Advanced Translation Skills
| Module title | Advanced Translation Skills |
|---|---|
| Module code | SML3031 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Richard Mansell (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
In this module you will approach translation as a professional activity, applying the knowledge you have gained in the core language modules. You will learn how elements of translation theory can improve translation practice, so that you will be able to research translation tasks efficiently and reflect on your own practice. Underpinning all of this is the core view that translation is a creative decision-making process that aims to communicate not words, but ideas and concepts across cultural borders.
This module is only available in Spanish, and counts towards the Spanish credits in your degree title
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to introduce students to modern theories of translation and how these can be applied to the practice of translation as an activity. It focuses on a range of text types in a variety of situations, building on and going beyond the translation situations encountered in core language modules.
Translation is approached as a decision-making activity, and students learn how to decide and justify their decisions swiftly and ethically, with terminology from the field. As such, this module aims especially to give a grounding in translation to those students who wish to continue their studies at postgraduate level.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Translate a range of text types in a range of situations, i.e. using different strategies for different audiences
- 2. Demonstrate an understanding of conceptual issues in theories of translation, and how these can be applied to the activity's practice
- 3. Analyse case studies and arrive at translators' strategies, and comment on these in their context
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Approach translation as a decision-making process
- 5. Make decisions and justify them with speed and ethical confidence
- 6. Identify the decisions made by translators and assess their quality in context
- 7. Carry out research for translations and case studies in the field of Translation Studies
- 8. Use terminology from the field appropriately
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Undertake independent research and use bibliographical material provided in an appropriate manner
- 10. Analyse critically and use this capacity to solve problems
- 11. Make decisions with confidence and justify them
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Introduction: What is translation and what is it not?
- Approaches to translation (Main theories of translation)
- Translation as a purposeful activity (The importance of audience)
- Translation Quality Analysis (How to assess the quality of translations)
- The role of linguistics (Importance of language, units of translation and limitations of langue-based approaches)
- Translations as texts (Texts as units of translations, textual behaviour)
- Translation as creation (The translator's input)
- The translation market, how it works and how to work
In the first five weeks, texts used in seminars will put into practice the theory covered in lectures. This will carry on in the following five weeks, with seminars dedicated to the features of an individual text type, problems of translation and solutions to overcome them.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 134 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 5 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 11 | Seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 134 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commented translation | 250 word translation with 250 word commentary | 1-11 | Written, with oral feedback available on request |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commented translation | 100 | 750 word translation with 1000 word commentary | 1-11 | Written, with oral feedback available on request |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commented translation | Commented translation | 1-11 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Mona Baker (2011): In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. London, Routledge.
- Mona Baker (ed.) (1998): Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London, Routledge.
- Edwin Gentzler (2001): Contemporary Translation Theories. Clevedon, Multilingual Matters.
- Jeremy Munday (2004): Introducing Translation Studies. Theories and Applications. London Routledge.
- Lawrence Venuti (ed.) (2004): The Translation Studies Reader, London, Routledge.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | MLS2001, or equivalent competence. Students may take the module in Spanish translation only and should hold the pre-requisite for that language |
| Module co-requisites | MLS3111 |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 2008 |
| Last revision date | 17/02/2023 |
