Exploring possible answers to questions such as “Can we translate a cultural reference?” or even “What is a cultural reference?” is a highly relevant issue for translation students. These are matters that have been addressed by academics and full time translators alike, and no final or definite solutions have been found to the problems generated by the uncertainties, just as there are no final or definitive definitions of the concept of culture itself. In an attempt to help and guide our students to improve this specific aspect of translation competence, a syllabus was designed within a pedagogical setting based on humanistic and socioconstructivist principles as well as on task and project-based learning, and an experimental study was carried out within that pedagogical setting to explore specific effects of such training. In this article, we will deal mainly with the experimental training itself, whereas the study will be reported on in a forthcoming publication.

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A Problem-Solving and Student-Centred Approach to the Translation of Cultural References

This study (funded by Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain) was carried out to observe, measure and analyze the effects of a specifically designed prototype training programme in the application of translation strategies to solve translation problems. First, existing literature on translation strategies was studied, three types of translation problems were chosen and a theoretically optimal methodology was designed in order to teach strategies to solve those problems. Then, a pilot study was conducted with two groups (experimental and control) of undergraduate translation students. The subjects in the experimental group were trained in the selected strategies, whereas the control group did not receive this specific training. Finally, data analysis and interpretation were carried out, and conclusions were drawn in order to optimize preparation of a second study and decide on our future approach to this particular area of research.

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Christopher Scott-Tennent

Papers

Experimental training in the application of translation strategies: an empirical study