module specification

On this module, you will draw on the knowledge of cultural issues and competencies acquired in Cultural Awareness to develop your awareness of the role that societies and cultures play in how translations are produced, circulated and received. You will explore the position and role of translation in society through an examination of concepts such as translation norms, mediation and ideology, all of which can impact the work of translators in different linguistic and cultural contexts. Existing translations and relevant theoretical concepts will be analysed with the purpose of identifying the factors that can impact choices made by the translators, thereby linking your individual translation practice to broader societal themes and issues such as race and decolonisation, identity politics, and conflict and narrative.

This module has both a theoretical and a practical nature, with students exploring theoretical ideas through the analysis of existing translations and the production of their own. This module therefore paves the way for the spring semester module Gender Responsive Practices for Translators, which explores these issues further through the specific lens of gender, and introduces you to key texts in translation studies that will be explored further in the final year module Researching Translation 1.
This module aims to:
• Explore a variety of socio-cultural issues through the lens of translation theory and practice.
• Expand your practical and technological knowledge from other modules through consideration of the broader socio-cultural contexts in which translation takes place.
• Foster independent research and academic writing skills for further exploration at level 6.

In this module, you will first be introduced to the core theoretical concepts required to understand how socio-cultural factors can influence the ways that translators ‘make sense’ of source texts, and produce and circulate their translations (LO1, LO2).
Once you have developed the capacity to determine the extent to which these socio-cultural factors influence the meaning of texts and readers’ perceptions, you will apply this knowledge to reflective translation tasks and debate-based activities based on real-world case studies (LO2, LO3).
The module then concludes with practical workshops focussing on research skills and academic writing support in preparation for the module’s assessment (LO4).
 

This is an in-class taught module delivered through interactive lectures and seminars. The use of Weblearn and other blended-learning resources will support your learning by giving you time to read and investigate key theories and case studies before coming to class to explore further. Each teaching session will focus on a central issue that will be explored through the discussion of existing translations, as well as by completing your own translations and collaborations with your peers. Students will also be encouraged to complete independent research to find relevant scholarship and case studies in their own language pairs, which will then inform their assessment practice. You are expected to undertake a substantial amount of independent study with specific tasks and background reading set in preparation for classroom discussions and extended practical activities in the following teaching sessions.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Distinguish the cultural elements embedded in texts and understand how they reflect culture-specific worldviews and perceptions.
2. Critically assess how the social values and ideals conveyed in texts influence the translator’s behaviour and critically assess various strategies for translating complex cultural elements.
3. Acquire and deploy an inclusive and socially responsible approach when translating culturally charged texts.
4. Propose academically sound arguments that synthesise core theoretical concepts with secondary literary and relevant examples found through independent research.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/B0822F79-855F-2196-7650-467582A74E53.html