Translation as a User-Localization Practice

Purpose: This article presents translation as a user-localized activity. Using Sun's (2012) distinction between user and practitioner localization, the researchers present a preliminary illustration of how translation is enacted by multilingual participants aiming to translate words from their...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Technical communication (Washington) 2015-11, Vol.62 (4), p.271-284
Main Authors: Gonzales, Laura, Zantjer, Rebecca
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Applied Research
Communication Research
English
English as an international language
English language
Heritage language
Interpreters
Intonation
Language socialization
Learning
Localization
Methods
Multilingualism
Negotiation
Semiotics
Storytelling
Technical communication
Technical Writing
Translating and interpreting
Translation
Translation (Languages)
Translation methods and strategies
Translations
Translators
User-Experience
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Purpose: This article presents translation as a user-localized activity. Using Sun's (2012) distinction between user and practitioner localization, the researchers present a preliminary illustration of how translation is enacted by multilingual participants aiming to translate words from their heritage languages into English. Method: As part of this pilot study, ten, ten-minute interviews were conducted, video-recorded, and coded to better understand how multilingual users adapt information from their heritage languages into English. Results: Results suggest that users employ several strategies when translating in context: acting, comparing/contrasting, deconstructing, gesturing, intonation, negotiating, sketching, and storytelling. These strategies involve the use of both words and other semiotic resources (for example, gestures, intonation) to convey meaning across languages. Conclusion: Technical communication researchers and practitioners could develop more effective translation and localization frameworks by learning from the user-localized translation practices of multilinguals. Analyzing the translation practices of multilinguals who are not professional translators or interpreters could provide a framework for technical communicators to better recognize the complexities of writing in English for international audiences.
ISSN:0049-3155
1938-369X