On Emotional Intelligence of Translators: Diction in Stressful Situations of Translating Political Texts

• Main Authors: Mohammad Reza Ebrahimi, Emad Ahmadnejadian, Mohammad Zarafshan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lasting Impressions Press 2016-12-01
• Series: International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies
• Subjects: Emotional Intelligence; Diction; EFL Learners; EAL Learners
• Online Access: http://www.eltsjournal.org/archive/value4%20issue4/1-4-4-16.pdf

The "Brain" undoubtedly could be called the main processor and the most important factor in translation. It has been the subject of rigorous studies by specialists to find out how it works and how it is influenced. Controlling, adjusting and neutralizing negative surrounding or blocking factors seem to be a very redeeming job. Emotional Intelligence (EI and also EQ), which involves various psychological constructs, could be perceived as one of those factors. In this respect, the current study investigated the tentative link(s) between EI and translation. For this purpose, 41 students completed the Bar-On EI test, (the emotional quotient inventory EQ-I) and translated a political text twice. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA to examine whether individuals with higher EQ could control their emotions to select the exact equivalent while translating under political pressure. The analysis of the data revealed that there were significant differences among the three groups (possessing different levels of EQ) regarding the relationship between EQ and the accuracy of translation. Translators with higher EQ could regulate their emotions well and select the closest equivalent for the word, no matter what would be the consequence of telling the truth. It was proved that translators with lower overall EQ could translate more conservatively to avoid the potentially undesirable consequences. The results help understand the relationship between students’ EQ and the accuracy of translation.