ATA - American Translators Association Error Categories and Grading Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the ATA Framework for Standardized Error Marking, which category would apply to a translation that is awkward and unidiomatic because it follows the source text's structure too closely?
- Faithfulness (F)
- Misunderstanding (MU)
- Literalness (L) (Correct answer)
- Syntax (SYN)
Correct answer: Literalness (L)
A Literalness (L) error occurs when a word-for-word translation results in an awkward, unidiomatic, or incorrect rendition in the target language. While it may be faithful in a narrow sense, it violates the natural conventions of the target language.
Question 2: During the grading of an ATA exam, a candidate provides two correct translation options for a single term, separated by a slash (e.g., 'attorney/lawyer'). How would this be marked?
- As a Terminology (T) error, because the best term was not chosen.
- It would not be marked as an error since both options are correct.
- As a Quality Point, rewarding the candidate's lexical range.
- As an Indecision (IND) error, because the candidate must make a final choice. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: As an Indecision (IND) error, because the candidate must make a final choice.
An Indecision (IND) error is marked when the candidate provides more than one option for a translation unit. Graders are not permitted to choose the correct option for the candidate. Even if both options are correct, it is still marked as an error because the translator must commit to a single, definitive choice.
Question 3: A translation passage contains several inconsistent translations of a key technical term that is repeated throughout the source text. This makes the target text difficult to follow. Which error category best describes this issue?
- Terminology (T)
- Cohesion (COH) (Correct answer)
- Style (ST)
- Misunderstanding (MU)
Correct answer: Cohesion (COH)
A Cohesion (COH) error occurs when a text is hard to follow due to inconsistent use of terminology, misuse of pronouns, or other structural errors that disrupt the logical flow. While individual instances might be Terminology (T) errors, the pattern of inconsistency affects the entire text's readability, making Cohesion the most appropriate category.
Question 4: According to the ATA's grading standards, which of the following is considered a 'Writing Quality' error rather than a 'Meaning Transfer' error?
- Omission (O)
- Faux Ami (FA)
- Usage (U) (Correct answer)
- Addition (A)
Correct answer: Usage (U)
Usage (U) is an error category under Writing Quality. It occurs when conventions of wording, phrasing, or collocation in the target language are not followed, even if the meaning is not technically incorrect (e.g., 'commit a crime' vs. 'perform a crime'). Omission, Faux Ami, and Addition are all categorized under Meaning Transfer errors because they directly impact the transfer of meaning from the source text.
Question 5: A candidate is translating a passage for a specialized medical journal as specified in the Translation Instructions. The candidate uses overly simplistic, everyday language instead of the appropriate medical terminology. This would be marked primarily as what type of error?
- Terminology (T)
- Text Type (TT) (Correct answer)
- Faithfulness (F)
- Style (ST)
Correct answer: Text Type (TT)
A Text Type (TT) error occurs when the translation fails to comply with specifications stated in the Translation Instructions (TIs) or is inappropriate for the implied target audience. Using informal language for a specialized academic audience directly violates the context provided by the TIs. While it involves terminology, the core issue is the failure to adapt to the specified text type.
Question 6: What is the maximum number of error points a passage can receive to be marked as 'Pass' in the ATA certification exam?
- 15
- 20
- 17 (Correct answer)
- 10
Correct answer: 17
A passage with 17 or fewer error points is marked as a 'Pass'. A score of 18 or more points results in a 'Fail'. A candidate must receive a 'Pass' on both translated passages to achieve certification.
