Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE TTI5012

 
TITLE Translation and Interpreting Issues in Intercultural Communication

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Translation, Terminology and Interpreting Studies

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit focuses on the challenges posed to translators and interpreters by culturally specific references in texts and speeches. Such references may be difficult to identify and if ignored can have serious consequences on intercultural communication. The study-unit discusses topics such as culture and language, cultural globalization vs localization, context and perception, intercultural communication, meaning and effect in translation/interpretation and negotiation strategies. It adopts a hands-on approach where students shall be given texts and speeches that present cultural challenges they have to solve in order to convey the message and effect as intended by the writer/speaker.

Study-Unit Aims:

- To familiarise students with the various issues concerning the hidden presence of culturally-specific elements in texts/speeches;
- To render students aware of the challenges and diverse consequences of cultural transfer in translation/interpretation;
- To provide students with the skills to select and make use of adequate tools to identify, research and translate/interpret culturally specific concepts into the target language.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- be aware of the importance and sensitive nature of cultural transfer in the translation/interpretation of texts/speeches;
- give due importance to in-depth research of culturally-bound concepts and not rely on superficial impressions and general ideas;
- appreciate the personal responsibility of the translator/interpreter in the process of intercultural communication.

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

- look for and identify culturally specific issues in texts/speeches they are required to translate/interpret;
- adopt adequate strategies to research culturally specific references before proceeding to translate/interpret the source text/speech;
- render culturally specific references into the target language maintaining the meaning and effect of the source text/speech.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Katan, David (2004). Translating Cultures. London-New York: Routledge.
- Hofstede, Geert, Gert Jan Hofstede and Michael Minkov (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. Revised and expanded 3rd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Hall, Edward T. (1976). Beyond Culture. New York: Anchor Books.

Supplementary Readings:

- Gudykunst, William B. and Mody, Bella (eds) (2002). Handbook of international and intercultural communication. Thousand Oaks: SAGE.
- Jandt, Fred E. (1998). Intercultural communication : an introduction. Thousand Oaks: SAGE.
- Zhu Hua (2011) The Language and Intercultural Communication Reader. London: Routledge.

Texts/recorded speeches provided by lecturer.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 50%
Written Tasks SEM2 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Sergio Portelli

 

 
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