Understanding the Reader’s Experience: A Psychological Approach to Improving Translation’s Readability

Abstract

This paper uses reading psychology theory to improve translation’s readability. Reading psychology theory provides a new lens through which to enhance focus on the reader’s mental process. This approach offers solutions to traditional translation issues. This paper presents the following points for consideration: First, the translation should ensure that the information is comprehensive and consistent, to avoid confusing the reader or causing misunderstandings; Second, the translator must consider how the translated content interacts with the reader’s existing knowledge and anticipate the target audiences’ characteristics; Third, hypertextual information must be kept rich and cohesive in the translation; Fourth, the background knowledge, cognitive abilities, values, emotional motivations, and reading goals of the target audience should be comprehensively considered to facilitate a positive reading experience; Fifth, the author’s original details should be fully retained without unauthorized alterations, and it is advisable to consult with the original author when necessary. At the same time, this paper also addresses the current situation of translation works in the context of the Internet environment in the information age.