Locations of L1-L2 Translation That Occur in English Writing

This paper provides descriptive data that reflect the locations where L1-L2 translation and L2-L1 translation occur. Seven English majors, juniors, were instructed and trained to produce their written texts in English and to “think aloud” at the same time. The thinking-aloud protocol was transcribed and analyzed and categorized into different sets. This paper only focuses on the part of L1-L2 and L2-L1 translation. The data show that the EFL students translate their materials into English in the following locations: (A)translating materials retrieved from LTM in Chinese into English ideas, (B) translating materials retrieved from LTM in Chinese into English notes, (C) translating Chinese ideas into English while organizing these ideas into English propositions, (D) translating written texts into English while reading the written texts, (E) translating the written texts into English while doing the editing, (F) translating Chinese propositions directly into English text and (G) translating Chinese ideas into English while performing goal setting; and that the same students translate the materials in English into Chinese in the following locations: (A) translating materials retrieved from LTM in English into Chinese ideas, (B) translating English ideas into Chinese while organizing these ideas into (Chinese) propositions, (C) translating Chinese written texts into English while doing the reading, (D) translating the Chinese written texts into English while doing the editing and (E) translating English ideas into Chinese while performing goal setting. The conclusion or further implications will not be made in this paper because more subjects as well as more analyses are needed. The following studies are now still under the way and further opinions and suggestions are always awaited.