34.1888, Review: Applied Linguistics, Translation: Ferreira, Schwieter (2022)

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Subject: 34.1888, Review: Applied Linguistics, Translation: Ferreira, Schwieter (2022)

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Date: 02-Jun-2023
From: Laura Dubcovsky [lauradubcovsky at gmail.com]
Subject: Introduction to Translation and Interpreting Studies


Book announced at https://linguistlist.org/issues/33.3738

AUTHOR: Aline Ferreira
AUTHOR: John W. Schwieter
TITLE: Introduction to Translation and Interpreting Studies
PUBLISHER: Wiley
YEAR: 2022

REVIEWER: Laura Dubcovsky

SUMMARY
“Introduction to Translation and Interpreting Studies” is an edited
book of eleven chapters that follow a parallel structure of related
topics. The authors are experts in the field of translation and
interpretation who work in different settings and specialized
languages. The book also provides a companion website with resources,
including answers, PowerPoint slides, multiple-choice questions, and a
reference list, which enrich the concepts and explanations developed
throughout the chapters, as well as a final glossary that contains
highlighted terms used by the authors. Most chapters add a suggested
list of readings, besides the final bibliography, while some include
tables and figures that help readers visualize abstruse notions.
Ferreira and Schwieter introduce the book by describing “The Birth and
Development of Translation and Interpreting Studies.” Chapter 1
underlines major directions in the field, from a brief historical
trajectory to frequent tools of think-aloud protocols, and from
corpus-based methods of analysis to the most common digital devices
that are increasingly occupying a relevant role in the translation and
interpreting process. Finally, the editors address educational
implications of the discipline. They follow pedagogical issues of
instructions and assessment, based on Galán-Mañas and Hurtado Albir’s
categories (2015), and summarize them in Table 1.1 (p. 16). The
introduction clarifies basic conceptualizations of translation and
interpreting activities, direct and inverse, consecutive,
simultaneous, and sight types of translation, and volunteer and
professionalized interpreters, among others. Finally, Ferreira and
Schwieter elaborate on the dynamic interaction of several disciplines
(psychology, psycholinguistics, neuroscience, etc.) and its impact on
the relatively new field of translation and interpreting studies.
Above all, the chapter emphasizes the need to gain and sustain ethical
and intercultural awareness, as translators and interpreters face huge
challenges in current global and interconnected societies.
In Chapter 2, Malmkjӕr addresses “Key Concepts and Theoretical
Approaches” of translation and interpreting studies. She draws from
descriptive, theoretical, and applied perspectives to better
understand translation and interpreting studies from different angles.
Driven by a universalist view of language, based on norms and general
laws, the author analyzes relevance theories, adjustment techniques of
addition, subtraction and alteration, and potential universals of
explicitation, simplification, normalization, and leveling-out usually
implemented in translation (Baker, 1996). Malmkjӕr also draws from
language approaches that shed light on semantic, formal, and
communicative equivalences, as well as functional perspectives that
focus on meaning and purpose in translation and interpreting
activities. Cognitive studies provide valuable tools to measure eye
tracking and keystroke behaviors, reliable protocols that trace the
working memory path and resources to compare short and long-term
memory activation during the interpreting process. Within the broad
scope of the discipline, the chapter summarizes major features of
signed language interpretation, specific remote devices (telephone,
satellite, video relay), and mixed modalities that combine traditional
aural and visual ways of translating with modern techniques of
subtitles, surtitles, voice-over, and dubbing, especially used in
performing genres, such as international films, operas, and drama.
Christopher Mellinger focuses on “Interpreting,” and characterizes it
as a three-field nature of product, process, and service. Chapter 3
revisits previous notions of consecutive, simultaneous, and signed
language interpretation as well as notetaking, chuchotage, and relay
translation, among most common strategies. Interpreting takes place in
a place or location, technically called the “setting,” to fulfill a
specific purpose or function, known as the “domain.” Both are usually
presented as overlapping, as, for example, in the doctor’s office
setting, where doctor and patient are involved in a consultation
domain. Moreover, Chapter 3, as in the previous chapters, highlights
the challenging role of professional interpreters, who combine their
linguistic and cultural competences in both source and target
languages, while maintaining high ethical standards of neutrality,
accuracy, and confidentiality during the entire process. Therefore,
the professional training requires strong and intentional development
of languages, intercultural awareness, and ethical values, as opposed
to “natural,” spontaneous, and non-deliberate interpreters, who do not
necessarily meet these requirements. In closing, Mellinger advocates
for the acknowledgement of valuable disciplines, such as applied
linguistics, cognitive science, psychology, sociology, and
communication studies, which enable the capturing of nuances in
dimensions of medium, setting, mode, language, discourse,
participants, interpreter, and problem (Pöchacker, 2016), from
theoretical, descriptive, and applied views, thereby contributing to a
deeper understanding of interpreting studies.
