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LINGUACULTURAL SWITCHING AND THE BASIS FOR ITS FUNCTIONING IN TRANSLATION // Tomsk State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2013. Issue 10 (138). P. 153-158

The article considers the specific character of code-switching as the key stage of translation process, explains the need to use the term “linguacultural switching” and gives its definition. The paper suggests that representations of extralinguistic situation and text type can act as cues for linguacultural switching and gives a list of mechanisms and skills needed for its effective operation.

Keywords: code-switching, extralinguistic situation, text, didactics of translation

THE CONCEPT OF TRANSLATOR’S MULTICOMPETENCE // Tomsk State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2015. Issue 8 (161). P. 82-87

The article considers different approaches to translator’s communicative competence, analyses its connection with translator’s professional competence and defines its specific characteristics. The author analyses V. Cook’s concept of multicompetence, examines its main principles and arguments and defines its unique features. The author also looks at L. Bachman’s model of communicative language ability, outlines its structure and content and determines its strong points with reference to translator’s communicative competence. On the basis of the principles of these two concepts the author proposes a model of translator’s multicompetence. The model reflects the specific character of professionally oriented translator’s knowledge of language and culture, as well as different skills, mechanisms and personal characteristics required for its functioning.

Keywords: translation, communicative competence, translation competence, multilingualism

PROBLEM AWARENESS AS ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRANSLATOR’S LINGUA-CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE // Tomsk State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2017. Issue 10 (187). P. 136-141

The article deals with the problem of the specific character of the translator’s knowledge of language and culture. A review of the relevant literature has shown that translation is a unique mode of language use which is significantly different from ordinary communication in a foreign language. The author introduces the concept of “problem awareness” as one of the key characteristics of the translator’s lingua-cultural knowledge. Problem awareness is essential in translation which involves switching between languages. It is understood as the awareness of the linguistic factors causing breakdowns in code-switching in translation, as well as the ability to deal with such problems. These linguistic factors include idioms and proverbs/sayings, translator’s false friends, culture-specific concepts, geographical names and confusing words similar in form, meaning or use. Each linguistic factor is described and its ability to interfere with the process of code-switching is explained. Based on these facts a list of relevant skills and psychological characteristics is presented for each group of linguistic means. The author then provides guidelines for ensuring a targeted approach to the teaching of the above-mentioned linguistic means. These recommendations also include a description of the types of activities which are especially relevant in the context of teaching foreign languages to trainee translators.

Keywords: translation, code-switching, translator’s false friends, culture-specific concepts, idioms

READINESS AND ABILITY TO SWITCH LINGUACULTURAL CODES AS AN INTEGRATED CHARACTERISTIC OF TRANSLATOR’S LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE // Tomsk State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2019. Issue 7 (204). P. 148-157

The article considers the way linguistic and cultural knowledge is used in translation and justifies the need to view a translator as a professional native and foreign language user. Similarly, it is important to recognize the specific character of translator’s language knowledge because, firstly, it is a tool in a professional cross-cultural mediation in translation; secondly, it provides the basis for the acquisition, development and functioning of translation skills. An attempt is made to identify the characteristics of translator’s linguacultural knowledge relevant to the process of code-switching, which should be viewed as the switching of linguacultural codes in order to reflect the interlingual and cross-cultural aspects of translation. Based on the analysis of the mental processes and mechanisms of linguacultural switching the following characteristics of translator’s lingualcultural knowledge have been proposed. Chunk-based language knowledge is represented by communicative chunks and communicative contours and is able to improve access, activation and retrieval of linguistic knowledge, error control, the functioning of radiant thinking and spreading activation. Frame-based knowledge of a foreign language creates the framework for probabilistic forecasting, facilitates direct access to conceptual representations in a foreign language, raises its activation level and reduces its dependence on the native language, as well as improving integration of linguistic and conceptual information into semantic memory. Systemic language knowledge means knowing a language as a system of dependencies and connections and ensures distinctness, flexibility and mobility of language knowledge. Language awareness involves the ability to pay attention to language forms, reflect on language, patterns and specific character of its functioning. Such awareness develops the skill of separating two languages and cultures, improves language and error control and prevents linguistic interference. Functional parallelism reflects the type of relationship between two language systems and is made up of systemic, communicative and operational aspects. The last characteristic involves the awareness of the linguistic factors causing breakdowns in code-switching in translation, as well as the ability to predict and deal with such problems. Collectively, the above-mentioned characteristics form the readiness and ability of a translator to code-switch. The development of these characteristics should be made part of professionally oriented foreign language teaching to trainee translators.

