Translation Competence
Models/Definitions of Translation Competence
1. PACTE Translation Competence Model (2003)
The bilingual sub-competence consists of the underlying systems of knowledge and skills that are needed for linguistic communication to take place in two languages. It is made up of comprehension and production competencies, and includes the following knowledge and skills: grammatical competence; textual competence (which consists in being proficient in combining linguistic forms to produce a written or oral text in different genres or text types);illocutionary competence (related to the functions of language); and sociolinguistic competence (concerned with appropriate production and comprehension in a range of sociolinguistic contexts that depend on factors such as the status of the participants, the purpose of the interaction, the norms or conventions at play in the interaction, and so forth)
The extra-linguistic sub-competence is made up of encyclopaedic, thematic and bicultural knowledge.
The translation knowledge sub-competence is knowledge of the principles guiding translation, such as processes, methods, procedures, and so forth.
The instrumental sub-competence comprises the knowledge required to work as a professional translator, such as the use of sources of documentation and information technologies applied to translation.
The strategic sub-competence integrates all the others and is the most important, since it allows problems to be solved and ensures the efficiency of the process. It consists in the capacity to follow the transfer process from the source text to the production of the final target text, according to the purpose of the translation and the characteristics of the target audience (Hurtado, 2001: 395-397; PACTE, 2005: 611).
References
Hurtado Albir, A. (2001): Traducción y Traductología, Madrid, Cátedra.
PACTE (2000). Acquiring translation competence: Hypotheses and methodological problems of a research project. In A. Beeby, D. Ensinger, & M. Presas (Eds.), Investigating translation (pp. 99-106). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
PACTE (2003). Building a Translation Competence Model. In F. Alves (Ed.): Triangulating translation: Perspectives in process oriented research (pp. 43-66). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
PACTE (2005). Investigating Translation Competence: Conceptual and Methodological Issues. Meta, 50(2), 609-618.
2. EMT Translation Competence Model: (Click on the link for an explanation of each sub-competence)
3. Göpferich’s Translation Competence Model
See Göpferich (2009, pp. 21-23) for a description of each sub-competence in this model
References
Göpferich, S. (2009). Towards a model of translation competence and its acquisition: the longitudinal study ‘TransComp’. In S. Göpferich, A. L. Jakobsen, & I. M. Mees (Eds), Behind the mind: Methods, models and results in translation process research (pp. 11-37). (Copenhagen Studies in Language 37) Copenhagen: Samfundslitteratur.
Göpferich, S (2007). Research project TransComp: The development of
translation competence.
http://gams.uni-graz.at/fedora/get/container:tc/bdef:Container/get
(19.04.2009) .
4. Kelly (2002) defines translation competence as:
“Translation competence is the macrocompetence that comprises the different capacities, skills, knowledge and even attitudes that professional translators possess and which are involved in translation as an expert activity. It can be broken down into the following sub-competencies, which are all necessary for the success of the macrocompetence” (Kelly, 2002, pp. 14-15):
(1) Communicative and textual, (2) cultural, (3) thematic, (4) professional, (5) instrumental, (6) psycho-physiological, (7) interpersonal and strategic
Useful References
Kelly, D. (2002): “Un modelo de competencia traductora: bases para el diseño curricular”, Puentes,
Kelly, D. (2005). A handbook for translator trainers, translation practices explained series. Manchester: St. Jerome Publishers.
5. Pym (2003, p. 489) defines translation competence as:
The ability to generate a series of more than one viable target (TT1, TT2 …TTn) for a pertinent source text (ST);
The ability to select only one viable from this series, quickly and with justified confidence.
Reference
Pym, A. (2003). Redefining translation competence in an electronic age. In defense of a minimalist approach. Meta, 48(4), 481-497.
6. Kastberg (2007, p. 104) defines translation competence as:
General language competence L1 + L2
LSP competence L1 + L2
Knowledge of the relevant domain
LSP translation competence L1 <–> L2
Cultural competence L1 + L2
Reference
7. Schäffner (2000, p. 146) defines translation competence as:
“a complex notion which involves an awareness of and conscious reflection on all the relevant factors for the production of a target text (TT) that appropriately fulfils its specified function for its target addressees”
Schäffner’s (2000, p. 146) model comprises:
Linguistic competence – in the languages concerned
Cultural competence – general knowledge about historical, political, economic, cultural, etc. aspects in the respective countries
Textual competence – knowledge of regularities and conventions of texts, genres, text types
Domain/subject specific competence – knowledge of the relevant subject, the area of expertise
(re)search competence – general strategy competence whose aim is the ability to resolve problems specific to the cross-cultural transfer of texts
Transfer competence – ability to produce TTs that satisfy the demands of the translation task .
Reference
Schäffner, C. (2000). Running before walking? Designing a translation programme at undergraduate level. In B. J. Adab & C. Schaffner (Eds.), Developing translation competence (pp. 143-156). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
8. Fox’s (2000, p. 117) translation competence model comprises:
communicative competence – awareness towards the purpose of translation task and the situation resulting in the ability to produce an adequate TT
socio-cultural competence – awareness of the socio-cultural context in which the ST emerged and an ability to comprehend texts in TL and SL culture.
