Interdisciplinarity in Translation and Interpreting Process Research: (72 Benjamins Current Topics)

First published as a special issue of Target (issue 25:1, 2013), this volume explores interdisciplinarity in translation and interpreting process research, fields that have enjoyed a boom in the last decade. For this reason, the time was ripe for a reflection on the broad range of methodologies that have been applied in our endeavours to understand both translation and interpreting processes better. The ten chapters provide a snapshot of how translation and interpreting process researchers have availed themselves of concepts and theories developed in other disciplines, such as psychology, the cognitive sciences, journalism, and literary studies, to examine and illuminate their object of study. This collection demonstrates that translation and interpreting process research borrow heavily from other disciplines and call for a consideration of how translation research can become truly interdisciplinary through increased collaboration, synergy, and mutual advancement.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction; 2. Articles; 3. The borrowers: Researching the cognitive aspects of translation (by O'Brien, Sharon); 4. Cognitive load in simultaneous interpreting: Measures and methods (by Seeber, Kilian G.); 5. Extended translation: A sociocognitive research agenda (by Risku, Hanna); 6. Towards a new linguistic-cognitive orientation in translation studies (by House, Juliane); 7. Translation competence: Explaining development and stagnation from a dynamic systems perspective (by Gopferich, Susanne); 8. Applying a newswriting research approach to translation (by Ehrensberger-Dow, Maureen); 9. Metaphor in translation: Possibilities for process research (by Schaffner, Christina); 10. Investigating the conceptual-procedural distinction in the translation process: A relevance-theoretic analysis of micro and macro translation units (by Alves, Fabio); 11. The role of archival and manuscript research in the investigation of translator decision-making (by Munday, Jeremy); 12. Sound effects in translation (by Mees, Inger M.); 13. Subject index

Review :
Interdisciplinarity strives to create new knowledge by integrating elements from different disciplines --methods, models, concepts-- in the service of a broader and more complete understanding of the complex phenomena scientists study. Interdisciplinarity also should act to challenge the "borders" of disciplines, to help scholars understand that complex phenomena like translation and interpreting can only be understood by moving deliberately into the space at the juncture of multiple disciplines. These noble goals are often touted, but not often achieved. This book, Interdisciplinarity in Translation and Interpreting Process Research, is a true and successful effort in interdisciplinarity. It successfully combines insights from cognitive science, psychology, sociology, neuro-linguistics, bilingualism and other fields to explore and, more importantly, expand the disciplinary boundaries of Translation Studies. This volume provides an insightful and inspiring overview of the interdisciplinary work done in translation and interpreting process research. Individual contributions not only discuss what has been borrowed from other disciplines but also suggest promising areas for future collaboration and describe concrete examples of interdisciplinary research projects. Essential reading for anyone intrigued by the complexities of translation and interpreting. This volume [...] constitutes a valuable contribution to anyone interested in Interdisciplinarity and Translation Studies, even beyond Translation Process Research, mainly due to the richness of options provided. It may be treated as a methodological toolbox for a large variety of research occasions by both seasoned scholars and younger ones. What is more, this volume serves as an open invitation to scholars from other disciplines. The maturity of process studies, and of translation studies at large, will ultimately give the translation process domain an equal status to other domains, and involve it in truly reciprocal interdisciplinary partnerships. This book takes an important step in that direction. The editors of this volume have brought together a body of high quality work that firmly establishes translation and interpreting process research and cognitive translation and interpreting studies as a locus of rapid development and innovation. Not only is the work forward-looking: it also clearly demonstrates that the interdisciplinarity cart is now firmly behind the translation and interpreting studies horse. This is clear throughout the volume as translational issues drive both theoretical and methodological advancement.