On cognitive processes during wordplay translation
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Ulf Norberg
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to identify and describe cognitive processes occurring during the translation of a complex wordplay. Humorous texts have received little attention in empirical translation process research. This exploratory study seeks to develop a research methodology that is suited for the empirical study of wordplay. The experiment comprised the translation of a short adversarial wordplay by three groups of translation students. Their discussions were recorded and analyzed. The results indicate that students possess a high level of awareness of the importance of linguistic structures in creating the desired humorous effect, even though they cannot always translate this theoretical knowledge into practice. Another finding was that collaboration helps students overcome mental blockages and supports creative solutions.
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to identify and describe cognitive processes occurring during the translation of a complex wordplay. Humorous texts have received little attention in empirical translation process research. This exploratory study seeks to develop a research methodology that is suited for the empirical study of wordplay. The experiment comprised the translation of a short adversarial wordplay by three groups of translation students. Their discussions were recorded and analyzed. The results indicate that students possess a high level of awareness of the importance of linguistic structures in creating the desired humorous effect, even though they cannot always translate this theoretical knowledge into practice. Another finding was that collaboration helps students overcome mental blockages and supports creative solutions.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword xi
- Methods and strategies of process research 1
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Part I. Conceptual and methodological discussions
- Interpreting in theory and practice 13
- Reflections on the literal translation hypothesis 23
- Tracking translators’ keystrokes and eye movements with Translog 37
- Seeing translation from inside the translator’s mind 57
- Metonymic language use as a student translation problem 67
- Sight translation and speech disfluency 93
- Time lag in translation and interpreting 121
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Part II. Process research in interpreting and translation
- A new pair of glasses 149
- Are primary conceptual metaphors easier to understand than complex conceptual metaphors? 169
- Innovative subtitling 187
- Errors, omissions and infelicities in broadcast interpreting 201
- On cognitive processes during wordplay translation 219
- “Can you ask her about chronic illnesses, diabetes and all that?” 231
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Part III. Studies of interpreting and translation expertise
- Effects of linguistic complexity on expert processing during simultaneous interpreting 249
- Process and product in simultaneous interpreting 269
- Developing professional thinking and acting within the field of interpreting 301
- Results of the validation of the PACTE translation competence model 317
- “This led me to start thinking about how this happened, and what the process behind it would be” 345
- Publications by Birgitta Englund Dimitrova 361
- Notes on contributors 367
- Index 373
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword xi
- Methods and strategies of process research 1
-
Part I. Conceptual and methodological discussions
- Interpreting in theory and practice 13
- Reflections on the literal translation hypothesis 23
- Tracking translators’ keystrokes and eye movements with Translog 37
- Seeing translation from inside the translator’s mind 57
- Metonymic language use as a student translation problem 67
- Sight translation and speech disfluency 93
- Time lag in translation and interpreting 121
-
Part II. Process research in interpreting and translation
- A new pair of glasses 149
- Are primary conceptual metaphors easier to understand than complex conceptual metaphors? 169
- Innovative subtitling 187
- Errors, omissions and infelicities in broadcast interpreting 201
- On cognitive processes during wordplay translation 219
- “Can you ask her about chronic illnesses, diabetes and all that?” 231
-
Part III. Studies of interpreting and translation expertise
- Effects of linguistic complexity on expert processing during simultaneous interpreting 249
- Process and product in simultaneous interpreting 269
- Developing professional thinking and acting within the field of interpreting 301
- Results of the validation of the PACTE translation competence model 317
- “This led me to start thinking about how this happened, and what the process behind it would be” 345
- Publications by Birgitta Englund Dimitrova 361
- Notes on contributors 367
- Index 373
