Overview

This module aims to further develop and consolidate translation skills students have acquired in their language courses. By approaching translation as a process, it examines translation at different textual levels, from the lexico-grammatical level such as words and grammar, to the textual-pragmatic level such as cohesion, register and text types. It provides students with a framework to reflect on the translational difficulties in their languages of study and explore strategies and their implications.

The module combines practical sessions with more theory-based sessions, alternating between the two. Practical sessions will focus on the properties and themes of texts in English, with students discussing in their different language groups strategies of overcoming translation problems posed by each text and different translation possibilities. Theory-based sessions will introduce students to different aspects of translation and the translation process, including translation loss/compensation, cultural aspects of translation and the formal properties of texts. Students will prepare for these sessions by reading the relevant chapters in the essential reading for the module.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of different types of difficulties when translating.

• Produce adequate translation into the student’s first language.

• Reason critically and defend translation decisions.

• Recognise that translating occurs with reference to communicative functions, text types and related macro- and micro-textual features

• Use systematic and effective translation strategies.