Translation in Second Language Writing: Exploration of Cognitive Process of Translation

As a widely used strategy in second language (L2) writing, translation has received limited attention in writing studies. "Translation in Second Language Writing" explores the cognitive processes of translation?the informational coding, decoding, and reformulation processes at various cognitive levels? in L2 writing. Based on recent studies in psycholinguistics and neuroscience, the author Yichun Liu first formulated a mental translation model for L2 writing and hypothesized two primary translation paths for skilled and unskilled L2 writers respectively. Next, Liu conducted a think- aloud study involving six Chinese-speaking subjects. She found that skilled L2 writers use more L2 to think aloud and they struggle more on translation activities at the semantic level; whereas, unskilled L2 writers use more L1 to think aloud and focus more on translation activities at the syntactic level. This book should be especially useful to scholars in composition studies, applied linguistics,translation studies, and foreign language teaching.