Translator training is an area that has received much interest among the research community of Translation Studies’ scholars. This is driven by the need for highly qualified and skilled professional translators around the world. This need has motivated research into the skills and competences professional translators need to perform their tasks effectively. This review addresses translator training and translation competence, underscoring the need for further research in this area in the Saudi context. It also presents some translation competence models that have been proposed. The review indicated that translation competence is an under-researched area in the Saudi context. Further research is needed in this area to contribute to improving the quality of translator training, which will enhance the quality of translation services by improving the outcomes of these programs.

Purpose The current study set out to examine the recruitment practices and job-market readiness of translators in Saudi Arabia in light of the Process in the Acquisition of Translation Competence and Evaluation (PACTE) model of translation competence (TC). The main purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which the outcomes of translator training programs are aligned with job-market requirements. Design/methodology/approach A case study was conducted adopting a mixed-methods research design to collect qualitative and quantitative data using interviews and a questionnaire. Data were also collected from the analysis of 28 translation job advertisements. The questionnaire targeted employers, while the interviews were conducted with employers and professional translators. Findings The findings indicate that there is a gap between the outcomes of translator training programs and the needs of the job market with a particular emphasis on the importance of developing trainee translators' job-market skills as well as their awareness of the professional practice of translation. Research limitations/implications The findings of the current study are limited to the sample from which data were collected. Practical implications The study has significant implications for translators and translator training in Saudi Arabia. Although the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission and the Saudi Translators' Association were established in 2020, additional measures are needed to support the translation profession in Saudi Arabia. Such support may take the form of specialised accreditation for translator training programs as well as licensing requirements for practitioners. Implementing these measures will play a significant role in establishing benchmarks for translator training programs and promoting the integration of job-market requirements into translator training. Originality/value Although TC has been examined in the Saudi context before, examining it in light of the PACTE framework sheds new light on the job-market readiness of translation program graduates and enriches the literature on the training of translators in Saudi Arabia.

The study examined the Arabic aspectual particle qad within the framework of Smith’s Two-Component Theory of Aspect, which views aspectual meaning as a combination of covert situation types and overt viewpoint markers. The analysis, which was conducted on Modern Standard Arabic, revealed that the Arabic aspectual marker qad has a tendency to be used perfectively, but it also has imperfective uses. However, as far as situation types are concerned, the analysis found some variation when it comes to the use of imperfective and perfective qad. The findings were also correlated to different constructions in which qad typically occurs.

The study examined the cooperative training course at an undergraduate English translation program at a public university in Saudi Arabia with the aim of tapping into the perceptions of a sample of undergraduate translation students regarding their cooperative training experience. The study also aimed to identify the extent to which the students’ university training is aligned with job market needs. To achieve these aims, a qualitative study was conducted, and 87 undergraduate students were surveyed using a questionnaire designed for the purpose of the study. The findings indicated that the students generally had positive perceptions towards cooperative training. The findings also indicated that the students’ undergraduate training is aligned with job market requirements in some respects while there is room for improvement in others