Abstract:
In this presentation, Professor Stuart Campbell will argue that the assessment of interpreting and translation competence lags far behind achievements in other areas of interpreting/translation studies. The principal reason is that assessment instruments (i.e. tests of various kinds) have developed in isolation from the mainstream of educational measurement and assessment theory; their results may not be reliable, and the procedures themselves may not be valid. Starting with a checklist of criteria against which assessment instruments may be measured, the presentation moves onto a broad overview of the literature, and reveals the gaps in our knowledge that need to be filled. The presentation is based on work done by Professor Stuart Campbell and Dr Sandra Hale at the University of Western Sydney, who are planning to research and write a standard text on the topic. Campbell and Hale are especially interested to enlist the interest of Hong Kong scholars who may wish to be contribute to the project.
About the Speaker:
Professor Stuart Campbell is the Head of the School of Languages and Linguistics at the University of Western Sydney, Australia, where he has responsibility for programs in interpreting/translation, modern languages and TESOL. He has researched and published in such areas as translation theory, language planning, assessment, and Arabic linguistics. His special interest in translation studies is the development of translation competence into English as a second language.