Chapter 4 moves onto “Specialized practices in interpreting settings.”
Creeze and Burn summarize distinctions between nonprofessional and
professional interpreters. While the former are mainly volunteer
members who help their families and close communities in daily
activities (at the doctor’s office, teacher-parent conferences,
filling out legal forms, etc.), the latter are trained, granted a
certification, and frequently serve in specialized contexts
(international conferences, diplomacy, business, etc.). The authors
mention a variety of modalities, from in person or face-to-face
interpretation to remote videoconferencing, and the corresponding
challenges, such as casual and systematic interruptions, technical
interference due to the bad quality of sound, poor internet
connections, etc. Despite an increasing number and the globalization
of on-line applications and platforms, technological problems are
still common, as issues of availability, accessibility, and quality
are still on stake (Eser, 2020). Uncovering more structural problems
of justice and equity in the interpreting activity, Creeze and Burn
address well-explored issues in a variety of areas, including
diplomatic, military and conflict, business, public service, signed
language, healthcare, judicial, courtroom and legal, and police, as
well as lesser-known ones in immigration, customs, refugee, and mental
health interpreting. The possibility of specialized practices is so
varied that the authors cautiously refer to the given explanation as a
general overview, encouraging readers to further their knowledge in
the specific area of interest, drawing from the proposed readings,
pedagogical resources, and strategies, as well as reflecting on
underlined issues contemplated in the chapter.
Jiménez-Crespo continues the trend of “Specialized practices in
translation settings,” focusing on multimodal communication,
especially movies and performing arts. These genres incorporate a
broad range of textual, visual, aural, kinetical, and technological
devices (Pérez-González, 2014) and follow external and internal
constraints, from adjustments and reductions for small screens to
community preferences for either dubbing or subtitling modalities, and
from limitations due to space or number of characters  to
synchronization between voice, movement, and action during dubbing
activity, etc. Therefore, translators need to learn how to manage a
variety of channels that convey distinctive semiotic meanings.
Moreover, they require more sophisticated language skills to translate
language varieties, slang, and jargon used in the original version.
Among new trends in translation, Chapter 5 highlights the gradual
incorporation of on-line platforms (cloudsubtitling, clouddubbing),
especially in foreign movies, a higher quality level of “speakability”
and “singability” required for musicals, operas, and plays (Low,
2010), and the development of human and machine “transediting” tools
that benefit the production and fast-speed circulation of news in the
fields of journalism and advertising. Finally, the author emphasizes
new studies on localization that explain the immediate availability of
digital texts for users who do not share the same context or language,
and, consequently, a more democratic access to the information for
all. By the same token, this new localization perspective demands
translators not only raise their linguistic and cultural competency,
but also exercise narrower collaborations across disciplines, as it
extends to different areas of research (Figure 5.1, p. 123, adapted
from Jiménez-Crespo, 2013).
Chapter 6 addresses the translation of “Specialized written texts,”
defined as one specific subject matter that presents inherent lexical
and syntactic features, a specific content, and shared knowledge among
the specialized community of practice, frequently associated with
literary translation. Therefore, although boundaries between
specialized and non-specialized translations are never fully clear,
Fortea follows the classical classification of literary genres
(narrative, lyrics, and drama) to highlight more relevant challenges
faced by translators and editors, when considering traits of
expressivity and style, as well as the professional market. Among the
most common subgenres, poetry is usually characterized as
“untranslatable,” because the composing elements of form, rhythm, and
rhyme are typically lost in translation, as the original poem renders
an analogous but never identical poem in the translated version. In
the case of fiction, translators need to be extremely cautious in the
reproduction of dialogues, idiomatic expressions, and colloquialisms
to reflect original subtleties and authenticity. While translators are
required to explore documents and reliable sources in order to offer
accurate versions of historical novels, they become more selective in
their word choices in translating detective stories or mystery novels,
as key words may either orient or mislead readers toward the
resolution of the plot. The field of children’s literature also has
specific constraints, due to the young age of the audience. Very often
translators draw on techniques of compensation, simplification, and
periphrasis in order to build background knowledge and develop
readers’ understanding (Stolze, 2003). After summarizing legal,
medical, religious, and other types of specialized translations,
Fortea concludes that the increasing specialization demands
well-prepared translators not only on well-founded theories but also
on supportive  practice.
