Explicitation in translation memory-mediated environments. Methodological conclusions from a pilot study

Abstract

This paper outlines the design and methodological conclusions drawn from a pilot study conducted to measure how translation editing environments impact the presence in translations of one of the most studied translations phenomena: explicitation. To our knowledge, the study of this translation technique under different translation editing environments has never been undertaken and it can be two fold. On the one hand, a study of this translation technique from this new perspective can give some support in favour of or against the widespread idea that explicitation is a translation universal or just a voluntary translation technique. On the other hand, little empirical research has been conducted to assess the way in which computer-mediated translation environments (i.e. the integration of translation memories in the translation process) may have an impact on the texts they produce. This paper describes the methodological results provided by a pilot study in order to promote methodological rigour and scientific validity in experimental research in the field of translation studies. Based on the findings from this pilot study, some methodological changes were made in the subsequent final experiment.