The intercultural competence in the translator’s profession: A translator training approach and the presentation of a case study

Abstract

This piece of work originates in the field of Translation and Interpreting (TI) studies and it is framed within the area of translator training in Spain. The findings we present here constitute a specific part of our PhD research project, whose general objective is to promote the intercultural competence acquisition of translation students. This paper gathers empiric and descriptive data about professional translators’ perceptions on the role of the cultural element and the IC in their daily work. Quantitave and qualitative methods (questionnaires and interviews) were employed although the general focus of the study is mainly qualitative. The aim of the research is to describe the actual implications of culture in the translator’s job so improvements in translator training may be introduced and the gap between academic training and profession may be reduced (Kelly, 2005; Katan, 2009b; Pym et al. 2012).