Cover not available
Article published In:
Babel
Vol. 69:1 (2023) ► pp.99–128

Comparing L2 translation, translation revision, and post-editing competences in translation trainees

An exploratory study into Dutch–French translation

| University of Antwerp
| University of Antwerp
| University of Antwerp
Translation proper is rarely the sole activity that translators undertake in today’s translation market. Translators regularly function as revisers or post-editors, requiring them to check human or machine translations to make or recommend changes to improve translation quality. Various construct and performance models of and studies into translation competence (TC), translation revision competence (TRC), and post-editing competence (PEC) exist. However, a fundamental question remains unanswered to date: how similar or different TC, TRC, and PEC are. Using indirect translations (L1 Dutch, L2 French), we collected and analyzed translation, translation revision (TR), and post-editing (PE) data from 11 graduate translation trainees. Our exploratory study shows that TRC and PEC appear to have different competences, with trainees performing better for TR than PE. However, TRC and PEC do appear to have a common core, which does not differ significantly across tasks: problem detection.
Keywords: translation, translation revision, post-editing, construct models, quality
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Theoretical framework: Models of translation, translation revision, and post-editing
  • Methodology
    • Data collection
    • Data analysis
    • Translation Revision (TR) task
    • Post-editing (PE) task
    • Translation (T) task
  • Results
    • Process data
    • Product data
    • Translation revision and post-editing tasks: Tests of comparison and correlation tests
    • Translation revision, post-editing and translation tasks: Correlation tests
  • Discussion and conclusion
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 12 January 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.00307.rob
References (53)
References
Bisaillon, Jocelyne. 2007. “Professional Editing Strategies Used by Six Editors.” Written Communication 24 (4): 295–322. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Brysbaert, Marc. 2021. “Power Considerations in Bilingualism Research: Time to Step Up Our Game.” Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 241: 813–818. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Chodkiewicz, Marta. 2020. Understanding the Development of Translation Competence. Berlin: Peter Lang. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
do Carmo, Félix, and Joss Moorkens. 2021. “Differentiating Editing, Post-Editing and Revision.” In Translation Revision and Post-Editing: Industry Practices and Cognitive Processes, edited by Maarit Koponen, Brian Mossop, Isabelle S. Robert, and Giovanna Scocchera, 35–49. London: Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
EMT Expert Group. 2009. Competences for Professional Translators, Experts in Multilingual and Multimedia Communication. [URL]
. 2017. EMT Competence Framework 2017. [URL]
European Committee for Standardization. 2006. European Standard EN 15 038. Translation Services – Service Requirements. Brussels: European Committee for Standardization.Google Scholar
Eyckmans, June. 2017. “Cultural Competence in Translation Studies and Its Assessment.” In Towards Transcultural Awareness in Translation Pedagogy, edited by Julie Deconinck, Philippe Humblé, Arvi Sepp, and Hélène Stengers, 209–229. Zürich: LIT.Google Scholar
Göpferich, Susanne. 2009. “Towards a Model of Translation Competence and Its Acquisition: The Longitudinal Study TransComp .” In Behind the Mind: Methods, Models and Results in Translation Process Research, edited by Susanne Göpferich, Arnt Lykke Jakobsen, and Inger M. Mees, 11–37. Frederiksberg: Samfundslitteratur.Google Scholar
Guerberof Arenas, Ana, and Joss Moorkens. 2019. “Machine Translation and Post-Editing Training as Part of a Master’s Programme.” JoSTrans: The Journal of Specialised Translation 311: 217–238.Google Scholar
Hansen, Gyde. 2009. “The Speck in Your Brother’s Eye – The Beam in Your Own: Quality Management in Translation and Revision.” In Efforts and Models in Interpreting and Translation Research: A Tribute to Daniel Gile, edited by Gyde Hansen, Andrew Chesterman and Heidrun Gerzymisch-Arbogast, 255–280. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Horguelin, Paul A., and Louise Brunette. 1998. Pratique de la Révision. Brossard, QC: Linguatech.Google Scholar
Hurtado Albir, Amparo, ed. 2017. Researching Translation Competence by PACTE Group. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
International Organization for Standardization. (2015). ISO 17100:2015 – Translation Services – Requirements for Translation Services. In. Geneva: ISO.Google Scholar
Jakobsen, Arnt Lykke. 2018. “Moving Translation, Revision, and Post-Editing Boundaries.” In Moving Boundaries in Translation Studies, edited by Helle V. Dam, Matilde Nisbeth Brøgger, and Karen Korning Zethsen, 64–80. London: Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kelly, Dorothy. 2005. A Handbook for Translator Trainers: A Guide to Reflective Practice. Manchester: St. Jerome.Google Scholar
