Translation/interpreting process research

Abstract

In this chapter, the author discusses the issues related to researching translator and interpreter cognitive processes. The chapter starts with an overview of the methodological research orientations in translation/interpreting process studies. This is followed by reviewing the main areas and issues dominant in the translation/interpreting process research published so far. First, the author highlights the studies adopting a macro approach to researching the translation process, and the ones adopting a micro one related to examining translator use of resources, translation revision, and translation problem-solving. Second, the author discusses two main trends in interpreting process studies: profiling interpreting strategies, and researching a particular interpreting strategy type (e.g., note-taking, self-repair, and anticipation). In discussing each research area, the author provides examples showing how researchers have collected and analyzed translator and interpreter cognitive process data.