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Papers by Valentina Ragni
Audiovisual translation and media accessibility in language learning contexts
This paper reports on an eye-tracking study investigating the processing and mnemonic retention o... more This paper reports on an eye-tracking study investigating the processing and mnemonic retention of reverse subtitles (foreign-language subtitles presented alongside native-language audio) in learners of Italian as a Foreign language (IFL). 26 English native speakers with a CEFR B2+ Italian level watched an English clip with Italian subtitles in two translation conditions, formal similarity (literal transfer) and formal discrepancy (non-literal transfer). Immediately after watching, they answered recognition and recall questions. This study examines memory, attention allocation and the concept of noticing, which was investigated through triangulation of eye tracking, verbatim recognition and explicit reports. Data analysis methods include generalised mixed-effect modelling. Results revealed that reverse subtitles have acquisitional potential for advanced IFL learners, noticing can be probed experimentally, and formal (dis)similarity appears to have some psychological reality in the m...
The data contains information about a corpus of journal articles and other records analysed in a ... more The data contains information about a corpus of journal articles and other records analysed in a literature review of neural machine translation use, especially in relation to contexts involving human translators.
Translation, Cognition & Behavior, 2021
Translation behaviour is increasingly tracked to benchmark productivity, to calculate pay or to a... more Translation behaviour is increasingly tracked to benchmark productivity, to calculate pay or to automate project management decisions. Although in many cases these practices are commonplace, their effects are surprisingly under-researched. This article investigates the consequences of activity tracking in commercial translation. It reports on a series of focus-group interviews involving sixteen translators who used productivity tools to independently monitor their work for a period of sixteen weeks. Our analysis revealed several ways in which the act of tracking activity can itself influence translators’ working practices. We examine translators’ conceptualisations of productivity and discuss the findings as a matter of translator autonomy. The article calls for further awareness of individual and collective consequences of monitoring translation behaviour. Although in some contexts translators found activity tracking to be useful, we argue that client-controlled tracking and transl...
This experimental study addresses one of the least explored audiovisual modes: reverse subtitling... more This experimental study addresses one of the least explored audiovisual modes: reverse subtitling (L1 audio, L2 subtitles). Specifically, it investigates the effects of different translational choices on learners’ noticing and memorisation of lexical items and grammatical structures. The participants were English (L1) native speakers learning Italian (L2) at an upper-intermediate level (CEFR B2). Formal similarity (literal transfer) and discrepancy (non-literal transfer) between L1 and L2 were compared to establish if and how they affect the learners during subtitle processing and recall. Does one of the two translation conditions yield a better recall rate in a verbatim memory post-test? This constitutes the main research question addressed in this study. The main hypothesis was that there would be a difference in recall by translation condition, with formal equivalence having a facilitative effect on memory and literal subtitles therefore being more accurately recalled by learners...
Reversed subtitling is a subtitling mode in which the original audiovisual product is in the nati... more Reversed subtitling is a subtitling mode in which the original audiovisual product is in the native language of the viewer, and the subtitles are in the foreign language (L1 audio, L2 subtitles). Distinct acquisitional advantages of reversed subtitles have emerged from previous research, especially for L2 vocabulary retention, a crucial component of foreign language learning. Despite these benefits, however, reversed subtitles remain one of the least explored subtitling modes to date, with a particularly acute lack of knowledge regarding how they are processed and their impact on memory. The aim of this paper is to resume and expand the discussion on this type of interlingual subtitles, and fill this gap by presenting the initial results of a study on the effects of reversed subtitle translation on reading and retention of L2 input. Specifically, formal similarity (literal transfer) and formal discrepancy (non-literal transfer) were compared. To determine how the two translation con...
Perspectives, 2021
In recent years, the push towards automation and translation productivity led to great efforts de... more In recent years, the push towards automation and translation productivity led to great efforts dedicated to the development of machine translation (MT) systems. Neural machine translation (NMT) represents the latest of these efforts. In this paper we present a critical review of human factors in NMT research with two goals: to provide a snapshot of research in NMT involving human stakeholders, and to appraise how professional translators have been included in discourses around NMT. We report four key findings. First, from translators' perspective, changes brought about by the neural paradigm are not as much to do with workflows, but rather with the NMT editing process and its specifics. Second, the majority of NMT research involving human stakeholders is directed towards advancing the state of MT development rather than ensuring the usefulness of NMT as a tool for professionals. Third, the review suggested overall narrow conceptualisations of translation productivity that were often based solely on measures of processing time or throughput. Fourth, it emerged that NMT investigations involving end-users are still relatively scarce. We present and discuss these findings, and make recommendations for future research on topics including the concept of productivity and the role of NMT as a professional tool.
