翻译测试的外延与内涵

Defining Translation Testing

在定义翻译和测试的基础上,确定了翻译测试的内涵。为了满足翻译测试研究活动的操作性要求,本讨论把翻译定义为翻译活动主体的工作表现或工作实力或发展性向,把测试定义为由准备、实施和跟踪研究构成的过程。对于翻译测试,准备过程的内容主要包括总测试规划的论证与制定、实施条件的规定、刺激物的标准化、人员的培训、有效性依据和证据的采集、结果有效使用措施的制定等。实施过程的主要内容包括标准化环境条件的满足、标准化任务的呈献以及任务完成情况的评定等,跟踪研究过程的主要任务是对测试项目执行的效应进行检测。在讨论翻译测试与教育和心理测试、语言测试以及翻译研究关系的基础上,考虑到翻译测试的内涵,提出不宜把翻译测试作为语言测试的一个分支,建议把翻译测试作为应用翻译学的一个分支。

Based on the definition of translation and testing, the content of the process of translation testing was specified. In order to propose an operational definition for translation testing, this discussion has defined translation as the test taker＇s performance on or competence or aptitude for doing specific translation work; it has defined testing as a three-stage process of preparation, administration, and follow-up studies. For translation testing, preparation mainly covers the making of the overall plan, specification of standardization conditions, preparation of test tasks, personnel training, collection of validity evidence, and working out measures to be taken to safe- guard the valid use of test result. Administration mainly includes the realization of standard testing conditions, the presentation of test tasks, and the marking of task performance. Follow-up studies collect the impact of the testing program and provide both positive and negative feedbacks for it. The relation between translation testing and related disciplines, namely, educational/psychological testing, language testing and translation studies, and the what＇s of translation testing suggest that it is improper for translation testing to be a branch of language testing. Instead, it should be a subordinate of applied translatology.