Torres-del-Rey describes “Machines and Technology,” as new
computer-assisted devices are changing translation and interpreting
modes. Chapter 7 summarizes technological advances from a historical
perspective and defines key terms and components, as well as specific
features and functions. Moreover, the author explains complex
mechanisms of interaction within sophisticated devices and
transactions between machines and human agents, for both experienced
and lay users. Torres-del-Rey includes traditional approaches, such as
direct, interlingual, and transfer mechanisms, to convey still useful
translations, and combines them with hybrid approaches, taking
advantage of computer-based data that help to produce more accurate
and fluent translations. The chapter summarizes previous concepts of
localization and project management and analyzes them at
superstructure, infrastructure, and microstructure levels (Pym, 2004).
Above all, Torres-del-Rey emphasizes the need to explore issues of
translation and interpretation embedded in multimodal contexts (Sikes,
2011), and offers a visual to represent more clearly the “cycle of
language and translation resource management” in its tripartite
division into acquisition, leverage, and maintenance (Figure 7.3,
p.171). Overall, the chapter sheds light on new technological
applications, the much-needed cooperation between engineers,
linguists, and translators, and the shared commitment to ethical
values across fields of expertise.
In Chapter 8 Whynot reflects on “Signed language interpreting and
translation,” highlighting its unique nature, as well as the influence
and interdependence with spoken and written modalities. The author
observes existing contrasts between a single-dimensional translation
in natural languages, where morphological, phonological, and semantic
features move in a linear sequence, and three-dimensional practices,
such as in signed language, where translations involve facial
gestures, body positions, hand movement, and spatial modalities.
Despite the youth of translation and interpretation studies, signed
language has noticeably shifted from volunteering services to
professional interpreters and translators who are fully competent in
spoken and signed languages and who can also move seamlessly between
source and target languages. Therefore, they enable deaf and hard of
hearing people to gain authority and position themselves not only as
receivers of the language produced by a hearing person, but also as
the producers of their own voice. Moreover, Whynot emphasizes that
visibility has a central role for the deaf community, as signs need to
be seen, as well as for the public who become increasingly aware of
their presence and impact on international forums, presidential
funerals, natural disasters, political controversies, and pandemics.
Likewise, the striking presence of 128 different signed languages in
the world mobilizes stakeholders and policy makers, who are gradually
becoming better informed on the active role played by deaf people in
society, in this way burying old myths and misconceptions around
audism and deaf disabilities. As a final note, the author emphasizes
the huge responsibility in preparing highly qualified interpreters,
capable of managing complex cultural, societal, cognitive, and
technical nuances, as the deaf community does not constitute a
monolithic identity and each member deserves respectful and
individualized treatment.
Reimóndez examines general relationships between “Culture, power and
professionalism” within translation and interpreting activities.
Chapter 9 takes a critical stance to explore the history and nature of
the disciplines, drawing from feminist and postcolonial approaches.
While the former contributes with concepts of andro-centric,
patriarchal societies, and gender-oriented biases, the latter focuses
on zones of power, hegemonic languages, and racial hierarchies.
Reimóndez highlights the “cultural turn” (Wolf, 2002) that causes a
dramatic shift from studying isolated linguistic features to a dynamic
interaction of language, culture, and society to perform better and
more comprehensive translations and interpretations. The cultural turn
also brings about ideological changes, challenging traits of
invisibility, faithfulness, and neutrality, traditionally valued among
translators and interpreters (Venuti, 1997). Instead, the chapter
opposes them to the critical features of visibility, expressivity, and
engagement.  From a feminist approach, Reimóndez clarifies that the
old notion of “invisible translators” comprises a double layer of
inferiority, where translators are inferior to authors, and where
female professionals are weaker than male ones. The author also
opposes past “neutrality” roles to current activism, which often leads
to an advocacy role, as frequently happens within deaf, LGBTQ+, and
indigenous communities. Finally, the chapter raises some concerns in
the field of translation and interpretation, from structural
limitations—such as the use of pronouns that can facilitate or hinder
gender distinctions—to epistemological decisions to “domesticate”
original and non-hegemonic texts into a more “accessible” and
“digestible” version in the dominant language (Agnelelli, 2004).
