The genetic code is redundant, with most amino acids coded by multiple codons. In many organisms, codon usage is biased towards particular codons. A variety of adaptive and non-adaptive explanations have been proposed to explain these patterns of codon usage bias. Using mechanistic models of protein translation and population genetics, I explore the relative importance of various evolutionary forces in shaping these patterns. This work challenges one of the fundamental assumptions made in over 30 years of research: codons with higher tRNA abundances leads to lower error rates. I show that observed patterns of codon usage are inconsistent with selection for translation accuracy. I also show that almost all the variation in patterns of codon usage in S. cerevisiae can be explained by a model taking into account the effects of mutational biases and selection for efficient ribosome usage. In addition, by sampling suboptimal mRNA secondary structures at various temperatures, I show that melting of ribosomal binding sites in a special class of mRNAs known as RNA thermometers is a more general phenomenon.

Este trabalho centra-se no processo de QA (na sigla em inglês para quality assurance – ou garantia da qualidade em português) que é feito no setor da localização, visando a melhorar o trabalho do tradutor. Localização consiste em um processo e um campo de atuação profissio-nal que visam a adaptar produtos (geralmente de software) segundo o idioma e as convenções culturais de determinada localidade com o objetivo facilitar a entrada de um produto ou servi-ço em um país ou mercado. Com relação ao QA, uma de suas etapas consiste na validação da terminologia de um projeto de tradução. O QA terminológico envolve o uso de um software que verifica se a terminologia aplicável é usada na tradução. As ocorrências que o software considera incorretas são salvas em uma lista de validação terminológica, que é conferida nor-malmente por um tradutor ou editor. Itens que o tradutor considerar incorretos são corrigidos na tradução; os demais são descartados. Por ignorar aspectos linguísticos, o software gera muito ruído, ou falsos positivos, resultando em listas extensas, que não compensam o tempo dedicado a sua revisão. A fim de prover insumos para solucionar o problema, este trabalho emprega uma abordagem comunicativa, cognitiva e funcional à terminologia e à tradução para analisar uma lista de validação terminológica, em um projeto de localização real, no par de idiomas inglês dos Estados Unidos e português do Brasil. Para tal fim, foi gerada uma lista de validação por meio de um software de QA usado na área da localização. Ocorrências dessa lista foram analisadas e classificadas segundo critérios de base fraseológica, variacional e tra-dutória, além de morfológica e discursiva. O objetivo é oferecer subsídios que norteiem o desenvolvimento de aplicações computacionais linguisticamente motivadas que reduzam a incidência de ruído nestas listas. Os resultados mostram que a maior parte do ruído decorre de fatores linguísticos gerais, como morfológicos e discursivos, indicando também que 1/3 des-tes coocorrem com fenômenos fraseológicos, variacionais e tradutórios. / This paper focuses on the process of Quality Assurance (QA) that is undertaken by the Local-ization industry, aiming at improving the work of translators. Location consists of a process and a professional field whose purpose is to adapt goods or services (usually software-related) according to the language and cultural conventions of a particular locale in order to facilitate market penetration in a given country or market. One of the QA stages consists of validating the terminology on a translation project. The QA for terminology makes use of software to check if the applicable terminology is used in translation. Occurrences that the software iden-tifies as incorrect are saved in a list for terminology validation. The list is usually reviewed by a translator or an editor. The items considered incorrect by the translator are corrected in the translation, and the remaining entries are discarded. Because the software does not take lan-guage aspects into account, a good deal of noise is generated, resulting in large lists that are not cost-effective or time-efficient to review. With the purpose of providing input to solve the problem, this work employs a communicative, cognitive and functional approach to terminol-ogy and translation for the analysis of a terminology validation list in U.S. English and Brazil-ian Portuguese, on a genuine localization project. To complete this task, a list for validation was generated via a well-known QA software product used in the Localization field. Occur-rences from the generated list were analyzed and categorized according to phraseological, variational and translational criteria in addition to morphological and discursive criteria. The objective is providing input to drive the development of linguistically motivated computer applications that may reduce the incidence of noise on the lists. Results show that most of the noise is due to general linguistic factors, such as morphological and discourse aspects, also suggesting that 1/3 of that noise occurs simultaneously with phraseological, variational and translational phenomena.

Este trabalho centra-se no processo de QA (na sigla em inglês para quality assurance – ou garantia da qualidade em português) que é feito no setor da localização, visando a melhorar o trabalho do tradutor. Localização consiste em um processo e um campo de atuação profissio-nal que visam a adaptar produtos (geralmente de software) segundo o idioma e as convenções culturais de determinada localidade com o objetivo facilitar a entrada de um produto ou servi-ço em um país ou mercado. Com relação ao QA, uma de suas etapas consiste na validação da terminologia de um projeto de tradução. O QA terminológico envolve o uso de um software que verifica se a terminologia aplicável é usada na tradução. As ocorrências que o software considera incorretas são salvas em uma lista de validação terminológica, que é conferida nor-malmente por um tradutor ou editor. Itens que o tradutor considerar incorretos são corrigidos na tradução; os demais são descartados. Por ignorar aspectos linguísticos, o software gera muito ruído, ou falsos positivos, resultando em listas extensas, que não compensam o tempo dedicado a sua revisão. A fim de prover insumos para solucionar o problema, este trabalho emprega uma abordagem comunicativa, cognitiva e funcional à terminologia e à tradução para analisar uma lista de validação terminológica, em um projeto de localização real, no par de idiomas inglês dos Estados Unidos e português do Brasil. Para tal fim, foi gerada uma lista de validação por meio de um software de QA usado na área da localização. Ocorrências dessa lista foram analisadas e classificadas segundo critérios de base fraseológica, variacional e tra-dutória, além de morfológica e discursiva. O objetivo é oferecer subsídios que norteiem o desenvolvimento de aplicações computacionais linguisticamente motivadas que reduzam a incidência de ruído nestas listas. Os resultados mostram que a maior parte do ruído decorre de fatores linguísticos gerais, como morfológicos e discursivos, indicando também que 1/3 des-tes coocorrem com fenômenos fraseológicos, variacionais e tradutórios. / This paper focuses on the process of Quality Assurance (QA) that is undertaken by the Local-ization industry, aiming at improving the work of translators. Location consists of a process and a professional field whose purpose is to adapt goods or services (usually software-related) according to the language and cultural conventions of a particular locale in order to facilitate market penetration in a given country or market. One of the QA stages consists of validating the terminology on a translation project. The QA for terminology makes use of software to check if the applicable terminology is used in translation. Occurrences that the software iden-tifies as incorrect are saved in a list for terminology validation. The list is usually reviewed by a translator or an editor. The items considered incorrect by the translator are corrected in the translation, and the remaining entries are discarded. Because the software does not take lan-guage aspects into account, a good deal of noise is generated, resulting in large lists that are not cost-effective or time-efficient to review. With the purpose of providing input to solve the problem, this work employs a communicative, cognitive and functional approach to terminol-ogy and translation for the analysis of a terminology validation list in U.S. English and Brazil-ian Portuguese, on a genuine localization project. To complete this task, a list for validation was generated via a well-known QA software product used in the Localization field. Occur-rences from the generated list were analyzed and categorized according to phraseological, variational and translational criteria in addition to morphological and discursive criteria. The objective is providing input to drive the development of linguistically motivated computer applications that may reduce the incidence of noise on the lists. Results show that most of the noise is due to general linguistic factors, such as morphological and discourse aspects, also suggesting that 1/3 of that noise occurs simultaneously with phraseological, variational and translational phenomena.

Este trabalho centra-se no processo de QA (na sigla em inglês para quality assurance – ou garantia da qualidade em português) que é feito no setor da localização, visando a melhorar o trabalho do tradutor. Localização consiste em um processo e um campo de atuação profissio-nal que visam a adaptar produtos (geralmente de software) segundo o idioma e as convenções culturais de determinada localidade com o objetivo facilitar a entrada de um produto ou servi-ço em um país ou mercado. Com relação ao QA, uma de suas etapas consiste na validação da terminologia de um projeto de tradução. O QA terminológico envolve o uso de um software que verifica se a terminologia aplicável é usada na tradução. As ocorrências que o software considera incorretas são salvas em uma lista de validação terminológica, que é conferida nor-malmente por um tradutor ou editor. Itens que o tradutor considerar incorretos são corrigidos na tradução; os demais são descartados. Por ignorar aspectos linguísticos, o software gera muito ruído, ou falsos positivos, resultando em listas extensas, que não compensam o tempo dedicado a sua revisão. A fim de prover insumos para solucionar o problema, este trabalho emprega uma abordagem comunicativa, cognitiva e funcional à terminologia e à tradução para analisar uma lista de validação terminológica, em um projeto de localização real, no par de idiomas inglês dos Estados Unidos e português do Brasil. Para tal fim, foi gerada uma lista de validação por meio de um software de QA usado na área da localização. Ocorrências dessa lista foram analisadas e classificadas segundo critérios de base fraseológica, variacional e tra-dutória, além de morfológica e discursiva. O objetivo é oferecer subsídios que norteiem o desenvolvimento de aplicações computacionais linguisticamente motivadas que reduzam a incidência de ruído nestas listas. Os resultados mostram que a maior parte do ruído decorre de fatores linguísticos gerais, como morfológicos e discursivos, indicando também que 1/3 des-tes coocorrem com fenômenos fraseológicos, variacionais e tradutórios. / This paper focuses on the process of Quality Assurance (QA) that is undertaken by the Local-ization industry, aiming at improving the work of translators. Location consists of a process and a professional field whose purpose is to adapt goods or services (usually software-related) according to the language and cultural conventions of a particular locale in order to facilitate market penetration in a given country or market. One of the QA stages consists of validating the terminology on a translation project. The QA for terminology makes use of software to check if the applicable terminology is used in translation. Occurrences that the software iden-tifies as incorrect are saved in a list for terminology validation. The list is usually reviewed by a translator or an editor. The items considered incorrect by the translator are corrected in the translation, and the remaining entries are discarded. Because the software does not take lan-guage aspects into account, a good deal of noise is generated, resulting in large lists that are not cost-effective or time-efficient to review. With the purpose of providing input to solve the problem, this work employs a communicative, cognitive and functional approach to terminol-ogy and translation for the analysis of a terminology validation list in U.S. English and Brazil-ian Portuguese, on a genuine localization project. To complete this task, a list for validation was generated via a well-known QA software product used in the Localization field. Occur-rences from the generated list were analyzed and categorized according to phraseological, variational and translational criteria in addition to morphological and discursive criteria. The objective is providing input to drive the development of linguistically motivated computer applications that may reduce the incidence of noise on the lists. Results show that most of the noise is due to general linguistic factors, such as morphological and discourse aspects, also suggesting that 1/3 of that noise occurs simultaneously with phraseological, variational and translational phenomena.

