https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1037 Tue, 29 Sep 2026 02:03:03 GMT 2026-09-29T02:03:03Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149390 Title: Translating identities : cultural and linguistic mediation within the Colombian community in Malta Abstract: The present study analyses the experience of Colombian migrants in Malta in regards communication in a multilingual environment determined by Spanish, English and Maltese. Rather than approaching communication as a purely linguistic process, the present research understands it as a social and cultural practice through which identity is expressed, negotiated and how this study proves it, transformed. The central argument is that what Colombian migrants do in their everyday interactions goes beyond language learning and/or cultural adaptation; it is a form of cultural translation, in which meaning is continuously mediated across languages and social/cultural settings. The study emphasises in a combination of theoretical frameworks, including Hofstede's cultural dimensions, Hall's high- and low-context communication theory, Li Wei's concept of translanguaging, Communication Accommodation Theory and the concept of linguistic and cultural mediation developed by Carreras i Goicoechea and Pérez Vázquez. All theories together enable research that analyses how cultural values also influence communication and the dynamic, social nature of everyday language use in a migration environment. A qualitative approach was also implemented, combining a semi-structured online survey completed by 30 Colombians residing in Malta and a focus group discussion with three participants. The findings of this study demonstrate that language use is based on contextual situations, with Spanish representing language as an identity mediator for Colombians, English as the main tool for professional and intercultural relationships, and Maltese entering participants' vocabulary gradually through social exposure. Also, as demonstrated in the data collection phase, code-switching is a central feature of Colombians' everyday communicative practices, determined by group dynamics as well as social motivations. Moreover, communication challenges can be both cultural and linguistic wise, depending on individual reasons, and participants are actively mediating in their own interactions through a variety of strategies explained through the research. Most significantly in this study, it was found that the influence of Maltese goes beyond English, but also impacts Spanish’s participants, calling for a process that affects the whole communicative repertoire of a person rather than a single language. Furthermore, this study contributes to translation studies by demonstrating that cultural translation is present in everyday life, not only in professional or literary contexts as it was traditionally believed, and that the Colombian community in Malta represents a rich and underexplored case to understand how language, identity, culture and meaning are understood in a multilingual migration setting like Malta. Description: M.Trans.(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149390 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149199 Title: Marino Faliero di Casimir Delavigne : ricezione, ideologia e strategie traduttive nella prima metà dell’ottocento Authors: Portelli, Sergio Abstract: Questo saggio analizza la ricezione e la traduzione in Italia della tragedia Marino Faliero (1829) di Casimir Delavigne durante la prima metà dell'Ottocento. Il contributo esamina nel dettaglio le strategie traduttive, le inclinazioni ideologiche e le scelte stilistiche adottate dai tre traduttori italiani dell'opera: Luigi Raspi (1829), Gaetano Buttafuoco (1838) e Alfonso Porro Schiaffinati (1855). Attraverso l'analisi comparativa delle versioni in prosa e in versi, il testo evidenzia come ciascun traduttore abbia rielaborato l'originale francese in funzione dei propri obiettivi individuali, dei condizionamenti della censura dell'epoca e dell'inserimento dell'opera nel polisistema letterario e teatrale italiano dell'Ottocento. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149199 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148657 Title: Is machine translation reliable in the legal field? A corpus-based critical comparative analysis for teaching ESP at tertiary level Authors: Giampieri, Patrizia Abstract: This paper is aimed at exploring whether and how machine translation (MT) can be relied on in the legal field. To this aim, clauses excerpted from a distribution agreement are translated from Italian into English by using the Deepl machine translation platform. In order to assess the reliability and quality of the translation, a corpus of distribution agreements written in English as a first language and as a lingua franca is composed. The contracts are sourced from the Onecle.com platform, and the reference corpus is built semi-automatically by using the BootCaT software solution. In order to retrieve documents drafted in international English and hence validated by international lawyers or businesspeople, advanced search techniques are applied. The corpus is then consulted by using the AntConc offline concordancer, and the MT is compared with corpus evidence. The paper findings highlight shortcomings in the MT related to legal formulae. Word order is sometimes incorrect and the system specificity of the legal language in the target text remains unaddressed. The paper calls for future improvements in MT software, and reports the need for translators and translation students to be acquainted with legal language style and writing conventions. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148657 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148579 Title: Translation product evaluation in translator training : a comparison between L1 (English > Dutch) and L2 (Dutch > English) student translations using the PIE method (preselected items evaluation) and the ATA (American translators association) framework for standardized error marking Abstract: Translation evaluation is a contentious area of study, particularly due to the degree of subjectivity of many evaluation methods, yet it is essential in translator training. Likewise, directionality is a controversial field due to the hegemony of translation into the first language (L1 translation). Nevertheless, translation into the foreign language (L2 translation) is included in most, if not all, translator training programmes in many countries.; The present study combines these two much debated fields of study into an empirical experiment conducted in translator training in Flanders. Its aim is twofold. Firstly, it provides insight into the differences between L1 and L2 translation in terms of scores and error types on the basis of the data for this study and a prior pilot study. It also compares the perceived difficulty of both translation directions with the scores achieved. From a process-oriented perspective, this study compares the time spent on the translations with the final scores. The second aim of the study is to scrutinise the evaluation process and empirically test a combined analytical evaluation method consisting of an enhanced version of PIE (Preselected Items Evaluation), an item-based analytical evaluation method, and the ATA (American Translators Association) Framework for Standardized Error Marking.; The findings reveal that, while the scores in both translation directions are low and comparable, surprisingly, the students made slightly more errors in L1 translation, despite perceiving the L2 translation as more difficult. In both translation directions, the main errors identified are terminology errors. In addition, both L1 and L2 translation are characterised by source language interference. It was not possible to establish a conclusive relation between the time spent on the translations and the final scores. As for the evaluation process, the present study reveals several limitations of PIE and the combined PIE and ATA method, and calls for further research into the application of these evaluation methods, particularly into the intersubjective consensus.; It is hoped that this study will inspire L1 and L2 translation lecturers in translator training to consider the evaluation methods they use carefully and refine the L2 translation curriculum based on solid evaluations and contrastive empirical research. Description: Ph.D.(KU Leuven) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148579 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z