Using experimental approaches to study translation

In the last few years, the study of the cognitive processes that underlie the translating act is well under way in the field of translation studies (TS). Yet considering the potential of this research area, translation behaviour and how it is affected and modulated by linguistic and psycholinguistic factors is still underinvestigated. The main culprit of this holdback appears to be fuzziness over what experimental methods are expected to deliver and how sometimes they are actually used. The present discussion article outlines these aspects, draws attention to methodological issues commonly encountered when an experimental approach is adopted, and suggests ways to overcome the challenges posed by this promising line of research.