Translational Reading: Definition, Types, Specifics

Abstract

The article analyzes various types of reading relevant to translators of specialized texts to provide a flexible transition from one type of reading to another, depending on a task in hand. The analysis of researches and interviews with professional translators has shown that translators use in their work different types of reading such as: survey, study and search reading, skimming, analytical, synthetic and philological reading, and editing. The use of certain types of reading is conditioned by the tasks facing translators at various stages of their work (including the professionally oriented, analytical, synthetic, and corrective stages). The survey involved 42 translators from Russia, Belarus, France, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Germany, Finland, and the Netherlands. The interviewed translators were representatives of various translation agencies and joint ventures as well as freelance translators.