"Factors affecting the Quality of A Translation product: A study on English Translation and Interpretation-majored students' perceptions "

Abstract

The significance of accurate translation in various fields such as business, academia, and international diplomacy cannot be overstated. Translation is a crucial tool for global communication, and any errors or inaccuracies in translation can have severe impacts on effective communication and understanding. This study aims to investigate the factors that impact the quality of a translation product. A mixed-method design was employed, utilizing a questionnaire and interviews to gather data from 57 English translation and interpretation students at Can Tho University. Five students were selected for in-depth interviews. The results indicate that cultural knowledge plays a critical role in determining the quality of a translation product, alongside language proficiency, emotions, and demographic information. This research offers valuable insights for educators, translation service providers, and freelance translators on how to improve the quality of translations. Additionally, it expands the current understanding of translation studies by highlighting factors that have been previously overlooked and providing empirical evidence to support known significant factors. Finally, the limitations of this study and recommendations for future research are discussed at the end of the thesis.