A Variational Approach to Computer-aided Translation Studies---Translators' Training in Hong Kong as a Case Study

Computer-aided Translation (CAT) plays an important role in contemporary translation industry. Until now, a systematic theoretical analysis relating to CAT is still lacking. This is due to a bottleneck in the development of CAT in the areas of teaching, research and application.;The objective of this study is to examine how to apply CAT in traditional translation teaching more effectively to improve the translation competence of students majoring in translation studies, thereby supplying more potential professional translators for the translation industry in Hong Kong.;The theoretical framework of this study is based on Lance Hewson's Variation Approach (1991) and the translation competence model proposed by EMT expert group (European Master's in Translation) (EMT expert, 2009), which analyzed the translation industry, translation competence and CAT itself from multiple perspectives.;It has been demonstrated in this research that computer-aided translation has become an important component of contemporary translation industry and has been widely applied in translation studies as an effective tool in translation research. The contents of computer-aided translation can be incorporated into the curricula of the translation programmes of tertiary institutions to raise their pedagogical standards. This thesis, by examining the integration of translation studies and translation industry into advanced translation education, systematically explores the construction of a theoretical framework for computer-aided translation studies and ways to help the advancement of contemporary translation discipline.