Expertise and Environment in Translation

Abstract

The overarching goal of the research team Expertise and Environment in Translation (PETRA, Spanish acronym) is to study as many aspects of the translation process as possible under the same scope. PETRA is interested in expertise and its development, considers intuitive problem-solving in translation as related to emergence and construction of meaning, and interprets skills acquisition and development as routine interiorization and improvement of mental efficiency. Characteristic of PETRA's approach are homogeneous research methodologies through internal standards, and theoretical feedback from cognitive linguistics, situated and embodied cognition, and social constructivism. Research methods include pilot testing, subjects' and texts' profiling, test repetition, non-invasive data collection, previous typing period, length and frequency to determine pause relevance, post-test questionnaires, data triangulation, blind product cross-evaluation, statistical and ecological validity checks. Results of Martín de León (2003), Lachat (2003), De Rooze (2003), Gómez (2006) and Conde (2009), and ongoing projects by Castro, Marín, Muñoz, and Perea are summarized.