Translations as language Translations as language teststests

Gianfranco PorcelliGianfranco Porcelli

Pavia, March 6, 2009Pavia, March 6, 2009

Out of the blue…Out of the blue…

Il postiglione Il postiglione del duca è del duca è stato colpito stato colpito dal fulminedal fulmine

A paragon of perfection A paragon of perfection (for French)?(for French)?

I cammelli I cammelli hanno i calli hanno i calli alle ginocchiaalle ginocchia

Robert Lado (1964) on the Robert Lado (1964) on the limitations of translations as tests / 1limitations of translations as tests / 1 TranslationTranslation As a test of ability in As a test of ability in

listening, speaking, reading, and listening, speaking, reading, and writing, we notice the following writing, we notice the following limitations in the use of translation:limitations in the use of translation:

1.1. The most proficient students do not The most proficient students do not translate when they use the translate when they use the language.language.

Robert Lado (1964) on the Robert Lado (1964) on the limitations of translations as tests / 2limitations of translations as tests / 2 2.2. There are various ways to There are various ways to

translate and to judge a translation:translate and to judge a translation: For artistic purposes, for accuracy of For artistic purposes, for accuracy of

information, for grammatical exactness, information, for grammatical exactness, or for vocabulary equivalence. A or for vocabulary equivalence. A translation can be judged from these translation can be judged from these and other points of view. If the student and other points of view. If the student is forced to translate for vocabulary or is forced to translate for vocabulary or grammar, his literary appreciation may grammar, his literary appreciation may suffer.suffer.

Robert Lado (1964) on the Robert Lado (1964) on the limitations of translations as tests / 3limitations of translations as tests / 3

3.3. The grading of translations tends to The grading of translations tends to be unreliable because of the various be unreliable because of the various ways to translate and the variations ways to translate and the variations that the scorer may or may not allow.that the scorer may or may not allow.

4.4. Translation is a special skill different Translation is a special skill different from listening, speaking, reading, and from listening, speaking, reading, and writing.writing.

Robert Lado (1964) on the Robert Lado (1964) on the limitations of translations as tests / 4limitations of translations as tests / 4 5.5. Translation is slow as a test. Unless he Translation is slow as a test. Unless he

has had special training, a good student has had special training, a good student takes longer to translate a letter than to takes longer to translate a letter than to write one. In the time that it takes him to write one. In the time that it takes him to translate a passage, he can cover more translate a passage, he can cover more material using other techniques.material using other techniques.

6.6. Translation is slow to grade, since the Translation is slow to grade, since the examiner has to weigh each response to examiner has to weigh each response to see if it is allowable.see if it is allowable.

Robert Lado (1964) on the Robert Lado (1964) on the limitations of translations as tests / 5limitations of translations as tests / 5

7.7. The use of translation in tests The use of translation in tests encourages the abuse of translation in encourages the abuse of translation in the classroom.the classroom.

Perhaps the only favorable things to be Perhaps the only favorable things to be said for translation as a test of language said for translation as a test of language proficiency are that translation questions proficiency are that translation questions are easy to set and are compact. The price are easy to set and are compact. The price paid for these is high.paid for these is high.

Distance and proximityDistance and proximity

bag brag crag drag flag fag gag bag brag crag drag flag fag gag hag lag nag quag rag sag shag hag lag nag quag rag sag shag slag snag stag swag tag wagslag snag stag swag tag wag

fraction fractionate fragility fraction fractionate fragility fragmentary fragrance fragrant fragmentary fragrance fragrant fraternity fratricide fraudulent fraternity fratricide fraudulent frequent frequentative friability frequent frequentative friability fricative frigidity frivolity fricative frigidity frivolity frontispiece fructification frugality frontispiece fructification frugality frustrationfrustration

Test anxietyTest anxiety

Good newsGood news

CleverClever……

I falsed where I should have truedI falsed where I should have trued

Good grief!Good grief!

Not just Linus / 1Not just Linus / 1

Not just Linus / 2Not just Linus / 2

Making the puzzle coherentMaking the puzzle coherent

See you soon…See you soon…

March 30th and 31stMarch 30th and 31st