A test (or exam) can be used to measure a test taker's knowledge, skill or aptitude on translation (T) or interpreting (I). Assessment (e.g. of a person, course, or educational institution) is the process of documenting knowledge, skills, aptitude, and beliefs in a measurable way. Evaluation refers to the systematic determination of merit, worth and significance of someone or something against a set of standards. In Translation and Interpreting Studies, frequently the term “evaluation” has been used as a misnomer for testing.

References

Angelelli, Claudia

2008 “Longitudinal studies and the development of assessment for advanced competencies.” In The Longitudinal Study of L2 Advanced Capacities [Second language Acquisition Research Series], Lourdes Ortega & Heidi Byrnes (eds), 264–278. New York: Routledge.

Angelelli, Claudia

2007 “Accommodating the need for medical interpreters: The California endowment interpreter testing project” The Translator 13 (1): 63–82.

Angelelli, Claudia

2004 Revisiting the Interpreter's Role: A Study of Conference, Court and Medical Interpreters in Canada, Mexico, and in the United States. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Bachman, Lyle

1990 Fundamental Considerations in Language Testing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.  BoP

Bachman, Lyle & Palmer, Andrew

1996 Language Testing in Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bensoussan, Marsha & Rosenhouse, Judith

1990 “Evaluating student translations by discourse analysis.” Babel 36 (2): 65–84.  TSB

Clifford, Andrew

2005 “Putting the exam to the test: Psychometric validation and interpreter certification.” Interpreting 7 (1): 97–131.  TSB

Dávila Garibi, Graciela & Lopez Islas, Javier

1990 “Oral cloze: A backup exercise for interpreting.” Meta 35 (3): 647–651.

Fulcher, Gregory

2003 Testing Second Language Speakers. London: Pierson Longman Press.

Gerver, David, Longley, Patricia, Long, John & Lambert, Sylvie

1989 “Selection tests for trainee conference interpreters.” Meta 34 (4): 724–735.  TSB

Hatim, Basil & Mason, Ian

1997 The Translator as Communicator. London/New York: Routledge.  BoP

Lambert, Sylvie

1991 “Aptitude testing for simultaneous interpretation at the University of Ottawa.” Meta 36 (4): 586–594  TSB.

López Gómez, María José, Bajo Molina, Teresa, Padilla Benítez, Presentación & Santiago de Torres, Julio

2007 “Predicting proficiency in signed language interpreting: A preliminary study.” Interpreting 9 (1): 71–93.  TSB

Macnamara, Brooke N., Moore, Adam B., Kegl, Judy A. & Conway, Andrew R.A

2011 “Domain-general cognitive abilities and simultaneous interpreting skill.” Interpreting 13 (1): 121–142.  TSB

Messick, Samuel

1989  “Validity.”In Educational Measurement, R. Linn (ed.), 13–103. New York: Macmillan.

Muñiz, José, Hambleton, Ronald K. & Xing, Dehui

2001 “Small sample studies to detect flaws in item translations.” International Journal of Testing 1 (2): 115–135.

Orlando, Marc

2011 “Evaluation of translations in the training of professional translators: At the crossroads between theoretical, professional and pedagogical practices.” The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 5 (2), 293–308.  TSB

Rosiers, Alexandra, Eyckmans, June & Bauwens, Daniel

2011 “A story of attitudes and aptitudes?: Investigating individual difference variables within the context of interpreting.” Interpreting 13 (1): 53–69.  TSB

Russo, Mariachiara

2011 “Aptitude testing over the years.” Interpreting 13 (1): 5–30.  TSB

Sadlier, Laura

2009 “Pandora's Box: Lifting the lid on issues of testing a case study of sign language interpreters in training in Ireland.” The Sign Language Translator and Interpreter 3 (2): 177–201.

Stansfield, Charles W., Scott, Mary Lee & Kenyon, Dorry Mann

1992 “The measurement of translation ability.” The Modern Language Journal 76 (iv): 455–467.

Stansfield, Charles W. & Hewitt, William E

2005 “Examining the predictive validity of a screening test for court interpreters.” Language Testing 22 (4): 438–462.

Timarová, Šárka & Salaets, Heidi

2011 “Learning styles, motivation and cognitive flexibility in interpreter training: Self-selection and aptitude.” Interpreting 13 (1): 31–52.  TSB

Viezzi, Maurizio

2007 Interpretation quality assessment: From theory to practice. In Translationskritik: Modelle und Methoden, J. House & N. Baumgarten (eds), 171–186. Bochum: AKS-Verlag.

Waddington, Christopher

2001 “Different Methods of evaluating student translations: The question of validity.” Meta 46 (2): 311–325.  TSB

Yoon Choi, Jung

2006 “Metacognitive evaluation method in consecutive interpretation for novice learners.” Meta 51 (2): 273–283.

Further reading

Angelelli, Claudia. V. & Jacobson, Holly. E

(eds) 2009 Testing and Assessment in Translation and Interpreting Studies [ATA Scholarly Monograph Series]. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.  BoP

Chiaro, Delia, & Nocella, Giuseppe

2004 “Interpreters’ perception of linguistic and non-linguistic factors affecting quality: A survey through the World Wide Web.” Meta 49(2): 278–293.  TSB

Gile, Daniel

2001 “L’evaluation de la Qualité de L’interprétation en Cours de Formation.” Meta 46 (2): 379–393  TSB.

Hague, Daryl, Melby, Alan & Zheng, Wang

2011 “Surveying translation quality assessment: A specification approach.” The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 5 (2): 243–267.  TSB

Haug, Tobias

2005 “Review of sign language assessment instruments.” Sign Language & Linguistics 8 (1/2): 59–96  TSB.

Shlesinger, Miriam & Pöchhacker, Franz

(eds) 2011  Aptitude for Interpreting . Special issue of Interpreting 13 (1). .  TSB