Exploring the Use of Translation in L2 Production Through Think-aloud Protocols

Abstract

Translation has always been one of the critical means to understand and use a foreign language. In this regard, understanding the use of translation in second language (L2) production is a topic worth investigating. The purpose of this study is to identify the main areas where students have difficulties in L2 production tasks and determine in what typical cases they refer to first language (L1) while they are working on speaking and writing tasks. The study also explores to what extent age, gender and field of study relate to the participants’ use of translation in L2 production. The study was conducted with 144 students studying at English-major and non-English major departments at two state universities in Turkey. Data were collected using the ITLS Inventory for Translation as a Learning Strategy and Think-aloud protocols for speaking and writing tasks. Although the data obtained from the inventory showed that field of study, age and gender do not have statistically significant effects on the learners’ choice of translation, data obtained from the think-aloud protocols revealed that both English-majors and non-English majors use translation strategies for various purposes, but the groups differed in the use of translation in L2 production.

Keywords: Translation in L2 Production, Foreign language learning, Think-aloud protocol, Translation Strategies