Analyzing Translation Errors of Trainee Translators: A Case Study on Tourism Promotional Material

Abstract

The present study aims to scrutinize the trainee translators’ errors in their translations of tourism promotional material, a brochure, from Turkish into English. Thus, this study is designed as a descriptive qualitative research and corroborated with quantitative analysis, presenting a thorough analysis of the translated texts based on the American Translation Association (ATA) translation error taxonomy. The framework of this study employs Corder’s taxonomy of phases for error analysis, namely, selection of a text, identification of errors, classification of errors, and explanation of possible reasons for those errors. The data discussed in this paper derive from the translated texts of fifteen trainee translators i.e., third- and fourth-year T&I students at a private university enrolled in the Cultural Aspects of Translation and Interpretation course. The results revealed a statistical difference between the main error categories. According to the findings, trainee translators made most errors in the form of the language, i.e. target language mechanics, followed by errors in meaning and errors in writing quality. In acting as a “cultural mediator” in tourism text translations, trainees have also been found to be not so effective as they are supposed to be. With the results unfolded, it is hoped to benefit to both translation professors and trainees themselves.

Keywords

• translation studies
• tourism promotional materials
• translation errors
• ATA framework
• trainee translators

Supporting Institution

This research did not receive any specific grant from institutions.

Ethical Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all students.

Thanks

I would like to thank Simon Edward Mumford for proofreading this manuscript.

Aday Çevirmenlerin Çeviri Hataları: Turizm Tanıtım Materyali Çevirileri Üzerine Bir İnceleme

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, turizm tanıtım materyallerinden biri olan broşürün Türkçeden İngilizceye çevirilerinde aday çevirmenlerin en sık yaptıkları çeviri hatalarını incelemektir. Dolayısıyla, bu çalışma betimleyici nitel analiz yönteminden yararlanmış ve nicel analizle desteklenmiştir. Ayrıca, Amerikan Çeviri Derneği’nin (ATA) belirlemiş olduğu hata kategorizasyonuna dayalı kapsamlı bir analiz sunulmuştur. Çalışmanın çerçevesini ise Corder’in hata analizi aşamaları oluşturmaktadır. Bu aşamalar metin seçimi, hataların belirlenmesi, hataların kategorizasyonu ve bu hataların muhtemel sebeplerinin tartışılmasından oluşmaktadır. Bu çalışmada ele alınan veriler, özel bir üniversitede verilen Kültürel Yönleriyle Yazılı ve Sözlü Çeviri dersine kayıtlı toplam on beş üçüncü ve dördüncü sınıf öğrencilerinin çevirilerinden elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler ise üç ana hata kategorisi arasında ciddi istatistiksel fark olduğunu ortaya çıkarmıştır. Bulgulara göre, aday çevirmenler en çok dil formunda, bir başka deyişle hedef dil mekaniğinde hata yaparken, bunu anlam hataları ve yazı kalitesinde hatalar takip etmiştir. Aday çevirmenlerin turizm metinleri çevirisinde “kültür elçisi” rolünü üstlenmede beklenildiği kadar etkili olamadıkları da sonuçlar arasında yer almaktadır. Elde edilen verilerle hem çeviri eğitmenlerine hem de çevirmen adaylarına katkı sunulması amaçlanmaktadır.

Keywords

• çeviribilim
• turizm tanıtım materyalleri
• çeviri hataları
• ATA çerçevesi
• aday çevirmenler

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