| CODE | TTI1000 | ||||||
| TITLE | Translation and Interpreting Issues in Cultural Mediation | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Translation, Terminology and Interpreting Studies | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit focuses on the translation and interpreting challenges faced by cultural mediators in the course of their profession. Culture-bound ways of communication may be a hurdle for correct comprehension of texts and oral communication, where the receiver may understand incorrectly due to signals that may be interpreted incorrectly. The study-unit discusses topics such as culture and language, cultural globalization vs localization, context and perception, intercultural communication, meaning and effect in translation and interpreting, as well as practical ways how cultural mediators can help prepare how cultural mediators can help prepare themselves and the institutions of the host community to remove possible obstacles in comprehension. Study-Unit Aims: - To familiarise students with the various issues concerning the hidden presence of culturally-specific elements in texts and oral communication. - To make students aware of the challenges and diverse consequences of cultural transfer in translation/interpretation. - To provide students with the skills to identify cultural differences in communication and deal with them effectively as cultural mediators. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Be aware of the importance and of the sensitive nature of cultural transfer in the translation/interpretation of text and speech. - Appreciate the personal responsibility of the cultural mediator in the process of cultural mediation. - Give due importance to prior preparation when dealing with situations where cultural differences in communication may be particularly challenging. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Look for and identify culturally specific issues in situations of intercultural communication. - Adopt adequate strategies to make up for the cultural mismatch when mediation is required for communication purposes (e.g. how to explain what a notice/ letter/ announcement really means in the host culture). - Facilitate communication by making interlocutors aware of cultural differences in verbal and body language. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Katan, David (2004). Translating Cultures. London-New York: Routledge (available). - Hofstede, Geert Hofstede et al. (2010) Cultures and Organizations. Software of the Mind. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw Hill (available). Supplementary Texts: - Zhu Hua (2011) The Language and Intercultural Communication Reader. London: Routledge (available). - Pease, Allan & Barbara Pease (2005). The Definitive Book of Body Language. London: Orion Books |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Sergio Portelli |
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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. |
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