Analyzing the translations of undergraduate translation students : Language interference in the translations of introductory-level students and its implications.

The present study analyzes undergraduate translation students’ work and discusses its implications. By identifying difficulties students face when beginning to study translation, the study aims to provide a platform for further discussion on translator education. It focuses on instances of language interference in student translations, discussing literature on language interference and translator education. The study highlights the importance of teaching students about the risks of language interference in translation, even in the age of AI, and reviews the types of language interference suggested in the literature. It examines students’ translations of a text about the bankruptcy of Silicon Valley Bank and its impact on the stock market, describing cases where students fell into language interference. The study established criteria for classifying language interference, analyzed translations based on these criteria, and used student journal analysis to derive educational implications. It is hoped that these findings will lay the groundwork for future research into the long-term development of translation competence, and will serve as the basis for a semi-longitudinal study comparing undergraduate students’ translations from their first to fourth years. Ultimately, this research contributes to identifying the characteristics of student translations and pinpointing areas where translation education should focus in order to enhance translation competence.