module specification

This module allows students to complete an extended translation and write a commentary on it. They will be expected to know how to find a text of appropriate level of specialisation and length for translation into the chosen target language. Students are shown how and where to search for appropriate texts in terms of difficulty, length and degree of specialisation, how to work independently on the choice of text, preparation of translation, production of commentary under the guidance of their language-specific supervisor, and they are expected to use feedback to improve and develop their project.  Students will at all times be expected to demonstrate the ability to work independently, seek advice from appropriate sources (supervisor, peers, colleagues, etc) and make constructive use of feedback. They are also expected to translate the text to a professional standard of accuracy, identify and make use of appropriate research, apply searching and documentation strategies and use appropriate translation tools. Students will analyse the text and write a commentary on it and the translation process.

TR5001 is the prerequisite

This module comprises a combination of generic sessions and individual language-specific supervisions.  Individual supervisions can take place online (via email or Skype) or face-to-face in staff offices. It will be your responsibility to contact your language-specific supervisor to arrange a supervision schedule.
You will have 14 contact hours in total:
• 8 hours generic sessions (Four 2 hour sessions)
• 6 hours individual supervisions
With the following breakdown:
• Generic session 1: introduction to the module, choosing the ST, pre-translation analysis (2 hours)
• Individual supervision 1: pre-translation analysis (1 hour)
• Generic session 2: Addressing questions and issues relating to pre-translation analysis (2 hours).
• Individual supervisions 2 and 3: first half of the translation (1 hour + 1 hour)
• Generic session 3: writing the commentary (2 hours)
• Individual supervisions 4 and 5: first half of the commentary (up to 3 translation problems) and post-translation analysis (1 hour + 1 hour)
• Generic session 4: Reviewing translations and discussing translation problems. Using dictionaries (2 hours)
• Individual supervision 6: Any remaining issues or queries to be discussed (1 hour)
The total study hours for this module are 300, which means that you need to put in 286 hours of independent guided study on top of the generic sessions and supervisions. These hours include finding, analyzing and translating the text, doing relevant subject-specific and theoretical research, and interacting with peers on the discussion forum.
After each language specific session, you are expected to reflect on the feedback received in a reflective report (using the template provided on WebLearn) and apply it to the second part of your translation as well as the three translation problems not discussed with your language supervisor. You are required to include the reports in your project. LO1,LO2,LO3,LO4

You are reminded that this is your project so the ultimate responsibility for its final form lies with you. Your language-specific tutor and module leader can only provide general advice on how best to approach your project and work towards improving your translation and commentary. You know you need to plan the research and writing-up of your project very carefully and well in advance. It is entirely up to you how much guidance and help you will gain from the sessions, individual supervisions and WebLearn, so you have to make sure you are adequately prepared for sessions to make the most out of them. One of the aims of the module is to put you in circumstances that require independent work, so you need to be very organised and you must not leave things till the last moment.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. identify, select and use a source text meeting required criteria in terms of length, difficulty and level of specialisation
2. provide examples illustrating their independent work towards a specific translation-related goal
3. use various sources to improve the quality of their translation complying with professional standards
4. critically evaluate and discuss the overall translation process in the form of a commentary.

This module comprises a combination of generic sessions and individual language-specific supervisions.  Individual supervisions can take place online (via email or Skype) or face-to-face in staff offices. It will be students’ responsibility to contact their language-specific supervisor to arrange a supervision schedule.
They will have 14 contact hours in total:
• 8 hours generic sessions (Four 2 hour sessions)
• 6 hours individual supervisions

General:

Baker, M. (2011) In other words: a coursebook on translation. London: Routledge.

Hatim, B. and Mason, I. (1990) Discourse and the translator. London: Longman.

Munday, J. (2012) “Research and commentary projects”. In: Introducing translation studies, theories and applications (third edition). London and New York: Routledge.

Newmark, P. (1982) Approaches to translation. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

Newmark, P. (1988) A textbook of translation. New York: Pergamon Press.

Newmark, P. (1991) About translation. Clevedon/Philadelphia: Multilingual Matters.

Munday. J. (2001) Introducing translation studies. London: Routledge.

Nord, C. (1991) Text analysis in translation. Amsterdam: Rodopi. (Especially Chapter 3 “Factors of source-text analysis”).

Robinson, D. (2017) Critical translation studies. London: Routledge.

Schäffner, C. and Wieseman, U. (2001) Annotated texts for translation: English-German. Functionalist approaches illustrated. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Trosberg, A. (1997) Text typology and translation. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.