Ambiguity Tolerance among BA Translation Trainees

Table of Contents

Contents

 Dedication ……..……………………….………………………………………………. I

Acknowledgments ………………………………………………………………………. II

Abstract …………………………………………………………………….…………. III

Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………… IV

List of Abbreviations ………………………………………………………………… VII

List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………….. VIII

List of Figures ………………………………………………………………………… IX

Chapter I: Introduction

1.1 Overview.. 5

1.2 Background of the Problem.. 5

1.3 Statement of the Problem.. 6

1.4 Significance of the Study. 6

1.5 Purpose of the Study. 7

1.6 Research Questions. 7

1.7 Hypothesis. 8

1.8 Theoretical Framework. 8

1.9 Definition of Key terms. 8

1.10 Limitations and Delimitations. 9

Chapter II: Literature Review

2.1. Overview.. 11

2.2. Translation from Cognitive and Psycholinguistic Viewpoint 11

2.2.1. Interpretive Theory of Translation. 14

2.2.2Psycholinguistic and Cognitive Psychology Models………………………… 16

2.2.3. Cognitive Pragmatic Model 19

2.4. Empirical Studies on Translation Process. 21

2.5. Reading as a Cognitive Process. 28

2.5.1. The Reading Processes. 31

2.5.2. Component Skills in Reading. 31

2.6. Reading Comprehension: A Requisite of Translation. 33

2.7. Cognitive Styles and Individual Differences. 35

2.8. Individual Differences and Translation. 38

2.9. Ambiguity and the Neighboring Concepts. 41

2.9.1. Ambiguity. 42

2.9.2. Vagueness. 42

2.9.3. Polysemy. 43

2.9.4. Homonymy. 43

2.9.5. Indefiniteness. 43

2.9.6. Indirect Speech. 43

2.10. Linguistic Ambiguity Typology. 44

2.10.1. Empson’s Classification. 44

2.10.2. Transformational Grammarians’ Classification. 45

2.11. Lexical and Syntactic Ambiguity Resolution. 48

2.12. Ambiguity (in)Tolerance and the Neighboring Concepts. 49

2.12.1. Intolerance of Uncertainty. 50

2.12.2. Rigidity. 51

2.12.3. Dogmatism.. 51

2.12.4. Attitudinal and Behavioral Openness. 52

2.12.5. Risk-taking. 52

2.12.6. Open-mindedness. 52

2.13. Ambiguity Tolerance Measurement 53

2.14. Ambiguity in Translation Studies Literature. 54

2.15. Translation Strategy. 56

2.15.1. Newmark’s Classification. 59

2.15.2. Baker’s Classification. 60

2.15.3 Chesterman’s Classification. 61

2.16. Empirical Research on Translation Strategies. 67

Chapter III: Methodology

3.1. Overview.. 70

3.2. Type of Research. 70

3.3. Subjects. 71

3.4. Instrumentation. 71

3.5. Procedure. 72

3.5.1. Data Collection. 72

3.6. Data Classification. 78

3.7. Data Analysis. 79

Chapter IV: Results and Discussion

4.1. Overview.. 81

4.2. Research Findings. 81

4.3. Results. 119

Chapter V: Conclusions

5.1. Overview.. 130

5.2. Restatement of Research Questions. 130

5.3. Pedagogical Implications of the Study. 132

5.4. Suggestions for Further Research. 132

References ……………………………………………………………………………135

List of Abbreviations

ABOS: Attitudinal and Behavioral Openness Scale

AT: Ambiguity Tolerance

BA: Bachelor of Arts

CS: Context of Situation

GPA: Grade Point Average

ITT: Interpretive Theory of Translation

LTM: Long Term Memory

MSTAT: Multiple Stimulus Types Ambiguity Tolerance

SR: Speech Recognition

STM: Short Term Memory

TA: Tolerance of Ambiguity

TAP: Think-aloud Protocol

TS: Translation Studies

List of Tables                                                                          Page