Language and cultural awareness – being aware of how language/s work and conveys meaning and an ability to produce TTs that meet the linguistic and cultural expectations of target audience
Learning-how to learn – an awareness of different resources and how to use them and how to record ones observations.
Problem-solving goals – awareness of situational, linguistic, cultural or textual problems and being able to solve them
Reference
Fox, O. (2000). The use of translation diaries in a process-oriented translation teaching methodology. In B. J. Adab & C. Schaffner (Eds.), Developing translation competence (pp. 115-130). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
9. Beeby’s (2000, pp. 186-187) translation competence model comprises:
Transfer competence – awareness of the translation process (advanced reading skills in SL, deverbalization skills, reformulation skills in TL), awareness of multiple contexts involved in translation, awareness of the interdependence between micro and macro structures in text and translation.
Contrastive linguistic competence – knowledge of typographical differences between SL and TL, knowledge of lexical differences between SL and TL and awareness of the limitations of dictionaries, knowledge of syntactic differences between SL and TL.
Contrastive discourse competence – knowledge of text type and genre differences between SL and TL, awareness of the relationship between context and register (field, mode and tenor), knowledge of differences in textual coherence and cohesion between SL and TL.
Extra-linguistic competence – knowledge of pragmatic and semiotic differences between the SL culture and the TL culture, documentation skills.
Reference
Beeby, A. (2000). Evaluating the development of translation competence. In B. J. Adab & C. Schaffner (Eds.), Developing translation competence (pp. 185-198). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
10. Sim’s (2000, p. 173) translation competence model comprises:
Source language competence
Receptor language competence
Source culture control
Receptor culture control
Translation
A.L.M implementation skills – planning, administration, leadership, management
Reference
Sim, R. J. (2000). A training strategy for translation studies. In B. J. Adab & C. Schaffner (Eds.), Developing translation competence (pp. 171-182). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
11. Campbell’s (1991, p. 339) posits that translation competence comprises:
Disposition – attitudes and psychological qualities that the translator brings to the task.
Disposition moves along two axes: risk-taking vs prudent and persistent vs capitulating
Proficiency: has to do with certain special bilingual skills, and has a developmental dimension. Proficiency consists of three aspects: lexical coding of meaning, global target language competence and lexical transfer.
Reference
Campbell, S. J. (1991). Towards a model of translation competence. Meta: Translators’ Journal, 36(2-3).
Articles about Translation Competence
Alves, F., Gonçalves, J. L. V. R., & Rothe-Neves, R. (2003). In search of a definition of translation competence: The structure and development of an ongoing research project. Quaderns. Revista de traducció 6.
Biel, L. (2011). Professional realism in the legal translation classroom: Translation competence and translator competence. Meta, 56(1), 162-178.
Burukina, O. (2013). The legal translator’s competence. Contemporary Readings In Law & Social Justice, 5(2), 809-826.
Cameneva, Z., & Stoianova, I. (2014). Multilingual competence as a necessity in the process of translation. Intertext, 8(29/30), 106.
Campbell, S. J. (1991). Towards a model of translation competence. Meta: Translators’ Journal, 36(2-3).
Ehrensberger-Dow, M., & Massey, G. (2013). Indicators of translation competence: Translators’ self-concepts and the translation of titles. Journal Of Writing Research,5(1), 103.
Elorza, I. (2008). Promoting intercultural competence in the FL/SL classroom: Translations as sources of data. Language And Intercultural Communication,8(4), 261-277.
EMT expert group (2009). Competences for Professional Translators, Experts in Multilingual and Multimedia Communication. European Commission. N.p., 17.
Erakovic, B. (2010). Successful communication in a beginner’s translation class, or how to help students develop interpersonal sub-competence. Scientific Bulletin Of The Politehnica University Of Timisoara. Transactions On Modern Languages / Buletinul Stiintific Al Universitatii Politehnica Din Timisoara. Seria Limbi Moderne, 9(1/2), 40-51.
Eser, O. (2014). Setting learning objectives in translation at the department of foreign language teaching through the concept of competence. Electronic Turkish Studies, 9(5), 943-951.
Fox, O. (2000). The use of translation diaries in a process-oriented translation teaching methodology. In B. J. Adab & C. Schaffner (Eds.), Developing translation competence (pp. 115-130). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Francis, W., Tokowicz, N., & Kroll, J. (2014). The consequences of language proficiency and difficulty of lexical access for translation performance and priming. Memory & Cognition, 42(1), 27-40. doi:10.3758/s13421-013-0338-1
Göpferich, S. (2013). Translation competence: Explaining development and stagnation from a dynamic systems perspective. Target, 25(1), 61-76. doi:10.1075/target.25.1.06goe
Göpferich, S., Bayer-Hohenwarter, G., Prassl, F., & Stadlober, J. (2011). Exploring translation competence acquisition: Criteria of analysis put to the test. In S. O’Brien (Ed.), Cognitive explorations of translation (57-85). London: Continuum.
