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How Do Students Perform and Perceive Parallel Corpus Use in Translation Tasks? Evidence from an Experimental Study

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Corpora and Translation Education

Part of the book series: New Frontiers in Translation Studies ((NFTS))

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Abstract

This study investigates how the utilisation of a parallel corpus affects the perceptions and behavioural patterns of students in translation teaching. The research employed a pre-test, training, post-test experimental design, focusing on an experimental group from a master’s degree translation programme. During a four-week workshop, these students received training on utilising a parallel corpus as a translation aid, whilst a control group received no such training. Quantitative analysis of the post-test outcomes indicated that there was no significant impact on students’ Chinese-English translation; however, it did reveal a noticeable effect on English-Chinese translation. To gain deeper insights, qualitative analysis was conducted on the translation products of all students during the post-tests. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four focal students to delve into their perceptions and behavioural patterns when utilising the parallel corpus. The findings demonstrate that the use of a parallel corpus enhanced students’ awareness of translation problems and strategies, leading to improved resourcefulness. Overall, students considered the parallel corpus a valuable tool in their translation practice. Based on the findings, the study also identified and discussed challenges associated with corpus design and pedagogical planning, which are inherent in corpus-assisted translation teaching.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

    Kanglong Liu, Yanfang Su & Dechao Li

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  1. Kanglong Liu
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  2. Yanfang Su
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  3. Dechao Li
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Correspondence to Dechao Li .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Jun Pan

  2. Department of Humanistic Research and Innovation, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Moro, Bari, Italy

    Sara Laviosa

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Liu, K., Su, Y., Li, D. (2023). How Do Students Perform and Perceive Parallel Corpus Use in Translation Tasks? Evidence from an Experimental Study. In: Pan, J., Laviosa, S. (eds) Corpora and Translation Education. New Frontiers in Translation Studies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6589-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6589-2_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-99-6588-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-99-6589-2

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