The specialized text as a key element in the pedagogy of translation to second languages.

Abstract

Objectives: To question the traditional ethos of only translating into one’s mother tongue, since English and Spanish have become vehicular, international languages; put forward some suggestions for a method of teaching translation using specialised texts. Method: The starting point is to present to the learners simple though specialised texts to be translated into both languages. In doing so, students realise how important it is to acquire a translation strategy, which can be applied, mutatis mutandis, to both languages. Since the texts are goal-oriented, the prime aim of translating is getting the message across: content analysis necessitates extensive use of documentary research in order to master the terminology used. Results: Since specialised texts are more standardized and predictable than journalistic texts, students soon realise that they can achieve results approaching those of native speakers, so long as they apply the relevant principles.  Conclusion: The approach has paved the way for a trilingual handbook to be proposed for publication.