Translation and Translanguaging in Multilingual Contexts, 2018
Didactic subtitling is a relatively new area of investigation that is undergoing a surge in popul... more Didactic subtitling is a relatively new area of investigation that is undergoing a surge in popularity. By bringing together findings from Audiovisual Translation (AVT), Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and psycholinguistics, some theoretical issues related to the practice of subtitle creation in Foreign Language Learning (FLL) are appraised. The article introduces Task-Based Learning and Teaching (TBLT) and reflects on what didactic subtitling can and cannot offer to TBLT approaches. In a still predominantly communicative era, language researchers are questioning the effectiveness of entirely communicative approaches to FLL. Many support the idea that, if successful learning is to be achieved, some Form-Focused Instruction (FFI) is needed. This article reviews relevant FFI literature, and explores how far active subtitling can provide an effective strategy for focussing on form that leads to communicative language development. In doing so, concepts such as noticing, skill developm...
Informatics, 2019
Translation revision is a relevant topic for translator training and research. Recent technologic... more Translation revision is a relevant topic for translator training and research. Recent technological developments justify increased focus on embedding speech technologies—speech synthesis (text-to-speech) and speech recognition (speech-to-text)—into revision workflows. Despite some integration of speech recognition into computer-assisted translation (CAT)/translation environment tools (TEnT)/Revision tools, to date we are unaware of any CAT/TEnT/Revision tool that includes speech synthesis. This paper addresses this issue by presenting initial results of a case study with 11 participants exploring if and how the presence of sound, specifically in the source text (ST), affects revisers’ revision quality, preference and viewing behaviour. Our findings suggest an improvement in revision quality, especially regarding Accuracy errors, when sound was present. The majority of participants preferred listening to the ST while revising, but their self-reported gains on concentration and produc...
Audiovisual translation and media accessibility in language learning contexts
This paper reports on an eye-tracking study investigating the processing and mnemonic retention o... more This paper reports on an eye-tracking study investigating the processing and mnemonic retention of reverse subtitles (foreign-language subtitles presented alongside native-language audio) in learners of Italian as a Foreign language (IFL). 26 English native speakers with a CEFR B2+ Italian level watched an English clip with Italian subtitles in two translation conditions, formal similarity (literal transfer) and formal discrepancy (non-literal transfer). Immediately after watching, they answered recognition and recall questions. This study examines memory, attention allocation and the concept of noticing, which was investigated through triangulation of eye tracking, verbatim recognition and explicit reports. Data analysis methods include generalised mixed-effect modelling. Results revealed that reverse subtitles have acquisitional potential for advanced IFL learners, noticing can be probed experimentally, and formal (dis)similarity appears to have some psychological reality in the m...
The data contains information about a corpus of journal articles and other records analysed in a ... more The data contains information about a corpus of journal articles and other records analysed in a literature review of neural machine translation use, especially in relation to contexts involving human translators.
Translation, Cognition & Behavior, 2021
Translation behaviour is increasingly tracked to benchmark productivity, to calculate pay or to a... more Translation behaviour is increasingly tracked to benchmark productivity, to calculate pay or to automate project management decisions. Although in many cases these practices are commonplace, their effects are surprisingly under-researched. This article investigates the consequences of activity tracking in commercial translation. It reports on a series of focus-group interviews involving sixteen translators who used productivity tools to independently monitor their work for a period of sixteen weeks. Our analysis revealed several ways in which the act of tracking activity can itself influence translators’ working practices. We examine translators’ conceptualisations of productivity and discuss the findings as a matter of translator autonomy. The article calls for further awareness of individual and collective consequences of monitoring translation behaviour. Although in some contexts translators found activity tracking to be useful, we argue that client-controlled tracking and transl...