The final two chapters refer to more global aspects of translation and
interpreting studies. Chapter 10 explores “Training and Pedagogy” from
a historical perspective, pinpointing the core of knowledge, skills,
and behaviors required in current translators’ preparation (Robinson,
2012). Whyatt highlights the relevant role of “mediator” held by
translators and interpreters to comprehend and produce genuine
versions that intertwine meanings in a socio-cultural contextualized
translation. The author proposes a social-constructivist pedagogy to
support learner-centered practices, authentic experiences, and
meaningful projects among future professionals (Kiraly, 2000).
Programs should incorporate training in manual and digital tools, so
that interpreters can assist people under different circumstances,
capable of implementing real and virtual resources, such as
glossaries, hyperlinks, and simulated programs. Pedagogy is driven by
a deliberate practice, considering purposes, attainable objectives,
and real audiences. A well-designed translators’ preparation
curriculum incorporates additive, componential, and holistic
components, such as distinctions between declarative and procedural
knowledge, individual and social abilities, problem-solving and
cultural sensitiveness (Ericsson, 2010). Additionally, it must be
flexible and open to the needs of the job market, and to the constant
technological changes in our complex global societies. Above all,
Whyatt encourages ethical, engaged, and collaborative translators,
with solid theoretical knowledge and robust practice.
Finally, Vanderpitte addresses, “Translation process research and
methods,” both as an act and an event that governs the process of
translation. Chapter 11 underlines different research questions
according to the intervening disciplines. For example, socio-cultural
scholars are interested in the dynamics between human and non-human
agents (translators, editors, source and target texts, project
manager, etc.) and in questions of authorship, own voice, and
attitudes during the translation process, while linguists are focused
on structural features of word choice, lexical variation, and changes
and distortions in the syntagmatic order, among others. Likewise, for
neuroscientists cognitive activities are central, and they develop
sophisticated tools, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and
electro-encephalography (Tymoczko, 2012) to follow neural paths,
capture specific localization in the brain, and measure revealing
activities of eye tracking and keystroke logging that provide finer
temporal, cognitive, and procedural distinctions. Researchers in
technology are devoted to improving current computer-based devices
(machine translation, automatic processors, on-line platforms, etc.),
which open up to broader and deeper investigation. Vanderpitte claims
that best methodologies, resources, and practices from the different
disciplines can work together and contribute with theoretical
foundations and practical training.
EVALUATION
“Introduction to Translation and Interpreting Studies” may work as a
textbook for beginning students of translation and interpretation, as
the compiled chapters address capital issues in the field. Moreover,
the chapters follow a parallel structure consisting of objectives, an
introduction to the general topic, the development of concepts, and
conclusions, in this way building a clear and linear sequence. The
authors also interject questions in the middle of their explanations,
which may provoke readers’ participation, as well as final questions
that may lead to overall reflection on the chapter. Despite these
pedagogical advantages, most chapters repeat the same notions, while
other topics remain obscure or less explored. As possible suggestions,
I recommend that the initial list of contents should be divided under
labels to group the chapters, for example, “generalized practices”
(for Chapters 1-3),” specialized practices” (for Chapters 4-6-and 8),
and “particular topics” (for Chapters 7 and 9). I would also place
Chapter 11, since it addresses research methods, before translation
and interpreting practices. In the first chapter, to orient the lay
reader, the editors may have considered an introduction to the general
layout of the book, as well as specific topics later developed in each
chapter. The editors’ chapter could also clarify that the key concepts
highlighted in the body of each chapter are later explained in the
glossary at the end of the book. Moreover, readers could have found
the highlighted references more easily, if the terms  and acronyms
presented in the glossary were accompanied by their chapter and page
numbers.
