THINK-ALOUD PROTOCOL IN TRANSLATION: A PILOT PROJECT

Think Aloud Protocols (TAPs) are employed in various fields (e.g., teaching, nursing, computer programming [see also 21]) to reveal the process aimedata better understanding the outcome.Think-aloud-based translation process research emerged in the mid-1980s wherein participants are requested to speak out their thoughts -the normal thought processes of translators -while translating a text [see the bibliography: 8, p. 105] and developing students' self reflection.When a translator is asked how s/he is translating, in response you can hear that s/he knows languages, but it is far from being true.There is an argument that there is no strong evidence suggesting that TAP significantly changes or influences the translation process, though TAP's validity and completeness in a specific study might depend more or less on several variables.TAP and such recording methods as fastr eading, sight translation, self-and peer reviewing.as serve different specific research purposes, so they can be combined in a multimethod study to answer more complex research questions [22, p. 928].This method allows data collection about the translator's thoughts at the same time he verbalizes them [3, p. 139].The objective of this paper is fourfold: proces, product, academic and raising the efficieny of translation, additionally describtion and comparison of specific aspects of translation competence with data provided from a sight translation and a written translation task.The algorithm of TAPs, as a pilot experiment is elaborated.This is the the tentative introduction to the TAP in translation and we did not set the timing.There is an argument that TAP delayed translation by about 25%; no significant effects on revision were found; thinking aloud forced translators to process text in smaller segments [9, p. 69].But working in a team of professional translators using the TAP algorithm described we used to produce a lomger volume of translations which surpasses a volumeof individual translations -rare references to the dictionaries or encyclopedias, internet or telephone consultations with the national or international professionals in the field.