Research on Terminology Associated with the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and its Applications to Educational and TM Materials

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K13494
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Fukushima University
• Principal Investigator: McMichael William 福島大学, 国際交流センター, 講師 (40761284)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: ターミノロジー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research conducted a statistical analysis of English translations of Japanese terms associated with the nuclear disasters in Fukushima. It found that discrepancies in translations and a lack of standardization of translated terms were existing nine years following the disasters. Furthermore, the research compared the equivalence of translations used by different sources including the Japanese government, domestic and international media, and machine translations of materials related to the nuclear accident. An observation was made that terms used in official publications by the government did not necessarily reflect terms that were deemed most acceptable as translations.

Free Research Field

通訳学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において、福島県に関する訳語が統一されていないという現状を改めて立証し、今後のあり方を検証する研究のための理論的な土台作りに貢献できたものと考える。また、通訳ガイドのスキルと素質について、調査研究に基づく統計的分析を行なう事で、今後の通訳者の教育や翻訳メモリへの応用を検討していく上で、訳語の等価性が重要である事を示唆することができた。