ICT-Based Traslation Strategies of Prospective Scientific and Technical Translators

Abstract

Introduction. Responding to the translation service market requirements scientific and technical translators should be able to choose and properly use ICT-based translation strategies performing a translation workflow in the ICT environment. The purpose of this paper is to specify and systematize ICT-based translation strategies used by practicing translators in the real-life professional setting, which prospective scientific and technical translators should acquire in the process of training. The author applies theoretical (analysis of standards, academic papers and practicing translators’ publications, synthesis of the obtained findings) and empirical (interviewing practicing translators) methods. Discussion. The process of teaching scientific and technical translation correlates with the stages of practicing translators’ professional activity comprising a set of steps aimed at solving particular translation tasks: preparatory, analytical, synthesizing, correction and assessment ones. Practicing translators turn to ICT at most steps of the translation process applying both general-purpose and translation ICT tools. They need to use a global ICT-based translation strategy – an algorithm of translator’s actions aimed at creating the target text, which is determined by ICT tools and the degree of their involvement. The paper highlights the three groups of ICT-based translation strategies (MT-based, TM-based and mixed ones) among which the translator chooses the optimal one at the analytical stage for its application at further steps. This choice is determined by the objective and subjective factors described in the article. Conclusions. In the process of prospective scientific and technical translators’ training special attention should be paid to raising their awareness of possible ICT-based translation strategies and developing appropriate skills.