Göpferich, S. (2009). Towards a model of translation competence and its acquisition: the longitudinal study ‘TransComp’. In S. Göpferich, A. L. Jakobsen, & I. M. Mees (Eds), Behind the mind: Methods, models and results in translation process research (pp. 11-37). (Copenhagen Studies in Language 37) Copenhagen: Samfundslitteratur.
Göpferich, S (2007). Research project TransComp: The development of
translation competence.
http://gams.uni-graz.at/fedora/get/container:tc/bdef:Container/get
(19.04.2009) .Gregorio Cano, A. (2012). La competencia cultural e intercultural en traducción: Estado de la cuestión/Cultural and intercultural competence in translation: State of the art. Ikala: Revista De Lenguaje Y Cultura, 17(2), 129-144.
Jmila, M. (2014). Importance of linguistics in the development of translation competence. Arab World English Journal, 88
Kaminskienė, L., & Kavaliauskienė, G. (2012). Competences in translation and interpreting. Kalbų Studijos/Studies about Languages, 20138-145.
Karoly, A. (2012). Translation competence and translation performance: Lexical, syntactic and textual patterns in student translations of a specialized EU genre. English for Specific Purposes, 31(1), 36-46.
Kastberg, P. (2007). Cultural Issues Facing the Technical Translator. Journal of Specialised Translation, 8.
Krajcso, Z. (2011). Fostering social competence in translation studies. Babel, 57(3), 269-282.
Liao, P. (2011). The relationship between college students’ translation learning styles and translation competence. Compilation & Translation Review, 4(2), 79-104.
Malmkjær, K. (2009). What is translation competence?. Revue Française De Linguistique Appliquée, 14(1), 121-134.
Martínez, S., & Benítez, P. (2009). Terminological competence in translation. Terminology, 15(1), 88-104. doi:10.1075/term.15.1.05mon
Martirosyan, A. G., & Petrova, L. G. (2014). Translation as a means of communication. Kemerovo State University Bulletin, (1), 138-141.
Montero Martínez, S., & Benítez, P. F. (2009). Terminological competence in translation. Terminology, 15(1), 88-104. doi:10.1075/term.15.1.05mon
Oro Cabanas, J. M. (2012). Errors in translation: A tool for linguistic and socio-cultural competence. International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 1(1), 90-103. doi:10.7575/ijalel.v.1n.1p.90
PACTE (2000). Acquiring translation competence: Hypotheses and methodological problems of a research project. In A. Beeby, D. Ensinger, & M. Presas (Eds.), Investigating translation (pp. 99-106). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
PACTE (2003). Building a Translation Competence Model. In F. Alves (Ed.): Triangulating translation: Perspectives in process oriented research (pp. 43-66). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
PACTE (2005). Investigating Translation Competence: Conceptual and Methodological Issues. Meta, 50(2), 609-618.
Pinto, M., Garcia-Marco, J., Granell, X., & Sales, D. (2014). Assessing information competences of translation and interpreting trainees A study of proficiency at Spanish universities using the InfoliTrans Test. Aslib Journal of Information Management, 66(1), 77-95.
Pym, A. (2003). Redefining translation competence in an electronic age. In defence of a minimalist approach. Meta, 48(4), 481-497.
Ramos, M. (2013). The lexicon in the translation classroom: Designing an acquisition model of the translator lexical competence (English-Spanish). Tonos Digital, (24).
Schäffner, C. (2000). Running before walking? Designing a translation programme at undergraduate level. In B. J. Adab & C. Schaffner (Eds.), Developing translation competence (pp. 143-156). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Sim, R. J. (2000). A training strategy for translation studies. In B. J. Adab & C. Schaffner (Eds.), Developing translation competence (pp. 171-182). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Vandepitte, S. (2013). Research competences in translation studies. Babel, 59(2), 125-148. doi:10.1075/babel.59.2.01van
Washbourne, K. (2012). Load-managed problem formats: Scaffolding and modeling the translation task to improve transfer. Target: International Journal On Translation Studies, 24(2), 338-354. doi:10.1075/target.24.2.06was
Youlan, T. (2012). Towards a constructive model in training professional translators. Babel, 58(3), 289-308. doi:10.1075/babel.58.3.03tao
Books about Translation Competence
Adab, B. J., & Schffner, C. (2000). Developing translation competence. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins.
Alves, F. (2003). Triangulating translation: Perspectives in process oriented research. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Beeby, A., Ensinger, D., & Presas, M. (2000). Investigating translation. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Brighton, C. (2013). Socio-cultural values in the development of intercultural communication competence. Berlin: Peter Lang.
Kelly, D. (2005). A handbook for translator trainers, translation practices explained series. Manchester: St. Jerome Publishers.
Presentations about Translation Competence
Gutt, D. E. (2004). Challenges of metarepresentation to translation competence.
Popescu, T. (2013). Developing English linguistics students’ translation competence through the language learning process. Procedia – Social And Behavioral Sciences, 93(3rd World Conference on Learning, Teaching and Educational Leadership), 1075-1079. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.09.333
Working Groups Focusing on Translation Competence
EMT (European Master’s in Translation)