AI usage in pedagogical contexts.

Apostolate through Books: The Translation Practice by Catholicism during Late Ming and Early Qing

Catholicism during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties is the most fascinating chapter in the development history of Christian culture in China. Apostolate through books emerged as a prominent method of Sino-West cultural exchange during that time. Apostolate through books by Catholicism was realized by means of translation practice, leading to a notable religious influence. Based on this perspective, this paper discusses the history and connotation of apostolate through books, particularly focusing on the characteristics of apostolate through books by Catholicism during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. In achieving this, this research shows the translation motivation and translation effect of apostolate through books during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. Furthermore, this paper emphasizes that the translation practice of apostolate through books by Catholicism has laid a good foundation for the sinicization and acceptance of Catholicism in China, highlighting the relationship between apostolate through books by Catholicism and the sinicization of Christian culture, so as to enlighten the internationalization of religious culture.