Module LXM-4023:
Translation in Practice
Module Facts
Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language
30.000 Credits or 15.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 2
Organiser: Prof Helena Miguelez-Carballeira
Overall aims and purpose
- To introduce students to a variety of aspects related to applied translation.
- To introduce students to translation technologies.
- To introduce students to adjacent fields such as interpreting.
Course content
This module introduces students to a series of methodological and practical skills that will enable them to familiarise themselves with the practice of translation. Students will be able to study aspects of applied translation including machine translation, translation software, the translation of children's literature, terminology theory and practice for translators, etc. They will also be introduced to Interpreting an adjacent field. The approaches studied will relate to a wide range of languages and cultures, including English, Welsh, Spanish, French, Italian and German.
Reading list: Baker, Mona (1992) In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation, London: Routledge. Hatim, B. and I. Mason (1997) The Translator as Communicator, London: Routledge. Austermuhl, F. (2001) Electronic Tools for Translators, Manchester: St. Jerome. Bowker, Lynne and J. Pearson (2002) Working with Specialized Language: A Practical Guide to Using Corpora, London: Routledge. Schwarzl, A. (2002) The Impossibilities of Machine Translation, Frankfurt & New York: Peter Lang. Lambert, Silvia (ed) Bridging the Gap: Empirical Research in Simultaneous Interpretation, Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
The above constitutes basic reading for the course. Topic specific reading lists will be provided for each segment of the course.
Assessment Criteria
threshold
C- - C+: Students should demonstrate a satisfactory comprehension of the topic studied, forming solid conclusions about the validity and uses of critical theory as a whole.
good
B- - B+: Students receiving the higher grades of assessment will have analysed the sources provided, evaluating secondary material on set topics and assessing them as they form their own convincing conclusions.
excellent
A- - A+: In order to achieve the highest grades, students will have supplemented the texts studied in class with additional primary and secondary reading, they will have analysed and evaluated existing readings of critical theory and come to their own innovative and thoughtful conclusions.
Learning outcomes
-
Students will be able to analyse the uses and validity of a wide range of applied approaches to translation.
-
Students will acquire an overview of translation methodologies and computer-assisted translation tools.
-
Students will acquire a greater awareness of the concept of applied translation and its wide range of manifestations.
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
LOGBOOK OR PORTFOLIO | Professional Translation Project Portfolio | For this Assignment you will be given a translation project by a customer. Without producing a translation of the ST itself, you will create a project portfolio which will include: i. an example of written communication with your customer where you will seek to clarify the requirements, objective and function of the translation project; the recipient of the translation service; and your own negotiation with the client to define deadlines, rates/invoicing, working conditions, contracts, rights and any ethical issue posed by the project; ii) an analysis of the ST identifying potential difficulties and assessing the strategies and resources needed for producing an appropriate translation in line with the client's brief; iii) A report on the most relevant IT and digital resources, including search engines, corpus-based tools, terminological databases and CAT Tools that will assist you in delivering the translation project; iv) your invoice to the client. |
40.00 |
ESSAY | Essay | Write an Essay on ONE of the given topics in the Module's handout. |
60.00 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Private study | 300 | |
Lecture | 6 x 2-hour tutorials, fortnightly. |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
- Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
- Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
- Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
- Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
- Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
- Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
Pre- and Co-requisite Modules
Pre-requisites:
Courses including this module
Compulsory in courses:
- T9AD: MA Translation Studies year 1 (MA/TRANS)