Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE TIS5034

 
TITLE Translation Practice

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Translation, Terminology and Interpreting Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This is a practice-based study-unit in which students will translate a wide variety of non-literary texts. They will be assigned authentic texts chosen from different domains and areas for example business, tourism, journalism, advertising, medicine and legal. Focus will be placed on source text analysis, text-types, genres, translation briefs, clarity, appropriateness and precision in order to produce functionally adequate translations. Translation practice will involve use of translation technology as well as resources such as corpora, terminological databases and online dictionaries.

The study-unit will include:
- Texts chosen from different sources (newspapers, journals, official documentation, technical…) to be translated into the student’s native language, provided the latter is listed among those offered by the department;
- Textual analysis in order to identify specific linguistic/stylistic features of different texts;
- Use of translation technology and online resources.

Study-Unit Aims:

- Equip students with the necessary skills to effectively translate a variety of non-literary texts in accordance to the assigned brief and target-language conventions;
- Equip students with relevant problem-solving strategies;
- Foster reflection on their translation process and product including alternative translation solutions generated and final solutions chosen by the students through self-reflection and class discussion;
- Lay the foundations for professional translation practice.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Identify possible challenges in the task at hand and reflect on possible solutions;
- Discuss and justify their chosen solutions in a sound and professional manner;
- Evaluate the appropriateness and reliability of information sources consulted while translating;
- Understand the importance of following a task brief including abiding with style guides and deadlines.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Carry out the necessary research and evaluate the various possible solutions in light of the text genre, brief and target-language considerations;
- Translate a variety of non-literary texts pertaining to different genres and domains in line with the brief and target-language conventions.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Baer, B. J. & Mellinger, C. (eds). 2020. Translating Texts: An Introductory Coursebook on Translation and Text Formation. London: Routledge.
- Baker, M. 2018. In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. 3rd ed. London: Routledge.
- Olohan, M. 2016. Scientific and Technical Translation. London: Routledge.
- Torresi, I. 2021. Translating Promotional and Advertising Texts. 2nd ed. London: Routledge.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Portfolio SEM1 No 100%

 
LECTURER/S Claudine Borg

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit