The Impact of EFL Learners’ Self- Confidence on L2

Translation: Discourse Perspective

 

Abstract


This paper investigates the impact of EFL translators’ self-confidence on L2 translation
from a sociocultural perspective through the qualitative analyses of real translation
experiences of two professional Jordanian translators.

The qualitative data was achieved from in depth – interviews. Based on the sociocultural and discursive views on L2 translations and Norton’s (2000) notion of self-confidence as being discursively and socially built, the translators’ senses of self-confidence are presented to be strongly affected by both internal and external variables such as power interconnection in specific discoursal and sociocultural contexts of interactions.

Through qualitative micro-analyses for the discoursal contexts of interaction and a description of the translators’ previous translation development, this paper focuses on the dynamic process of self-confidence construction.

It also offers practical insights into the nature of the multifaceted connections the translators
have extended with L2 translation and the importance of the interwoven connection
between L2 translation, identity and investment.