TR7084 - Translating for International Organisations (2025/26)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2025/26 | |||||||||||||||
| Module title | Translating for International Organisations | |||||||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | |||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 20 | |||||||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | |||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 200 | |||||||||||||||
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| Running in 2025/26(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This is an option module, which focuses on translating texts induced in institutional contexts. The module looks at specificity of texts authored by the institutions in question and provides students with an opportunity to utilise institutional resources (available online) to create target texts complying with institutional standards.
The module offers students another pathway into specialisation and therefore enhances their employability opportunities (working as a freelance or in-house translator within institutional bodies, like government agencies, international organizations, and public institutions. Institutional translation employers might be: United Nations agencies, European Union institutions, Public health organizations, Educational institutions, Human Rights agencies, etc.). By choosing this option module you will:
1. develop a comprehensive understanding of practical and theoretical aspects of translation, culture and texts from various fields pertaining to international organisations
2. enhance the skills and tools acquired in previous modules and necessary to analyse texts related to international organisations and apply the appropriate translation strategies for effective translation
3. learn to critically examine key issues in the translation of institutional texts and develop further your analytical ability to assess and reflect on translations, identify problems arising out of them and use suitable translation solutions
4. develop the ability to produce a translation following professional standards, which will allow you to compete as a translator /communicator in the context of international organisations.
If there are no sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the school reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the School cancels a module it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative.
Prior learning requirements
N/A
Syllabus
The module consists of the delivery of non- language specific lectures alternating with language-specific seminars devoted to individual translation of various institutional texts performed by the students and assessed (formative assessment ) by the language specific tutors. .
The module develops the students’ understanding of theoretical and practical aspects pertaining to translation in international organisations (LO1).
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The generic lectures focus on the features of Institutional translation, covering aspects related to the theories of translation and practical aspects of the specialized field of translation. The two main international institutions, UN and EU will be presented, as well as an overview of other international bodies and independent, established agencies.
Students explore the process involved in the translation of specialised texts, as well as the strategies and procedures adopted in their transfer into the target language (LO2, LO3).
The language-specific sessions provide students with the opportunity to translate texts sourced within the aforementioned institutions, each session selecting a different text in line with text-type, brief, and readership requirements. Students engage in text analysis and develop an understanding of institutional texts and their characteristics. They learn about (and acquire) the knowledge and skills required in the processing / decoding of various types of institutional texts.
These translation assignments are performed online by the students and assessed remotely by the language -specific tutors (formative assessment and feedback) (LO4).
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Teaching and learning methods include -generic lectures and language-specific seminars delivered by tutors.
Research by using textbooks, electronic databases, and e-learning materials (Weblearn), In addition to the contact time students are expected to undertake a significant amount of self-directed study for the module and for the language-specific sessions.
There are no pdp requirements for this module.
Learning outcomes
On completing this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the skills necessary to translate institution specific LSP (language for special purposes) texts into their target language and according to professional standards
2. Identify and critically analyse relevant issues of translation theory, terminology, and research in a specialised field
3. Assess and apply strategies for solving more complex translation difficulties in and emerging from LSP and institution-specific texts and acquire an awareness of the impact of these translation strategies and decisions on the translated text as whole
4. Critically reflect on the translation process and produce translations of a high standard in a professional manner.