A critical comparison of the problem solving processes of novice and expert translators

Abstract

In this study, I investigate the differences in the problem-solving processes of novice and expert translators. I aim to fill a research gap within the field of Translation Studies under the category of Translation Process Research (TPR), which pertains to the translation product and the cognitive processes underlying translation activity. I focus on the differences between third-year students of Language Practice (novices) and expert translators in the South African context in terms of Anthony Pym’s (2011) postulates. These postulates outline differences in terms of preferred translation strategy, average translation units processed, revision behaviour, attention to the target text (TT) compared to the source text (ST), direction of processing (top-down or bottom-up), intrinsic versus extrinsic knowledge, the ability to relate theory to practice, level of automatisation of translation decisions and the ability to identify and express difficulties and uncertainties. My findings indicate that experts use more literalism as translation strategy compared to the novices, process larger translation units, spend more time on revision and make more changes during revision, spend more time looking at the TT, follow a top-down processing approach, rely mostly on their intrinsic knowledge but do value the use of external resources, mostly do not relate theory to practice, automatise decisions, solve problems consciously, and express difficulties and uncertainties with confidence. On the other hand, novices use more paraphrase as translation strategy, but their translations are of bad quality, process smaller translation units, spend more time in the drafting phase, make fewer changes during revision, spend more time looking at the ST, and follow a bottom-up processing approach. Moreover, novices rely more on dictionaries (thus extrinsic knowledge), they do not relate theory to practice, and do not automatise decisions or consciously solve problems as well as experts do. However, they are equally confident and comfortable to express difficulties and uncertainties as experts.