Table 3.1. Ambiguity types and ambiguous sentences……………………72

Table 3.2. Chesterman’ classification of translation strategies ….………..73

Table 4.1. Applied strategies for translation of the lexical ambiguity “glasses”……………………………………………………………………75

Table 4.1.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group………..76

Table 4.1.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………..76

Table 4.2. Applied strategies for translation of the lexical ambiguity “bear”………………………………………………………………………77

Table 4.2.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group………….77

Table 4.2.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………78

Table 4.3. Applied strategies for translation of the lexical ambiguity

“pipe” ……………………………………………………………………..79

Table 4.3.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group…………79

Table 4.3.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group……….79

Table 4.4. Applied strategies for translation of the surface structural ambiguity “American history teacher”…………………………………….80

Table 4.4.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group…………81

Table 4.4.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………81

Table 4.5. Applied strategies for translation of the surface structural ambiguity “ate the apple in the kitchen” …………………………………82

Table 4.5.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group…………82

Table 4.5.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………82

Table 4.6. Applied strategies for translation of the surface structural ambiguity “every child awaits the time…” …………………………………………83

Table 4.6.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group………….86

Table 4.6.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………86

Table 4.7. Applied strategies for translation of the underlying structural ambiguity “the elephant was ready to lift” ……………………………….88

Table 4.7.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group…………90

Table 4.7.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………90

Table 4.8. Applied strategies for translation of the underlying structural ambiguity “stop drinking” ………………………………………………..91

Table 4.8.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group…………92

Table 4.8.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………92

Table 4.9. Applied strategies for translation of the underlying structural ambiguity “manager’s selection” …………………………………………93

Table 4.9.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group…………94

Table 4.9.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………95

Table 4.10. Applied strategies for translation of the lexical ambiguity “light” …………………………………………………………………….96

Table 4.10.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group……….96

Table 4.10.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………………………………………………………………………97

Table 4.11. Applied strategies for translation of the surface structural ambiguity “flying planes” ………………………………………………..97

Table 4.11.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group……….99

Table 4.11.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group……………………………………………………………………….99

Table 4.12. Applied strategies for translation of the lexical ambiguity “heel” ……………………………………………………………………100

Table 4.12.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group………101

Table 4.12.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………………………………………………………………………101

Table 4.13. Applied strategies for translation of the surface structural ambiguity “dark brown sugar bowl” ……………………………………102

Table 4.13.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group………104

Table 4.13.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group……104

Table 4.14. Applied strategies for translation of the underlying structural ambiguity “they are the ones to help today” ……………………………105

Table 4.14.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group………107

Table 4.14.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group……………………………………………………………………………………….108

Table 4.15. Applied strategies for translation of the surface structural ambiguity “more realistic details” ………………………………………109

Table 4.15.1. Translation strategy frequency of the tolerant group………110

Table 4.15.2. Translation strategy frequency of the intolerant group………………………………………………………………………110

Table 4.16. Frequency of the different translation strategies for all ambiguity types by the two groups ………………………………………111

Table 4.17. Frequency of the translation strategies for lexical ambiguity resolution adopted by the two groups……………………………………114

Table 4.18. Frequency of translation strategies for surface structural ambiguity resolution adopted by the two groups ……………………….116

Table 4.19. Frequency of the translation strategies for underlying structural ambiguity resolution adopted by the two groups………………………..118

List of Figures

Figure 4.1. Frequency of the different translation strategies for all ambiguity types adopted by the two groups……………………………..112

Figure 4.2. Frequency of the different translation strategies for lexical ambiguity resolution adopted by the two groups………………………..115

Figure 4.3. Frequency of the translation strategies for surface structural ambiguity resolution adopted by the two groups………………………..117

Figure 4.4. Frequency of the translation strategies for underlying structural ambiguity resolution adopted by the two groups………………………..119