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© 2018. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

This article reports on the results of a study which investigated English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners' use of an electronic dictionary in a L1-L2 translation task. Forty-seven university graduate students from a Chinese university were asked to translate a Chinese passage into English on computers with the support of an embedded dictionary. Screen recorders were used to record their dictionary use behavior and a follow-up interview was conducted to tap into the thinking processes behind their behavior. The results of the study show that when translating, EFL learners demonstrate preferences for L2 equivalents and content words in their lookups, and reveal specific problems such as a preoccupation with L2 equivalents and lack of awareness of other lexical information, which may hinder correct application of dictionary information. This study suggests that dictionary use behavior may affect the development of students' ability to translate and requires attention from both EFL learners and teachers. It is further suggested that translation teachers should alert learners to the importance of checking other lexical information in a dictionary in their translation practice.

Alternate abstract:

In hierdie artikel word verslag gelewer oor die resultate van 'n studie waarin leerders van Engels as Vreemde Taal (EVT) se gebruik van 'n elektroniese woordeboek in 'n L1-L2-vertalingsopdrag ondersoek is. Sewe en veertig nagraadse studente van 'n Chinese universiteit is versoek om op die rekenaar 'n Chinese stuk in Engels te vertaal met behulp van 'n ingeboude woordeboek. Skermopnemers is gebruik om hul gedrag rakende woordeboekgebruik vas te le, en 'n opvolgonderhoud is gevoer om die denkprosesse wat hul gedrag rig, te probeer bepaal. Die resultate van die studie dui daarop dat EVT-leerders in die naslaanproses 'n voorkeur vir L2-ekwivalente en inhoudswoorde toon, en dit le spesifieke probleme soos 'n beheptheid met L2-ekwivalente en 'n onkunde oor ander leksikale inligting bloot, wat kan verhinder dat die woordeboekinligting korrek toegepas word. Hierdie studie suggereer dat woordeboekgebruiksgedrag die ontwikkeling van studente se vertaalvermoěns mag affekteer en dat sowel EVT-leerders as -onderwysers aandag hieraan moet skenk. Daar word ook voorgestel dat vertaalonderwysers leer- ders se aandag moet vestig op hoe belangrik die kontrolering van ander leksikale inligting in 'n woordeboek in hul vertaalpraktyk is.

Details

Title
An Empirical Study of EFL Learners' Dictionary Use in Chinese–English Translation
Author
Liang, Pengcheng 1 ; Xu, Dan 2 

 School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University and Bilingual Dictionary Research Center, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, China 
 School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University, Jiangsu, China 
Pages
221-244
Publication year
2018
Publication date
2018
Publisher
Buro van die Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal (Bureau of the WAT)
ISSN
16844904
e-ISSN
22240039
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2209864415
Copyright
© 2018. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.