Open Access

This empirical study in Cognitive Translation Studies investigates whether and how translation into a foreign language (L2) differs from translation into the native language (L1) in terms of the translation process, the effort and the product. The rationale behind the study was to investigate prejudices towards translation into the L2 that persist in Translation Studies, translation training and practice despite the fact that it is widely practiced and even is the main translation direction in many language communities. The study focuses on the German-English language pair, also in view of the continually high demand for translations into English in German-speaking countries. As participants, qualified non-literary translators who are used to translating professionally both from their L1 German into their L2 English and vice versa performed two translation tasks under controlled conditions. The control groups consisted of professional translators who translate exclusively into their L1, i.e. either into German or into English. Following a mixed methods approach, the main study investigated the translation processes using methods of translation process research: keystroke logging, screen recording, retrospective verbal protocol, eye tracking and interview. From the principal process activities writing, revising, information searching and pausing, process descriptors were derived, analysed and compared. By triangulating results with data from the target text analysis, indicators of translation effort were measured. For the vast majority of the process descriptors and effort indicators, the results showed no statistically significant differences with regard to translation direction. In the substudy, intended addressees of the English target texts assessed the texts’ acceptability based on their own criteria and without resorting to the source text. The results showed no statistically significant difference in target text quality with regard to translation direction. In summary, this study showed that translation direction clearly plays no significant role in the translation process, the product quality and the translation effort. It thus invalidates preconceptions about translation into L2.

In a globally fast-changing world, dedicated conservationists play a central role in societies moving towards the achievement of sustainable development. How do people become advocates for nature? Research suggests that childhood experiences in natural places are core determinants for the development of environmental stewardship. In many developing countries, however, access to intact natural environments is limited. This study explores formative influences on individuals who actively contribute to nature conservation and environmental education (EE) in Madagascar. We conducted nine semi-structured interviews with participants in a national EE workshop. Formative experiences were reported mainly from university years, and influential persons were researchers and high school teachers, many from abroad. The media also play a considerable role, while negative experiences, familial influences, or experience of natural areas during childhood were rarely mentioned. In contrast to former studies, the results suggest that direct experiences of nature can still be decisive in determining a young person’s path as a dedicated environmental practitioner during young adulthood. Role models who are active in the conservation and sustainable development fields can compensate for a lack of familial models. These findings might require a rethinking of current educational practices in Madagascar because children might not be the only important group to target with educational interventions.

Demographic, epidemiological and societal changes are challenges to which all European countries are forced to find solutions. In addition, the so-called “digital transformation” is taking place, with digitization proceeding rapidly in all European countries, although with differing intensity and speed. With high expectations and hopes being placed on technical systems in health and social care, numerous innovations have been developed and piloted. However, for various reasons, many of these are not in regular use. Whereas technology is developing rapidly, policy, research and practice are advancing at a significantly slower pace, lagging behind the potential of technical innovations. To maximize the current and future benefits of technological innovation in the field of care, the Joint Programming Initiative “More Years, Better Lives – The Potential and Challenges of Demographic Change” has initiated a review and synthesis of knowledge, in the form of a “fast-track” project. Bringing in experts and stakeholders to collect available knowledge in a short time. This process aims to develop a common vision of care in times of digitization and explore what contribution new and emerging technologies can make to good life bearing in mind the critical role of care, health and welfare services as people age. This is designed to help guide policy development, resource allocation and research efforts in this field. Acknowledging the limited duration of the fast-track process, from March to October 2020, a pragmatic approach was taken. The project focuses on a challenge-driven perspective. The target audiences of this report are hence decision-makers in research policy, social policy and labour market policy, researchers and research funders addressing ageing, health and social care and technology, and tech companies active in that context. The coordination of the overall fast-track project has been funded by the Department of Interactive Technologies for Health and Quality of Life at the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and operationally supported by its funding agency VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH. In addition, the participants and authors of Chapters are funded by their countries.

Small-scale inland fisheries (SSIF) are a livelihood opportunity for millions of people in developing countries. Understanding the economic, ecological, political and social impacts fishers are coping with can clarify weaknesses and challenges in the fishery management. Using the SSIF at Lake Alaotra, Madagascar, as an example, we analyzed the development and fishers’ perception of, and adaptation strategies to, change. We surveyed fish catches to assess the state of fish stocks and conducted interviews to understand fishers’ livelihood, problems, behavior and attitudes. Our results show that the fishery sector of Lake Alaotra has grown dramatically although fish catches have fallen sharply. Changes in species composition and low reproduction rates reflect the fishing pressure. A point of no return seems near, as decreasing agricultural yields force farmers to enter the fishery sector as a form of livelihood diversification. Lake Alaotra reflects an alarming trend which can already be seen in many regions of the world and may affect a growing number in the near future. The Alaotran fisheries demonstrate that SSIF’s ability to provide livelihood alternatives under conditions of insecurity will become increasingly important. It further highlights that the identification of ongoing livelihood dynamics in order to disclose possible poverty trap mechanisms and to understand fisheries’ current function is essential for sustainable management.

A systematic review was conducted to gain a more nuanced understanding of similarities and distinctions across countries in the development of executive functions (EF). The review includes 26 studies, with child and adolescent participants, that were published between 2006 and 2018. Both similarities and differences within developmental patterns of EF are identified across different countries. Across countries, bilingual children are shown to outperform their monolingual peers. Task improvement with age is not consistently reported in all studies, with no linear effects apparent in children from developing countries or regions. Gender differences on EF measures also vary between countries. Girls perform better than boys on EF tasks and parent and teacher ratings of EF in both Western and East Asian samples. Yet, in Iran and Tanzania, boys receive higher EF scores. From preschool age through adolescence, East Asians outperform Western counterparts on direct assessment measures of EF. However, strong discrepancies can be found between measures of direct EF assessment and parent and teacher ratings of children's EF. Chinese parents rate their children's EF as lower compared with parents from other countries. The role of contextual factors explaining differences in EF development is discussed.