Konttinen, Kalle, Leena Salmi, and Maarit Koponen. 2021. “Revision and Post-Editing Competences in Translator Education.” In Translation Revision and Post-Editing: Industry Practices and Cognitive Processes, edited by Maarit Koponen, Brian Mossop, Isabelle S. Robert, and Giovanna Scocchera, 187–202. London: Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Koponen, Maarit. 2016. “Is Machine Translation Post-Editing Worth the Effort?: A Survey of Research into Post-Editing and Effort.” JoSTrans: The Journal of Specialised Translation 251: 131–148.Google Scholar
Koponen, Maarit, Brian Mossop, Isabelle S. Robert, and Giovanna Scocchera, eds. 2021. Translation Revision and Post-Editing: Industry Practices and Cognitive Processes. London: Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kornacki, Michał. 2018. Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) Tools in the Translator Training Process. Berlin: Peter Lang. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Künzli, Alexander. 2006. “Teaching and Learning Translation Revision: Some Suggestions Based on Evidence from a Think-Aloud Protocol Study.” In Current Trends in Translation Teaching and Learning, edited by Mike Garant, 9–24. Helsinki: University of Helsinki.Google Scholar
Leijten, Mariëlle, and Luuk Van Waes. 2013. “Keystroke Logging in Writing Research: Using Inputlog to Analyze Writing Processes.” Written Communication 30 (3): 358–392. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Loewen, Shawn, and Luke Plonsky. 2016. An A–Z of Applied Linguistics Research Methods. London: Palgrave. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Massey, Gary. 2017. “Translation Competence Development and Process-Oriented Pedagogy.” In The Handbook of Translation and Cognition, edited by John W. Schwieter and Aline Ferreira, 496–518. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Mossop, Brian. 1992. “Goals of a Revision Course.” In Teaching Translation and Interpreting: Training, Talent and Experience. Papers from the First Language International Conference Elsinore, Denmark, 31 May–2 June 1991, edited by Cay Dollerup and Anne Loddegaard, 81–90. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Mossop, Brian (with Jungmin Hong and Carlos Teixeira). 2020. Revising and Editing for Translators, 4th ed. London: Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Nitzke, Jean, Silvia Hansen-Schirra, and Carmen Canfora. 2019. “Risk Management and Post-Editing Competence.” JoSTrans: The Journal of Specialised Translation 311: 239–259.Google Scholar
Nitzke, Jean, and Silvia Hansen-Schirra. 2021. A Short Guide to Post-Editing (Translation and Multilingual Natural Language Processing 16). N.p.: Language Science Press.Google Scholar
Nunes Vieira, Lucas, Elisa Alonso, and Lindsay Bywood. 2019. “Introduction: Post-Editing in Practice: Process, Product and Networks.” JoSTrans: The Journal of Specialised Translation 311: 2–13.Google Scholar
O’Brien, Sharon. 2002. “Teaching Post-Editing: A Proposal for Course Content.” In Proceedings of the Sixth EAMT Workshop: Teaching Machine Translation, 99–106. [URL]
. 2010. “ Introduction to Post-Editing: Who, What, How and Where to Next? ” AMTA 2010: The Ninth Conference of the Association for Machine Translation in the Americas, Denver, CO, 31 October–4 November 2010. [URL]
PACTE. 2003. “Building a Translation Competence Model.” In Triangulating Translation: Perspectives in Process Oriented Research, edited by Fabio Alves, 43–66. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. 2005. “Investigating Translation Competence: Conceptual and Methodological Issues.” Meta 50 (2): 609–619. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. 2019. “Evolution of the Efficacy of the Translation Process in Translation Competence Acquisition.” Meta 64 (1): 242–265. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. 2020. “Translation Competence Acquisition: Design and Results of the PACTE Group’s Experimental Research.” The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 14 (2): 95–233. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Pym, Anthony. 2003. “Redefining Translation Competence in an Electronic Age: In Defence of a Minimalist Approach.” Meta 48 (4): 481–497. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. 2013. “Translation Skill-Sets in a Machine-Translation Age.” Meta 58 (3): 487–503. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Rico, Celia, and Enrique Torrejón. 2012. “Skills and Profile of the New Role of the Translator as MT Post-Editor.” Revista Tradumàtica: Tecnologies de la Traducció [Translation review: Translation technologies] 101: 166–178. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Rigouts Terryn, Ayla., Isabelle S. Robert, Jim J. J. Ureel, Aline Remael, and Sabien Hanoulle. 2017. “Conceptualizing Translation Revision Competence: A Pilot Study on the Acquisition of the ‘Knowledge about Revision’ and ‘Strategic’ Subcompetences.” Across Languages and Cultures 18 (1): 1–27. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Robert, Isabelle S. 2012. “La Révision en Traduction: Les Procédures de Révision et Leur Impact sur le Produit et le Processus de Révision” [Editing in translation: Editing procedures and their impact on the product and editing process]. Ph.D. diss., University of Antwerp.
