Developing psychological skill for the global language industry
An exploration of approaches to translator and interpreter training
This article presents a teaching methodology aimed at helping trainee translators and interpreters to increase their psychological skill. Psychological skill is here defined as the effects of self-efficacy, explanatory style, and locus of control, all of which shape their decision-making and courses of action. By increasing their level of psychological skill, I aim to help translators and interpreters better cope with the challenges of an increasingly automated and highly globalized profession.In particular, this article explores three general approaches for teaching and improving psychological skill, namely theoretical discussion, modelling, and role play. I will also describe examples for practical activities that might be carried out in translator/interpreter training.The overall aim of the article is to provide a research-based foundation for teachers and trainers so that they can implement teaching methodologies and strategies to help their translation/interpreting students to graduate with better psychological skill. A particular focus will be on psychological challenges arising from the globalized nature of our profession and the changes brought about by technological developments.
Keywords: interpreters, translators, teaching, psychological skill, confidence, training
Published online: 28 November 2014
https://doi.org/10.1075/ts.3.01atk
https://doi.org/10.1075/ts.3.01atk
References
Adams, Gary L., Robert J. Tallon, and Patrick Rimell
Allen, Tammy D., Lillian T. Eby, Mark L. Poteet, Elizabeth Lentz, and Lizette Lima
Aremu, Amos O., Francis Pakes, and Les Johnston
Atkinson, David P
2007 Some Psychological Competences That Predict Freelance Translator Success and Wellbeing in the Demanding Globalised Business Context. Masters Thesis, University of Auckland.
2012 Freelance Translator Success and Psychological Skill: A Study of Translator Competence with Perspectives from Work Psychology. Doctoral dissertation, University of Auckland.
Atkinson, David P., and Ineke Crezee
Austermühl, Frank
AUT
2014 “Certificate in Translation Studies.” AUT University. Accessed June 1, 2012. http://www.aut.ac.nz/study-at-aut/study-areas/language-culture/qualifications/short-courses/certificate-in-translation-studies-online.
Bandura, Albert
Bellini, Scott, and Jennifer Akullian
Bernardini, Silvia
Bontempo, Karen
2009 “Interpreting by Design: A Study of Aptitude, Ability and Achievement in Australian Sign Language Interpreters.” Doctoral dissertation, MacQuarie University.
Centre for Next Generation Localisation
Dowrick, Peter W
Dynamic Language
2010 “Google Puts Pressure on Interpreting Industry?” Dynamic Language Blog. Accessed June 1, 2012. http://blog.dynamiclanguage.com/2010/10/21/google-puts-pressure-on-interpreting-industry/.
Eby, Lillian T., Tammy D. Allen, Sarah C. Evans, Thomas W.H. Ng, and David L. DuBois
Enríquez Raído, Vanessa
Fraser, Janet
Fryling, Mitch J., Cristin Johnston, and Linda J. Hayes
García, Ignacio
González Davies, Maria
Gwandure, Calvin
2010 The Development, Implementation and Evaluation of a Locus of Control-Based Training Programme for HIV and AIDS Risk Reduction Among University Students. Doctoral dissertaion, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Handfield, Robert
2011 “What Is Supply Chain Management?” NC State University, Supply Chain Resource Cooperative.
Henderson, Ken, Shane Spiller, Michelle Kunz, and Janet Ratliff
Hsu, Amy, and Fran Malkin
Huang, Jason L., and J. Kevin Ford
Hyde, Julia, Matthew Hankins, Alicia Deale, and Theresa M. Marteau
Jääskeläinen, Riitta
Jackson, Shanna E., Nathan C. Hall, Patricia M. Rowe, and Lia M. Daniels
Johansson, Jakob, Kelley M. Skeff, and Georgette A. Stratos
Kiraly, Donald
Lachman, Margie E., Shevaun D. Neupert, and Stefan Agrigoroaei
Laird, Rebecca S., and Gerald I. Metalsky
Leech, Wendy
2005 The Translator’s Visibility: An Investigation into Public Perceptions of the Translator and How to Raise the Translator’s Status in Society. Master’s thesis, University of London.
Lindberg, Jonas
2007 “Merry Christmas, God Jul and 圣诞快乐.” About Google Talk. Accessed June 1, 2012. http://googletalk.blogspot.com.br/2007/12/merry-christmas-god-jul-and.html.
Locke, Edwin A., and Gary P. Latham
Main, Kelley, Mei-Ling Wei, and Eileen Fischer
Mitchell, Terence R., Heidi Hopper, Denise Daniels, Jane George-Falvy, and Lawrence R. James
O’Hagan, Minako
2005 “Multidimensional Translation: A Game Plan for Audiovisual Translation in the Age of GILT.” In.
O’Hagan, M., and David Ashworth
Pall, Gurdeep
2014 “Microsoft Demos Breakthrough in Real-Time Translated Conversations.” The Official Microsoft Blog. Accessed June 1, 2012. http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2014/05/27/microsoft-demos-breakthrough-in-real-time-translated-conversations.aspx.
Proudfoot, Judith G., Philip J. Corr, David E. Guest, and Graham Dunn
2006 “Localization, Training, and the Threat of Fragmentation.” Accessed June 1, 2012. http://usuaris.tinet.cat/apym/on-line/translation/Localization_monterey.doc.
Rascle, Oliver, David Le Foll, and N.C. Higgins
Rotter, Julian B
Sandrini, Peter
Schunk, Dale H., and Frank Pajares
Shea, Christine M., and Jane M. Howell
Sofronoff, Kate, and Michelle Farbotko
Spector, Paul E
statmt.org
Van Deurzen-Smith, Emmy
Venuti, Lawrence
Waddington, Christopher
2003 “A Positive Approach to the Assessment of Translation Errors.” In I AIETI. Actas deI Congreso Internacional de La Asociación Ibérica de Estudios de Traducción E Interpretación, edited by Ricardo Muñoz Martín, 409–426. Granada, Spain: AIETI. http://www.aieti.eu/pubs/actas/I/AIETI_1_CW_Approach.pdf.
Weiner, Bernard
Wolinsky, Frederic D., Mark W. Vander Weg, René Martin, Frederick W. Unverzagt, Sherry L. Willis, Michael Marsiske, George W. Rebok, John N.Morris, Karlene K. Ball, and Sharon L. Tennstedt
Cited by
Cited by 6 other publications
del Mar Haro-Soler, María
Enríquez Raído, Vanessa
Haro Soler, María del Mar
Hubscher-Davidson, Séverine
Singer, Néstor, Vania López & Rosa Basaure
Yang, Yanxia, Xinyu Cao & Xing Huo
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 11 november 2021. 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.