Investigating translators' individual differences: a personal journey

1. Investigating translators' individual differences: a personal journey Dr. Séverine Hubscher-Davidson Aston University

2. Presentation Outline Introduction • Research: the beginning • Building bridges with other fields • Current and future research Conclusion

3. Introduction • MA in Translation and Interpreting (University of Bath) • PhD in Translation Studies (University of Bath) The effects of personality features and individual differences on the performances of students translating literature from French into English. • Multidisciplinary focus and methodologies. • MSc in Psychology (Open University, ongoing) inc. Identity in Question; Ethnography; Psychological Research Methods; Psychometrics.

4. I. Research: the beginning Doctoral study: • TAPs, personality test, translations, questionnaires, observations • Potential correlation between certain personality traits (e.g. intuitive) and success in literary translation

5. II. Building bridges with other fields • The influence of soft skills in the translation process needs to be researched in future. • The use of both psychological and sociological research methods can help tap into the translation process, e.g. feelings and emotions of translators.

6. II. Building bridges with other fields Ethnographic study: • Interview TAPs, questionnaires, translations • Important role in literary translation of visualizations, emotional involvement, intuitive behaviours, confidence

7. II. Building bridges with other fields Intuition study: • TAPs, personality test, translation • Intuition plays a part in the literary translation process: a personality preference for using intuition may indicate increased sensitivity to target readership expectations

8. II. Building bridges with other fields • Both cognitive and affective factors need to be researched in relation to the translation process. • The measurement of personalities, feelings, emotions is often undertaken with psychometrics (c.f. creative writing, FLA)

9. II. Building bridges with other fields • ↑ intuition related to ↑EI • ↑ intuition related to successful literary writing • Correlation between ↑EI and successful literary translation?

10. III. Current and future research • Does EI impact on translator behaviour? • Do literary translators have a specific EI makeup, compared to non-literary translators? • What is the role of literary translation experience on levels of EI? • What is the profile of professional translators with very high levels of EI?

11. III. Current and future research EI study: • TEIQue (psychological reports), in-depth questionnaires • Role of trait EI in relation to length of experience, literary translation specialism, career success, etc. Challenges: interdisciplinarity (concepts and methods)

12. Thank you for your attention.