2018. “La Recherche en Révision: Portrait Bibliométrique, Questions de Recherche et Méthodologies” [Revision research: Bibliometric portrait, research questions and methodologies]. Parallèles [Parallels] 30 (2): 129–152.Google Scholar
Robert, Isabelle S., Iris Schrijver, Jim J. J. Ureel. 2021. “Measuring Translation Revision Competence (TRC) and Post-Editing Competence (PEC) in Translation Trainees: Methodological Issues.” Paper presented at the 2nd Session of the Łódź-ZHAW Duo Colloquium on Translation and Meaning, Winterthur, Switzerland (Online), 2–3 September 2021.
Robert, Isabelle S., Iris Schrijver, and Jim J. J. Ureel. 2022. “Measuring Translation Revision Competence and Post-Editing Competence in Translation Trainees: Methodological Issues.” Perspectives: Studies in Translation Theory and Practice. Advance publication. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Robert, Isabelle, and Louise Brunette. 2016. “Should Revision Trainees Think Aloud While Revising Somebody Else’s Translation? Insights from an Empirical Study with Professionals.’ Meta 61 (2): 320–345. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Robert, Isabelle S., and Luuk Van Waes. 2014. “Selecting a Translation Revision Procedure: Do Common Sense and Statistics Agree?” Perspectives: Studies in Translatology 22 (3): 304–320. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Robert, Isabelle S., Aline Remael, and Jim J. J. Ureel. 2017a. “Towards a Model of Translation Revision Competence.” The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 11 (1): 1–19. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Robert, Isabelle S., Ayla Rigouts Terryn, Jim J. J. Ureel, and Aline Remael. 2017b. “Conceptualizing Translation Revision Competence: A Pilot Study on the ‘Tools and Research’ Subcompetence.” JoSTrans: The Journal of Specialised Translation 281: 293–316.Google Scholar
Robert, Isabelle S., Jim J. J. Ureel, Aline Remael, and Ayla Rigouts Terryn. 2018. “Conceptualizing Translation Revision Competence: A Pilot Study on the ‘Fairness and Tolerance’ Attitudinal Component.” Perspectives: Studies in Translatology 26 (1): 2–23. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Robin, Edina. 2016. “The Translator as Reviser.” In The Modern Translator and Interpreter, edited by Ildikó Horváth, 45–56. Budapest: Eötvös University Press.Google Scholar
Sánchez-Gijón, Pilar. 2016. “La Posedición: Hacia una Definición Competencial del Perfil y una Descripción Multidimensional del Fenómeno” [Post-editing: Towards a competence profile definition and a multidimensional description of the phenomenon]. Sendebar 271: 151–162.Google Scholar
Scocchera, Giovanna. 2017. La Revisione nella Traduzione Editoriale dall’Inglese all’Italiano tra Ricerca Accademica, Professione e Formazione: Stato dell’Arte e Prospettive Future [Proofreading in editorial translation from English into Italian between academic research, profession and training: State of the art and future perspectives]. Aprilia: Aracne editrice.Google Scholar
Shreve, Gregory M., Erik Angelone, and Isabel Lacruz. 2018. “Are Expertise and Translation Competence the Same?: Psychological Reality and the Theoretical Status of Competence.” In Innovation and Expansion in Translation Process Research, edited by Riitta Jääskeläinen and Isabel Lacruz, 37–54. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Tiselius, Elisabet, and Adelina Hild. 2017. “Expertise and Competence in Translation and Interpreting.” In The Handbook of Translation and Cognition, edited by John W. Schwieter and Aline Ferreira, 423–444. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Łoboda, Krzysztof & Olga Mastela
2023. Machine translation and culture-bound texts in translator education: a pilot study. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 17:3 ► pp. 503 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 4 september 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.