Translatology adopts psychological and cognitive approaches to study the complex
processes underlying translational phenomena. As such, it deals with both
translations and the translators who produce them. The present study uses
think-aloud protocols and keystroke logging to explore the impact of affective
factors such as self-efficacy beliefs on the selection and application of
translation problem-solving strategies by a group of trainee translators
completing a translation task. Four translation trainees completed a Translation
Self-efficacy Questionnaire. Participants with both high and low self-efficacy
rankings were asked to translate a text using the Translog keylogger while
simultaneously verbalizing their mental processes. Analysis of the verbal
protocols indicated considerable differences within the group regarding the
cognitive and metacognitive strategies that they chose to employ. The results
suggested that low self-efficacy leads subjects to spend too much time
translating, due to repeated attempts at production and extensive revision.
Implications of the findings for translator training are discussed.
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