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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Psychology of Language
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1522168
This article is part of the Research Topic Reviews in Psychology of Language View all 5 articles

Visual Insights into Translation: Demystifying Trends of Adopting Eye-Tracking Techniques in Translation Studies

Provisionally accepted
Yin Li Yin Li 1Zilong Zhong Zilong Zhong 2*
  • 1 Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, Henan, China
  • 2 Beijing Foreign Studies University, Haidian District, Beijing Municipality, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: The increasing use of eye-tracking techniques in translation studies offers valuable insights into cognitive processes and behavioral strategies of translators, reflecting a significant trend within cognitive linguistics and translator training methodologies. Methods: This review harnesses quantitative bibliometric analysis through Bibliometrix R-package with qualitative content assessment to evaluate the trajectory and thematic evolution of eye-tracking research in translation studies. Through a dataset from the Web of Science, 56 articles were analyzed, revealing distinct thematic dimensions and trend dynamics. Results: The analysis revealed that eye-tracking is increasingly pivotal in exploring the cognitive and technological dimensions of translation. Central themes include interactions with translation tools, machine translation, and human-computer interaction, highlighting the importance of cognitive research in technology-driven translation. Niche areas such as English-Chinese translation and online consultation suggest specialized topics that warrant further investigation. Additionally, emerging themes like cognitive load and sight translation demonstrate a shift towards exploring real-time translation processing. Declining traditional topics, such as broader translation theories, indicate a growing integration of cognitive research with technological advancements. Conclusion: These findings elucidate the growth and diversification of eye-tracking applications in translation studies, emphasizing the method's importance in both academic research and practical applications, thereby informing future studies and enhancing translator training programs.

    Keywords: eye-tracking techniques, translation studies, Machine Translation, human-computer interaction, cognitive effort

    Received: 04 Nov 2024; Accepted: 13 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Li and Zhong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Zilong Zhong, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Haidian District, 100089, Beijing Municipality, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.