Evaluating language translations: Experiments on three assessment methods.

Abstract

Experiments were run to assess three ways of evaluating the quality of language translations: back translation, knowledge testing, and performance testing. Twelve professional English-to-Vietnamese translators processed approximately 10,000 words of technical material (i.e., a helicopter maintenance manual). Subjects took knowledge tests or performed a difficult maintenance task using translated materials. Vietnamese Air Force technicians and U.S. Army technicians served as primary subjects and controls, respectively. The analysis of back translations showed the frequency and types of translation errors that occurred. Knowledge test scores satisfactorily discriminated different quality levels of translations. The performance tests demonstrated (a) the impact of translation quality on performance, (b) the value of working in one's native language (vs. having to learn English), and (c) the importance of providing high-fidelity translations where a complex task is to be done. 1 The authors would like to thank Vu Tam Ich, Nguyen Nhan, and the officers of Fort Eustis, Virginia, for making this work possible. Further information on all aspects of this investigation (e.g., background, more examples of technical English translated, performance task) can be found in Sinaiko and Brislin (1970).

A Survey and a Positive Psychology Intervention on French PhD Student Well-being

“…To measure all components of well-being and PERMA dimensions (Seligman, 2011) Motivation for PhD (Litalien, 2014) Motivation types (selfdetermination theory) 15 1-5 Previously identified factor affecting mental health and well-being (e.g., (Litalien, 2014;Stubb et al, 2012)) *Juniper PhD well-being scale (Juniper et al, 2012) Seven dimensions (e.g., supervisor, university, health, …) 75 0-5 PhD-specific multifactorial tool to study well-being (Juniper et al, 2012) *These tools were translated from English to French for this study using the translation/backtranslation approach (Brislin 1970;Sinaiko & Brislin 1973) The "Motivation for PhD" scale (Litalien, 2014) relies on the self-determination theory (SDT) (Deci & Ryan, 2002), which is supported by numerous studies carried out over the past thirty years. SDT predicts that, in the course of a PhD, self-determined motivation will lead to greater engagement and academic success, as well as higher levels of well-being compared to constrained motivation.…”

The impact of cultural intelligence on communication effectiveness, job satisfaction and anxiety for Chinese host country managers working for foreign multinationals

“…All the other scales and extra items were translated from English into Chinese. Of the three assessment methods to evaluate translations that Sinaiko and Brislin (1973) suggest, we opted to use the translation -back-translation method (for a further description of this method, see Brislin (1970) and Beaton, Bombardier, Guillemin and Ferraz (2000)). Different independent native Chinese master's degree students, fluent in English, performed the translation and back-translation.…”

Characteristics of Korean International Students and Their Perceived Preferences for Counselling Style

“…For the current study, the scripts were translated into the Koreran language using the back translation method (Sinaiko & Brislin, 1973). The author first translated the scripts from English into Korean, and then two bilingual Korean Americans translated the Korean versions back into English.…”