Let's talk translation economically: A demonstration of re-articulating translation through economic terms

Abstract

As a sequel to my paper The Second Best Thing (2005) on use of game theory in simultaneous interpreting, this paper reivews applications of economics concepts and terms, which can enable and facilitate game theory in discussion and instructions of translation. Next, I will reconstruct a real-life simultaneous interpreting assignment, which is meant to serve as an experimental context for the application of the said concepts and terms. I will then proceed to demonstrate how the concepts and terms mentioned can be applied to the discussion and operation of the assignment. There will be a pasing listing of other concepts and terms, including research, profiling, envisaging, investment, return, options, probability, credit and accountability, which I reckon are also important for articulating and teaching translation. The paper will also state the purposes of importing these economics concepts and terms, which were to establish an alternative, rationalized discourse of translation not constrained by conventional terms such as equivalence, accuracy and adequacy.