In recent years, research on the cognitive processes involved in translation and interpreting has seen significant growth. The locus of investigation in these process studies may vary significantly, yet a recurrent unifying objective held by scholars in this area is to describe the complex, decision-making tasks of translation and interpreting using empirical and experimental research methodologies. In 2011, the PACTE Group, part of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, undertook an initiative to bring together scholars interested in conducting research in this area and established the TREC (Translation, Research, Empiricism, Cognition) network. The aim of this network is to foster collaboration among network members and to expand and strengthen the body of scholarship in this area.
To meet this aim, the TREC network organized a seminar (the first in what we hope to be a long series) in July 2013 at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Both senior researchers in the field as well as doctoral students convened over several days to discuss ongoing research projects and exchange ideas on a number of key topics. In particular, senior scholars in the field provided a space for younger researchers to discuss doctoral research projects and to establish connections among network members for future projects. This special issue of Translation & Interpreting presents nine peer-reviewed articles from this seminar.