This experimental study addresses one of the least explored audiovisual modes: reverse subtitling... more This experimental study addresses one of the least explored audiovisual modes: reverse subtitling (L1 audio, L2 subtitles). Specifically, it investigates the effects of different translational choices on learners’ noticing and memorisation of lexical items and grammatical structures. The participants were English (L1) native speakers learning Italian (L2) at an upper-intermediate level (CEFR B2). Formal similarity (literal transfer) and discrepancy (non-literal transfer) between L1 and L2 were compared to establish if and how they affect the learners during subtitle processing and recall. Does one of the two translation conditions yield a better recall rate in a verbatim memory post-test? This constitutes the main research question addressed in this study. The main hypothesis was that there would be a difference in recall by translation condition, with formal equivalence having a facilitative effect on memory and literal subtitles therefore being more accurately recalled by learners...
Reversed subtitling is a subtitling mode in which the original audiovisual product is in the nati... more Reversed subtitling is a subtitling mode in which the original audiovisual product is in the native language of the viewer, and the subtitles are in the foreign language (L1 audio, L2 subtitles). Distinct acquisitional advantages of reversed subtitles have emerged from previous research, especially for L2 vocabulary retention, a crucial component of foreign language learning. Despite these benefits, however, reversed subtitles remain one of the least explored subtitling modes to date, with a particularly acute lack of knowledge regarding how they are processed and their impact on memory. The aim of this paper is to resume and expand the discussion on this type of interlingual subtitles, and fill this gap by presenting the initial results of a study on the effects of reversed subtitle translation on reading and retention of L2 input. Specifically, formal similarity (literal transfer) and formal discrepancy (non-literal transfer) were compared. To determine how the two translation con...
Perspectives, 2021
In recent years, the push towards automation and translation productivity led to great efforts de... more In recent years, the push towards automation and translation productivity led to great efforts dedicated to the development of machine translation (MT) systems. Neural machine translation (NMT) represents the latest of these efforts. In this paper we present a critical review of human factors in NMT research with two goals: to provide a snapshot of research in NMT involving human stakeholders, and to appraise how professional translators have been included in discourses around NMT. We report four key findings. First, from translators' perspective, changes brought about by the neural paradigm are not as much to do with workflows, but rather with the NMT editing process and its specifics. Second, the majority of NMT research involving human stakeholders is directed towards advancing the state of MT development rather than ensuring the usefulness of NMT as a tool for professionals. Third, the review suggested overall narrow conceptualisations of translation productivity that were often based solely on measures of processing time or throughput. Fourth, it emerged that NMT investigations involving end-users are still relatively scarce. We present and discuss these findings, and make recommendations for future research on topics including the concept of productivity and the role of NMT as a professional tool.
Translation and Translanguaging in Multilingual Contexts, 2018
Didactic subtitling is a relatively new area of investigation that is undergoing a surge in popul... more Didactic subtitling is a relatively new area of investigation that is undergoing a surge in popularity. By bringing together findings from Audiovisual Translation (AVT), Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and psycholinguistics, some theoretical issues related to the practice of subtitle creation in Foreign Language Learning (FLL) are appraised. The article introduces Task-Based Learning and Teaching (TBLT) and reflects on what didactic subtitling can and cannot offer to TBLT approaches. In a still predominantly communicative era, language researchers are questioning the effectiveness of entirely communicative approaches to FLL. Many support the idea that, if successful learning is to be achieved, some Form-Focused Instruction (FFI) is needed. This article reviews relevant FFI literature, and explores how far active subtitling can provide an effective strategy for focussing on form that leads to communicative language development. In doing so, concepts such as noticing, skill developm...
Informatics, 2019
Translation revision is a relevant topic for translator training and research. Recent technologic... more Translation revision is a relevant topic for translator training and research. Recent technological developments justify increased focus on embedding speech technologies—speech synthesis (text-to-speech) and speech recognition (speech-to-text)—into revision workflows. Despite some integration of speech recognition into computer-assisted translation (CAT)/translation environment tools (TEnT)/Revision tools, to date we are unaware of any CAT/TEnT/Revision tool that includes speech synthesis. This paper addresses this issue by presenting initial results of a case study with 11 participants exploring if and how the presence of sound, specifically in the source text (ST), affects revisers’ revision quality, preference and viewing behaviour. Our findings suggest an improvement in revision quality, especially regarding Accuracy errors, when sound was present. The majority of participants preferred listening to the ST while revising, but their self-reported gains on concentration and produc...