Keywords: translation, code-switching, professionally oriented foreign language teaching, metalinguistic awareness, frame

PSYCHOLINGUISTIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MOBILITY OF TRANSLATOR’S LINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE // Tomsk State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2022. Issue 2 (220). P. 125-134

Introduction. Translator’s linguistic knowledge operates under conditions which are different from ordinary language use, i.e., under increased psychological and cognitive load. For this reason, it should possess some professionally oriented characteristics which will ensure its effective functioning in the translation process. One of such characteristics is the mobility of translator’s linguistic knowledge. Aim of the paper is to identify and analyse factors which influence the degree of mobility of translator’s linguistic knowledge and to give some recommendations as to what approaches and activities can be used to increase it when teaching foreign languages to trainee translators. Material and methods. The material of the research included theoretical and practical works of national and foreign researchers in the field of translation studies, bilingual lexicon, code-switching, foreign language teaching. The following theoretical and empirical methods were used: analysis of scientific and methodological literature, generalization of experience, analysis and synthesis, comparison, modeling, extrapolation, analysis of pedagogical experience. Results and discussion. Based on the analysis of literature the following factors influencing the degree of mobility of translator’s linguistic knowledge have been identified: 1) the type of lexical representations in the bilingual lexicon (word association vs concept mediation); 2) the type of connections between languages and the conceptual store in the bilingual lexicon, and more specifically, the degree of independence of a foreign language and the existence of a direct connection between this language and the conceptual store; 3) conditions required for the creation and functioning of interlingual connections (connections within one vs across different subject areas, connections between semantic systems in a foreign and native language,); 4) psychological readiness for using linguistic means determined by the task. The following approaches and activities can contribute to increasing the degree of mobility of linguistic knowledge: 1) specifically targeting words and phrases which cause mobility to decrease; 2) increasing the frequency of occurrence of newly and previously learnt vocabulary; 3) strengthening the connection between the foreign language and the conceptual store through varying contexts and types of activities (cognitive operations with vocabulary, information- gap tasks); 4) ensuring vocabulary practice within one or across multiple subject areas; 5) ensuring the use of vocabulary determined by the task and strengthening the connection from L1 to L2 (pushed output tasks). Conclusion. Bearing in mind the factors which affect mobility of linguistic knowledge and using appropriate activities, it is possible to create preconditions for prompt functioning of translator’s linguistic knowledge in the translation process.

Keywords: language teaching for translation, mobility of linguistic knowledge, bilingual lexicon, code-switching

From general to translation-oriented listening: challenges and solutions // Tomsk State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2023. Issue 6 (230). P. 58-68

The article is devoted to the problem of teaching listening comprehension for interpreting purposes in translation-oriented foreign language training based on its specific character and related difficulties. Listening comprehension plays a vital role in consecutive interpreting as it involves listening to and analysing the content and message of the source text and accounts for a large number of difficulties that affect the process and the quality of consecutive interpreting. The aim of the present study was to identify the skills essential to listening for translation purposes which, however, pose significant challenges to trainee translators starting a senior phase of their professional training (year 3). The development and practice of these skills should be made an integral part of translation-oriented foreign language training. The participants were 3rd-year full-time translation students (29) enrolled on a 5-year translation training programme. After listening to a recording in English and reproducing it in the same language, the participants were asked to comment on the problems and difficulties they encountered; the teacher also monitored the participants’ performance during the listening and reproduction task. The data revealed (a) some specific obstacles mentioned by the participants which hampered the complete and profound understanding of the recording and (b) some deeper underlying problems identified by the teacher. Based on these observations, we identified four groups of difficulties caused by (a) the students’ approach to the perception of the text, (b) factors hindering the perception of information, (c) the topic and the characteristics of the information in the text, (d) psycholinguistic factors. However, the key problem is believed to be the students’ approach to the perception of the text, i.e., their inability to perceive a text as a complete structural and semantic unit which can cause or exacerbate other listening comprehension difficulties. To address this problem, we proposed a number of recommendations and professionally oriented learning activities which have proved effective in developing the skills required for listening comprehension for interpreting purposes. This effort can ensure continuity between language and interpreting courses and provide a solid basis for teaching consecutive interpreting.

Keywords: consecutive interpreting, translation-oriented foreign language teaching, listening comprehension, source text