Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (2010), 16, 227–232. Copyright © INS. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2010. doi:10.1017/S1355617709991378 227 INTRODUCTION Approximately 31.1 million immigrants currently reside in the United States, representing well over 10% of the coun- try’s total population (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000, 2003). The 57% rise in immigration over the past decade is without parallel in modern history. This changing cross-cultural landscape presents unique challenges to the neurology and neuropsychology communities, as immigrant populations, overall, are at increased risk for congenital and acquired neu- rological disorders (DeGiorgio et al., 2005; Gill, Lenz, & Amolat, 2003; White et al., 2005; Zahuranec et al., 2006). With the elevated incidence of neurological disorders in non– U.S.-born residents comes an increased need for linguisti- cally and culturally appropriate assessment tools designed to identify the known cognitive sequelae of neurological disor- ders in non-native English-speaking populations. Yet, to date, comparatively few neuropsychological tests have been developed for, adapted to, or normalized in histor- CRITICAL REVIEW An interdisciplinary approach to neuropsychological test construction: Perspectives from translation studies H. ALLISON BENDER, 1 ADOLFO MARTÍN GARCÍA, 2 and WILLIAM B. BARR 1 1 Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York University Medical Center, New York, New York 2 Modern Languages Department, Mar del Plata’s National University, Mar del Plata, Argentina (Received April 29, 2009; Final Revision November 30, 2009; Accepted December 4, 2009) Abstract Few neuropsychological tests have been developed specifically for non-English speakers. Rather, assessment measures are often derived from English source texts (STs) and translated into foreign language target texts (TTs). An abundant literature describes the potential for translation error occurring in test construction. While the neuropsychology community has striven to correct these inadequacies, interdisciplinary approaches to test translation have been largely ignored. Translation studies, which has roots in linguistics, semiotics, computer science, anthropology, and philosophy, may provide a much-needed framework for test development. We aim to apply specific aspects of Descriptive Transla- tion Studies to present unique and heretofore unapplied frameworks to the socio-cultural conceptualizations of translated tests. In doing so, a more theoretical basis for test construction will be explored. To this end, translation theory can provide valuable insights toward the development of linguistically and culturally relevant neuropsychologi- cal test measures suitable for an increasingly diverse patient base. ( JINS, 2010, 16, 227–232.) Keywords: Multiculturalism, Immigrants, Linguistics, Neuropsychology, Semantics, Pragmatics Correspondence and reprint requests to: H. Allison Bender, New York University Medical Center, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Neuropsy- chology Service, New York, New York. E-mail: heidi.bender@nyumc.org ically underrepresented populations. Rather, the majority of existing tests and questionnaires available in languages other than English are derived from existing English source texts (STs) and translated into foreign-language target texts (TTs). While there are many good examples of test translation and adaptation from STs into TTs, in many cases, the quality of translated verbal materials is of unacceptably poor quality (Artiola i Fortuny et al., 2005; Artiola i Fortuny & Mullaney, 1997). In such cases, errors in phonology, syntax, and the pragmatics of language result in test bias, which, in turn, threatens the validity of both the test itself and concluded findings. Published commentaries (e.g., Artiola i Fortuny et al., 2005; Artiola i Fortuny & Mullaney, 1997), position papers (i.e., NAN Education Paper: Professional Consider- ations for Improving the Neuropsychological Evaluation of Hispanics; Judd et al., 2009), and formal guidelines (e.g., the International Test Commission Test Adaptation Guidelines, 2000) have each striven to correct these inadequacies; how- ever, past efforts have been largely restricted to the field of clinical neuropsychology and psychometrics. More interdis- ciplinary practices have rarely been pursued. Translation studies, which has roots in linguistics, semiotics, computer science, anthropology, and philosophy, demonstrates