LANGUAGE INTERPRETING ANXIETY AMONG TRANSLATION STUDIES LEARNERS

Abstract

Language interpretation plays a vital role in the Translation Studies classroom at the Department of Translation Studies, University of Jaffna. In general,Interpretation is a verbal communication which is a process of rendering a spoken or signed message into another spoken or signed language, preserving the register and meaning of the source language content. However, the learners’ anxiety in interpreting is a frequent challenge, which is encountered by the instructors of Translation Studies, negatively affects the teaching and learning process. In this concern, the present study attempts to investigate the factors influencing target language interpreting anxiety in the perspective of learners. The sample group was 25 undergraduates belonging to the fourth year discipline at the Department of Translation Studies, University of Jaffna.A structures questionnaire was administered to the learners in order to identify their perspective on the language interpreting anxiety in the Translation Studies classroom along with the factors that cause and reduce their anxiety. The findings revealed that, the students agree that language interpreting activities are beneficial, their reluctance to communicate stems from inadequate vocabulary, fear of making mistakes in grammar and constructing sentences through appropriate choice of equivalence.