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Article published In:
Translation, Cognition & Behavior
Vol. 2:1 (2019) ► pp.35–54

Using experimental approaches to study translation

The what and how

ORCID logo | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

In the last few years, the study of the cognitive processes that underlie the translating act is well under way in the field of translation studies (TS). Yet considering the potential of this research area, translation behaviour and how it is affected and modulated by linguistic and psycholinguistic factors is still underinvestigated. The main culprit of this holdback appears to be fuzziness over what experimental methods are expected to deliver and how sometimes they are actually used. The present discussion article outlines these aspects, draws attention to methodological issues commonly encountered when an experimental approach is adopted, and suggests ways to overcome the challenges posed by this promising line of research.

Keywords: experimental approach, cognitive processes, translator behaviour
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction: How experimental approaches are sometimes viewed and employed in TS
  • 2.The what of experimental approaches: Investigating cognitive and linguistic aspects
  • 3.The how. Experimental design: Where all begins and ends (and can go wrong)
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 7 March 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tcb.00018.hat
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