Williams Malcolm. Translation Quality Assessment

An Argumentation-Centred Approach. — Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press, 2004. — xx, 204 p. — ISBN: 0-7766-0584-4 (Perspectives on Translation)Outlining an original, discourse-based model for translation quality assessment that goes beyond conventional microtextual error analysis, this ground-breaking new work by Malcolm Williams explores the potential of transferring reasoning and argument as the prime criterion of translation quality. Assessment through error analysis is inevitably based on an error count – an unsatisfactory means of establishing, and justifying, differences in quality that forces the evaluator to focus on subsentence elements rather than on the translator's success in conveying the key messages of the source text. Williams counters that a judgement of translation quality should be based primarily on the degree to which the translator has adequately rendered the reasoning, or argument structure.
An assessment of six aspects of argument structure is proposed: argument macrostructure, propositional functions, conjunctives, types of arguments, figures of speech, and narrative strategy. Williams illustrates the approach using three different types of instrumental text: letters, statistical reports, and argumentative articles for publication. He goes on to propose a new set of standards, flexible and modular, that will help a translation meet the minimum professional standard.Developing an argumentation-centred TQA model
The present state of TQA and study objectives
TQA approaches
Models with a quantitative dimension
Non-quantitative models
Investigations and definitions of translation norms
Present state: conclusions and issues
TQA models
Objectives
Overview of argumentation framework and argument schema
Logic, argument and rhetoric
Features of an argumentation-centred TQA model
Argument schema
Claim/discovery
Grounds
Warrant
Backing
Qualifier/modalizer
Rebuttal/exception/restriction
Example
Generic framework
Preliminary application of model
Rhetorical topology
Elements of the topology
Organizational relations
Conjunctives and other inference indicators
Illustration of treatment of four conjunctive types in instrumental translation
Frequency and variety of conjunctives: a translation error case study
Other inference indicators
From inference indicators to propositional function
Types of argument
Overview
Definition
Comparison
Relationship
Circumstance
Testimony
Figures
Overview
Narrative strategy
Depersonalization
Qualifiers
Argumentation parameters and TQA grid
Defining major error, testing the model, and determining the quality standard: preparatory steps
Defining major error
Testing the model
Determining the translation quality standard
Testing and refining the model and defining a quality standard
Testing the model
Analytical process
Analysis
Translations of statistics texts for the Canadian government
Criminal justice and criminology translations
Comparative summary of results
Refining the modelOverall and field/use-specific TQA
Findings
Comparison of ARTRAQ and quantitative-microtextual TQA in terms of quality of information
Findings
Refinements
Parameters and grid
Seriousness of error
Full-text assessment versus sampling
The revised model
Development of a rating scale
ARTRAQ and development of a standardFrom norm to standard
Translation quality standardTQA model
Definition of error
Definition of translation quality standard