Additionally, two chapters require further contextualization than the
mostly straightforward sequence of the book. Chapter 7 is too
technical and is plagued with engineering-based jargon and
abbreviations which often bury relevant conceptualizations and cause
unnecessary difficulties for non-specialized readers. It would be
advisable for the author to have provided footnotes clarifying the
technical notions and to have spelled out the acronyms, using simple
terminology. Likewise, Chapter 9 addresses feminist and postcolonial
theories that are not anticipated by the editors in the introduction,
nor are they discussed in previous chapters. Therefore, readers may
struggle to find the connection between this chapter’s critical
approach directed to all disciplines, and the previous and subsequent
chapters in the book that mainly follow translation and interpreting
studies more straightforwardly. I suggest that a gradual and more
articulated transition would have facilitated the comprehension of the
proposed transit from direct and individual cases to overall critical
and ideological stances. But beyond these formal restructuring
suggestions, the chapter presents valuable ideas that will contribute
to the depth and breadth of the field. Overall, “Introduction to
Translation and Interpreting Studies” offers a solid corpus of studies
that will enrich the discipline.

REFERENCES
Agnelelli, C. ( 2004). Revisiting the interpreter’s role. Amsterdam:
John Benjamins.
Baker, M. (1996). Corpus-based translation studies: The challenges
that lie ahead. In H. Sommers (Ed.), Terminology, LSP and Translation.
Studies in Language Engineering in honour of Juan C. Sager (pp.
175-186). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Ericsson, K. (2010). Expertise in interpreting In G. Shreve & E.
Angelone (Eds.), Translation and Cognition (pp. 231-262). Amsterdam:
John Benjamins.
Eser, O. (2020). Understanding community interpreting services:
diversity and access in Australia and beyond. Basingstoke, UK:
Palgrave Macmillan.
Galán-Mañas, A., &  Hurtado Albir, A.  (2015). Competence assessment
procedures in translator training. The Interpreter and Translator
Trainer, 9(1), 63-82.
Jiménez-Crespo. (2013). Translation and web localization. London
Routledge.
Kiraly, D. (2000). A social constructivist approach to translator
education. Manchester, UK: St. Jerome.
Low, P. (2010). Singable translations of songs. Perspectives: Studies
in Translatology, 11(2), 87-103.
Pérez-González, L. (2014). Audiovisual translation: Theories, methods,
and issues. New York: Routledge.
Pöchacker, F. (2016). Introducing interpreting studies. London:
Routledge.
Pym, A. (2004). The moving text: Localization, translation and
distribution. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Robinson, D. (2012). Becoming
a translator: An introduction to the theory and practice of
translation. London: Routledge
Sikes, R. (2011). Rethinking the role of the localization project
manager. In K. J. Dunne & E. S. Dunne (Eds.), Translation and
localization project manager (pp. 235-264). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Spivak, G. (1992). The politics in translation. In M. Barret & A.
Phillips (Eds.), Destabilization theory. Contemporary feminist debates
(pp. 177-200). Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Stolze, R. (2003). Translating for children- world views of
pedagogics? Meta, 48(1), 208-221.
Tymoczko, M. (2012). The neuroscience of translation. Target.
International Journal of Translation Studies, 24(1), 83-102
Venuti, L. (1997). The translator's invisibility. A history of
translation. London: Routledge. Ch 9
Wolf, M. (2002). Culture as translation- and beyond. Ethnographic
models of representation in translation studies. T. Hermans (Ed.),
Crosscultural transgressions: Historical and ideological issues (pp.
180-192). Manchester, UK: St. Jerome.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Laura Dubcovsky is a retired instructor and supervisor from the
Teacher Education Program in the School of Education at the University
of California, Davis. With a Master’s in Education and a Ph. D in
Spanish linguistics/with special emphasis on second language
acquisition, her interests tap topics of language, bilingual
education, and bilingual children’s literature. She has taught
bilingual teachers to use and practice communicative and academic
Spanish needed in bilingual classrooms for more than ten years. She is
currently helping with professional development courses for bilingual
teachers, interpreting in parent/teachers’ conferences, and
translating for several institutions, such as Davis and Riverside
Joint Unified School Districts, the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento,
YoloArts in Woodland, Davis Art Center, STEAC, and the Zapotec Digital
Project of Ticha.  Laura is a long-standing reviewer for the
Linguistic list Serve and the California Association of School
-University Partnerships (CASUP), and she also reviews articles for
the Elementary School Journal, Journal of Latinos and Education,
Hispania, and Lenguas en Contexto. She published “Functions of the
verb decir (‘to say’) in the incipient academic Spanish writing of
bilingual children in Functions of Language, 15(2), 257-280 (2008) and
the chapter, “Desde California. Acerca de la narración en ámbitos
bilingües” in ¿Cómo aprendemos y cómo enseñamos la narración oral?
(2015). Rosario, Homo Sapiens: 127- 133



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