How do students perform and perceive translation tasks in corpus-assisted translation settings? –A quantitative and qualitative study on the potential and problems of using corpus in specialized translation teaching in Hong Kong = 學生如何在語料庫輔助翻譯環境下開展並理解翻譯任務? ─ 香港專業翻譯教學應用語料庫的潛力與問題的定量和定性研究
Project title
How do students perform and perceive translation tasks in corpus-assisted translation settings? –A quantitative and qualitative study on the potential and problems of using corpus in specialized translation teaching in Hong Kong = 學生如何在語料庫輔助翻譯環境下開展並理解翻譯任務? ─ 香港專業翻譯教學應用語料庫的潛力與問題的定量和定性研究
Principal Investigator
Grant Awarding Body
Research Grants Council
Grant Type
Faculty Development Scheme
Project Code
UGC/FDS15/H11/17
Amount awarded
$783,595
Funding Year
2017
Duration of the Project
30 months
Status
Completed
Abstract
As suggested by its name, corpus-assisted translation pedagogy is placed within a triangle formed by at least three distinct but not discrete disciplines: corpus linguistics, translation and pedagogy. The merits of a corpus have been recognised by a number of translation scholars who have taken a strong interest in translation pedagogy. The cross-fertilisation between corpora and teaching has resulted in an exponential increase in research advocating the adoption of corpora in translation teaching (Bernardini 2000, 2004; Bernardini, Stewart & Zanettin 2003; Maia 2003; Beeby et al. 2009; Kübler 2011; Mu & Zhu 2013; Liu 2015). I have done a critical review of the application of corpora in translation teaching settings (Liu 2014). By examining the contrasting perspectives and viewpoints on the application of corpora to translation teaching, it is argued that gaps remain and research in this area can be further strengthened. In particular, I specifically point out that: (1) Most of the existing research is based on European languages and the claims are yet to be testified in other language settings (e.g., English to Chinese). In particular, there is a lack of empirical research in Chinese settings. (2) Notwithstanding the obvious advantages of parallel corpora, research at this stage more or less comes under the constraints of the under-availability of sizable parallel corpora that are developed especially for pedagogical applications (cf. Beeby et al. 2009). (3) Research in this area is predominantly derived from conceptual deliberation or personal experience rather than systematic, longitudinal-empirical studies.
In this era of globalisation, there is an increasing need in the market for specialised translation, which accounts for more than 90% of all the translation work in the market (Chan 2015, p. 44). For this reason, I see an urgent and imperative need to construct a pedagogically-oriented platform for specialised translation teaching in Hong Kong. The construction of such a corpus platform is conducive to enhancing the competence of translation students, thereby bridging the gap between academia and industry.
The proposed research project will consist of two major phases, which can overlap.
The first phase will be the construction of a Web-based interactive teaching platform. The platform will have the following key features: (1) a supporting Web-based CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) and user-friendly GUI (Graphical User Interface); (2) integrating both monolingual (1.5 million words originally written in English and 3 million words originally written in Chinese) and parallel corpora (1.5 million words in English and 3 million words in Chinese aligned at the sentence level) and capable of displaying occurrences in KWIC (Key Word in Context) form; (3) including a number of genres related to specialised translation; (4) able to display search results in expanded texts, e.g., the search keywords can be displayed in context at the paragraph or textual level; (4) allowing users to construct their own corpora (either monolingual or parallel) from external sources using the platform; and (5) enabling users to upload their assignments to the platform for teachers’ marking and cross-referencing among the students.
The second phase will involve the assessment and testing of the corpus platform and its sub-components. With this purpose in mind, we will plan to recruit 40 translation students to take part in a range of surveys, semi-structured focus groups and translation experiments (one pre-test and two post-tests consisting of an E-C and a C-E translation experiment). Students will be divided into a control and an experimental group based on their translation level obtained from the pre-test. It is hypothesised that the experimental group will enhance their specialised translation competence using the corpus platform. For evaluating the effectiveness of the corpus platform, mixed methods design will be adopted. A quantitative method will be used to analyse the students’ translation tasks in the experiments using SPSS statistics. A qualitative method will be applied to examine the students’ perceptions and evaluations of the corpus platform using open-ended surveys and semi-structured interviews in the form of focus groups.
In this era of globalisation, there is an increasing need in the market for specialised translation, which accounts for more than 90% of all the translation work in the market (Chan 2015, p. 44). For this reason, I see an urgent and imperative need to construct a pedagogically-oriented platform for specialised translation teaching in Hong Kong. The construction of such a corpus platform is conducive to enhancing the competence of translation students, thereby bridging the gap between academia and industry.
The proposed research project will consist of two major phases, which can overlap.
The first phase will be the construction of a Web-based interactive teaching platform. The platform will have the following key features: (1) a supporting Web-based CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) and user-friendly GUI (Graphical User Interface); (2) integrating both monolingual (1.5 million words originally written in English and 3 million words originally written in Chinese) and parallel corpora (1.5 million words in English and 3 million words in Chinese aligned at the sentence level) and capable of displaying occurrences in KWIC (Key Word in Context) form; (3) including a number of genres related to specialised translation; (4) able to display search results in expanded texts, e.g., the search keywords can be displayed in context at the paragraph or textual level; (4) allowing users to construct their own corpora (either monolingual or parallel) from external sources using the platform; and (5) enabling users to upload their assignments to the platform for teachers’ marking and cross-referencing among the students.
The second phase will involve the assessment and testing of the corpus platform and its sub-components. With this purpose in mind, we will plan to recruit 40 translation students to take part in a range of surveys, semi-structured focus groups and translation experiments (one pre-test and two post-tests consisting of an E-C and a C-E translation experiment). Students will be divided into a control and an experimental group based on their translation level obtained from the pre-test. It is hypothesised that the experimental group will enhance their specialised translation competence using the corpus platform. For evaluating the effectiveness of the corpus platform, mixed methods design will be adopted. A quantitative method will be used to analyse the students’ translation tasks in the experiments using SPSS statistics. A qualitative method will be applied to examine the students’ perceptions and evaluations of the corpus platform using open-ended surveys and semi-structured interviews in the form of focus groups.