Proceedings of the 2022 International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities and Arts (SSHA 2022)

Processing of Null-subject Sentences in Chinese-English Sight Translation

Authors
Yao Peng1, a
1Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya
Corresponding Author
Yao Peng
Available Online 8 April 2022.
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.220401.090How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Sight translation; Chinese null-subject sentences; syntactic processing
Abstract

Sight translation is an extremely complicated bilingual activity. Particularly, syntactic processing is integral to satisfactory translation quality. In recent years, quite a few scholars have investigated the syntactic processing, transfer and reformulation from the perspective of cognitive psychology. Nevertheless, few studies have focused on Chinese null-subject sentences or thoroughly analyzed the translation techniques adopted by interpreters or translators. Thus, the present empirical study aimed to supplement previous studies by systematically exploring sight translators’ processing of null-subject sentences and their strategies for reducing cognitive efforts. Eleven Chinese MTI students sight translated 15 null-subject sentences and 15 sentences with subjects and immediately completed mini questionnaires. Based on the findings, the sentence type under study did not significantly influence translation duration, but detrimentally influenced the quality of sight translation. Furthermore, the sight translators deemed null-subject sentences more challenging than those with subjects and revealed the difficulty mainly occurred during the phrase of syntactic reformulation. However, several strategies were adopted by the participants to reduce cognitive burden.

Copyright
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2022 International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities and Arts (SSHA 2022)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
8 April 2022
ISBN
978-94-6239-560-2
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.220401.090How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

Cite this article

TY  - CONF
AU  - Yao Peng
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/04/08
TI  - Processing of Null-subject Sentences in Chinese-English Sight Translation
BT  - Proceedings of the 2022 International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities and Arts (SSHA 2022)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 481
EP  - 484
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220401.090
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.220401.090
ID  - Peng2022
ER  -