Epistemological and paradigmatic bases for empirical-experimental research on translation competence: a critical reflexion

This article considers translation from the perspective of appliable linguistics and aims at discussing the epistemological and paradigmatic bases that support research on translation competence. To achieve this end, it first discusses the epistemological and paradigmatic bases of studies on translation as a cognitive activity (O'Brien 2013, Alves 2015). Next, it analyses the models of translation competence proposed by PACTE (1998, 2003), Gonçalves (2003/2005) and Alves and Gonçalves (2007) to reflect critically on the relationship between these models and some closely related disciplines, namely, cognitive science and expertise studies. As a way of conclusion, the article argues for a view of human cognition as situated, embodied action to account for the dynamic and complex processes which characterize translation competence. By doing that, the article hopes to place translation competence within a broader model of language that has the potential to be applied to concrete problems.

appliable linguistics; translation competence; expertise in translation; empirical-experimental research; situated cognition; epistemology in translation competence research.