Theoretical models of translation

Theoretical models of translation explore how the brain processes and converts written or spoken language from one language to another. These models suggest that translation involves several mental steps, such as understanding the source language, mentally converting it into an internal representation, and then expressing that meaning in the target language. Some models emphasize direct transfer, while others highlight intermediary stages like conceptual understanding or lexical selection. They help us understand the cognitive processes behind translation, illustrating how bilinguals manage multiple languages simultaneously and how linguistic, contextual, and cultural factors influence the process.