《translation commentary》.pdf

SYSTEM System 33 (2005) 309–325 /locate/system Translation commentary: A happy medium between translation curriculum and EAP Chris C.-C. Shei * Centre for Applied Language Studies, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK Received 27 April 2004; received in revised form 17 January 2005; accepted 20 January 2005 Abstract In this article, Translation Commentary refers to an English composition written by a lear- ner of both English and translation, submitted together with his or her translation output. In an academic setting combining English-to-Chinese translation and English as a second lan- guage, this article deals with both the issue of translation and that of second language writing. By analysing student compositions with respect to a model of translation problem space (TPS) proposed in this article, the author hopes to show that some Chinese learners writing in Eng- lish lack the ability to generalise from details to principles or vice versa. This situation, how- ever, could be improved by referring students to the proposed model, where there is a hierarchy of concepts, from the more abstract to the more tangible, entangled in the problem space of translation. In this article, a first model of TPS leads to a second model of second language writing in the context of English for academic purposes. A software prototype is then proposed based on these two models, which is designed not only to clarify students concepts in translation but also to improve their writings in English as a second language. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Translation commentary; Problem solving; English for academic purposes (E