Four groups of Hispanic youth in grades 4-6 were divided as follows: (1) 27 controls; (2) 29 viewed an English version of a food safety video; (3) 46 were taught a unit and viewed the English video; and (4) 29 viewed a Spanish translation of the video. Group two showed significant knowledge gains; group three exhibited the most engagement with the…

Discusses the importance of correct translation to preserve the spirit and intent of the original language. The article notes that incorrect translations have been a source of embarrassment, a reason for a lack of sales, an urge for incitement, and a cause for destruction of human lives. Some humorous mistranslations are listed. (CK)

Presents an activity on translating scientists' names that gives students an opportunity to learn the Cyrillic alphabet. Sequences science-related translations as a series of puzzles. (JRH)

Discusses the problems and current research techniques being explored in the area of Cross Language Information Retrieval (CLIR) for finding documents in languages other than the original query. Discusses language identification methods, techniques for automatically generating queries in other languages, and retrieving and merging query results.…

Investigates an automatic method for Cross Language Information Retrieval (CLIR) that utilizes the multilingual Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) Metathesaurus to translate Spanish natural-language queries into English. Results indicate that for Spanish, the UMLS Metathesaurus-based CLIR method is at least equivalent to if not better than…

Reports that policymakers are redefining national security to include greater emphasis on commerce, economics, and global competitiveness and are beginning to recognize the importance of cross-cultural communication and international knowledge. Predicts that in the government sector, there will be a greater number of positions at higher levels for…

Administered the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) (N. Entwhistle and P. Ramsden, 1983) to 573 undergraduates to analyze a Norwegian version of this inventory. Structural equation modeling techniques reveal the usefulness of this instrument as a research took for the assessment of approaches to learning among Norwegian…

Language and literature departments are being asked to reflect more on the best way to maintain the intellectual integrity of their programs in view of departmental reforms imposed on them by budgetary restraints. Discusses the mediating role played by translation in this kind of situation. (Author/VWL)

Discusses the role of screen translation in minority language broadcasting. The article is a response to a roundtable discussion on minority language broadcasting and language maintenance. (Author/VWL)

Addresses the linguistic effects of an increased "Englishization" of Sweden. Focuses on English loanwords, the dominating role of English as a source language for translations, and losses of domains of usage to English. Reports results from an investigation of the use of Swedish within different European bodies. (Author/VWL)

The purpose of this study was to address the effectiveness of a Spanish-English dual-language test booklet in 8th-grade mathematics. This study used analyses of test data (n = 402) as well as information gathered through focus groups (n = 68) and cognitive interviews (n = 18) to assess the accuracy and utility of the dual-language format as a…

A test item exhibits differential item functioning (DIF) if students with the same ability find it differentially difficult. When the item is administered in French and English, differences in language difficulty and meaning are the most likely explanations. However, curriculum differences may also contribute to DIF. The responses of Ontario…

A Spanish version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS) was developed by applying a method derived from the cross-cultural and psychometric literature. The method included five sequenced studies: (a) translation and back-translation, (b) comprehension assessment, (c) psychometric equivalence study of two mixed-language versions,…

The goal of this study was to test the internal reliability of a Spanish translation of the CDI, (i.e., CDI-LA), a potentially useful screening instrument for Hispanic youngsters in their native language at a primary-care level. Self-reported symptoms of depression were assessed with the CDI-LA in a school sample of 205 Hispanic students. Girls…

This paper examines the choice to translate plays from "Hochdeutsch" (the standard form of the German language) into local dialect in German-speaking Switzerland. It first looks at the creative process of translating for the amateur stage and then at the reasons behind the choice to translate. It argues that this choice reflects a desire…