Experts versus novices: The use of sources of information in the process of translation

This study investigates the use of information sources during the translati on process. Three professional translators and three translation students w ere asked to translate a short text while thinking aloud. The results show a correlation between the range of information sources used, expertise of t ranslation and translation quality. However, the preference of a certain ty pe of source (e.g., monolingual vs bilingual dictionaries) is not associate d with translation quality. The results have implications for translation r esearch methodology, as it should be reminded that correlational results do not permit the attribution of causal links, and translation pedagogy, wher e the criticism often expressed towards the use of bilingual dictionaries s eems unjustified in the light of our data.