В магистерской диссертации осуществлена попытка разграничить буквализм как переводческую ошибку и буквальность как стратегию перевода. Сопоставлены разновременные русскоязычные варианты XXXII главы романа Ч. Диккенса «Посмертные записки Пиквикского клуба». Сделаны выводы об исторической эволюции отношения к буквальному переводу. / This master’s thesis attempts to distinguish the word-for-word translation as an error and as a translator’s strategy. Chapter XXXII of «The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club» by Charles Dickens is compared in two Russian versions. The author draws conclusions on the historical evolution of the attitude towards word-for-word translation.

Text in English / Undergraduate students at the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) experience great difficulty in developing their translation competence during their training period. On the one hand, they show many signs of poor quality during their training when they accomplish practical translation assignments on and off-campus. On the other hand, the quality of the final work submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor Honours Degree (Licenciatura) suggests that most students fail to go beyond the minimum standards with regard to translation competence. Yet, comprehensive research aimed at understanding factors hindering translation competence at the UEM has been scanty. Besides, the few studies available have some significant lacunae, for they focus on Portuguese language development; are limited to error analysis, and often ignore students‟ perspectives. Consequently, the problem of finding a balanced approach to developing students‟ translation competence has remained unaddressed. Therefore, this study has been conducted with the purpose of investigating the translation competence of the UEM undergraduates in order to establish the major obstacles to their translation competence development, and consequently come up with suggestions for improving the current translator-training degree programme. The study design uses qualitative methods translated into a case study approach. First, questionnaire data is analysed to gain lecturers‟ and students‟ perspectives on translation competence at the UEM. Second, a students‟ error typology is developed following a macro- and micro-textual analysis of their translations. The study concludes that substandard bilingual skills, compounded by curricular, attitudinal/motivational, pedagogical and infrastructural/instrumental factors, negatively impact the students‟ development of translation competence at the UEM and that addressing these may pave the way towards improving the current translation-training programme. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Linguistics)

Text in English / Undergraduate students at the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) experience great difficulty in developing their translation competence during their training period. On the one hand, they show many signs of poor quality during their training when they accomplish practical translation assignments on and off-campus. On the other hand, the quality of the final work submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor Honours Degree (Licenciatura) suggests that most students fail to go beyond the minimum standards with regard to translation competence. Yet, comprehensive research aimed at understanding factors hindering translation competence at the UEM has been scanty. Besides, the few studies available have some significant lacunae, for they focus on Portuguese language development; are limited to error analysis, and often ignore students‟ perspectives. Consequently, the problem of finding a balanced approach to developing students‟ translation competence has remained unaddressed. Therefore, this study has been conducted with the purpose of investigating the translation competence of the UEM undergraduates in order to establish the major obstacles to their translation competence development, and consequently come up with suggestions for improving the current translator-training degree programme. The study design uses qualitative methods translated into a case study approach. First, questionnaire data is analysed to gain lecturers‟ and students‟ perspectives on translation competence at the UEM. Second, a students‟ error typology is developed following a macro- and micro-textual analysis of their translations. The study concludes that substandard bilingual skills, compounded by curricular, attitudinal/motivational, pedagogical and infrastructural/instrumental factors, negatively impact the students‟ development of translation competence at the UEM and that addressing these may pave the way towards improving the current translation-training programme. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M. A. (Linguistics)