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Chapter 3. Overcoming methodological challenges of eye tracking in the translation workplace

  • Carlos S. C. Teixeira and Sharon O’Brien
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Eye Tracking and Multidisciplinary Studies on Translation
This chapter is in the book Eye Tracking and Multidisciplinary Studies on Translation

Abstract

This chapter discusses the use of eye tracking in combination with other methods for collecting and analysing translation process data in the workplace. Building on O’Brien (2009) and Teixeira (2014), we account for recent advances in eye-tracking technology and cover expanded use cases in which we have tested our previous recommendations. The methodological discussion is illustrated with a case study whose aim was two-fold: to map the use of tools by translators in a translation company and to investigate the gaze behaviour of those translators on the graphical user interface of a specific translation tool from a cognitive ergonomics perspective. The chapter covers from general topics such as the aspects to be considered when selecting an eye tracker, finding suitable participants and configuring the eye-tracking software, to more specific topics such as how to synchronise logs across tools, how to segment the recordings and whether it is better to use data from one eye or from both eyes. Based on a concrete experiment and on the authors’ previous experiences with similar research scenarios, the chapter discusses what one can or cannot do with eye tracking in Translation Process Research in general, and the challenges related to the use of a mobile eye tracker in the workplace in particular. We present our approach for using eye tracking in such a scenario and suggest possibilities for analysing the data in a meaningful way.

Abstract

This chapter discusses the use of eye tracking in combination with other methods for collecting and analysing translation process data in the workplace. Building on O’Brien (2009) and Teixeira (2014), we account for recent advances in eye-tracking technology and cover expanded use cases in which we have tested our previous recommendations. The methodological discussion is illustrated with a case study whose aim was two-fold: to map the use of tools by translators in a translation company and to investigate the gaze behaviour of those translators on the graphical user interface of a specific translation tool from a cognitive ergonomics perspective. The chapter covers from general topics such as the aspects to be considered when selecting an eye tracker, finding suitable participants and configuring the eye-tracking software, to more specific topics such as how to synchronise logs across tools, how to segment the recordings and whether it is better to use data from one eye or from both eyes. Based on a concrete experiment and on the authors’ previous experiences with similar research scenarios, the chapter discusses what one can or cannot do with eye tracking in Translation Process Research in general, and the challenges related to the use of a mobile eye tracker in the workplace in particular. We present our approach for using eye tracking in such a scenario and suggest possibilities for analysing the data in a meaningful way.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  4. Chapter 2. A mapping exercise 11
  5. Part I. Method
  6. Chapter 3. Overcoming methodological challenges of eye tracking in the translation workplace 33
  7. Chapter 4. Eye tracking as a measure of cognitive effort for post-editing of machine translation 55
  8. Chapter 5. Analysing variable relationships and time-course data in eye-tracking studies of translation processes and products 71
  9. Part II. Process
  10. Chapter 6. Recognition and characterization of translator attributes using sequences of fixations and keystrokes 97
  11. Chapter 7. Problem solving in the translation of linguistic metaphors from Chinese into Portuguese 121
  12. Chapter 8. Working styles of student translators in self-revision, other-revision and post-editing 145
  13. Chapter 9. Visual attention distribution in intralingual respeaking 185
  14. Part III. Product
  15. Chapter 10. Subtitling of British stand-up comedy into Italian 205
  16. Chapter 11. Towards a quantitative measurement of equivalent effect and a tentative conceptualisation of cognitive equivalence 225
  17. Chapter 12. The impact of AVT mode on audience reception 259
  18. List of abbreviations 287
  19. Contributors 289
  20. Subject index 293
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.143.03tei

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  4. Chapter 2. A mapping exercise 11
  5. Part I. Method
  6. Chapter 3. Overcoming methodological challenges of eye tracking in the translation workplace 33
  7. Chapter 4. Eye tracking as a measure of cognitive effort for post-editing of machine translation 55
  8. Chapter 5. Analysing variable relationships and time-course data in eye-tracking studies of translation processes and products 71
  9. Part II. Process
  10. Chapter 6. Recognition and characterization of translator attributes using sequences of fixations and keystrokes 97
  11. Chapter 7. Problem solving in the translation of linguistic metaphors from Chinese into Portuguese 121
  12. Chapter 8. Working styles of student translators in self-revision, other-revision and post-editing 145
  13. Chapter 9. Visual attention distribution in intralingual respeaking 185
  14. Part III. Product
  15. Chapter 10. Subtitling of British stand-up comedy into Italian 205
  16. Chapter 11. Towards a quantitative measurement of equivalent effect and a tentative conceptualisation of cognitive equivalence 225
  17. Chapter 12. The impact of AVT mode on audience reception 259
  18. List of abbreviations 287
  19. Contributors 289
  20. Subject index 293
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