89562 - Portuguese Language - Advanced Course

Academic Year 2020/2021

  • Docente: Lucia Melotti
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: L-LIN/09
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Forli
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Interpreting (cod. 8060)

    Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Specialized translation (cod. 9174)

Learning outcomes

The student is familiar with contexts and problems of liaison interpreting and conference interpreting from and into Portuguese, and is able to choose ethically correct behaviour. He/she is able to use the basic techniques and strategies of conference interpreting (simultaneous and consecutive) and liaison interpreting, he/she is able to manage communication exchanges with properties of language and pragmatic competence.

Course contents


The 30-hour semester course (II semester), optional and without obligation to attend, is aimed at students who already have a level of Portuguese B2 and aims to develop advanced written and oral skills (C2) for the European Portuguese language.

Presents an introduction to the theoretical and practical aspects of oral interpretation in communicative situations of the work of the liaison interpreter from and in Portuguese and the conference interpreter. The course aims to refine the knowledge of the Lusophone countries, in particular of Portugal, improve communication skills and interpretation strategies, taking into account the specific market demand.

A written and oral test with final evaluation is foreseen.

The student has a thorough knowledge of the metalanguage and of the different aspects of a descriptive-analytical model of the Portuguese language, and is competent in all communication skills at least at level B2 of the parameters set by the Council of Europe, therefore the course is aimed at students who have:

a) a good knowledge of the Portuguese language;

b) excellent command of the Italian language;

c) the interest and passion for the language and culture of the Lusophone countries, specifically Portugal;

d) a possibly open and consolidated personality;

e) the ability to deal with stressful situations;

f) precision and accuracy.

Basic requirements:

a) active participation in lessons (practical exercises);

b) constant exercise independently and in small groups outside of class hours, based on the indications provided by the teacher.The exercises are an integral part of the course;

c) updating through the media (TV, radio, newspapers, Internet) in Italian and Portuguese, to enrich linguistic and (inter) cultural background.

The course provides an introduction to the role of the interpreter for the Portuguese - Italian linguistic combination. As regards interpretation, the skills of listening, analysis and interpretation of topics relating to the business world, the tourism sector and contexts typical of conference interpretation will be developed, areas all required by the labour market. Preparatory texts and exercises will be offered to students aimed at strengthening listening, comprehension, memorization and production skills in the two languages, including:

- memorization exercises / oral summaries of texts read in class or recorded texts (audio and video);

- sight translations;

- reformulation of the text, activation of the lexicon by paraphrase, search for synonyms and antonyms.

As for the consolidation part of the skills of advanced Portuguese, exercises on the use of the language and on advanced Portuguese structures (e.g. grammar level C.2) will be presented.

The lessons will have an eminently practical character and the students will be invited to take an active part through the various exercises proposed.

Readings/Bibliography

Russo, M.; Mack, G., Interpretazione di trattativa. La mediazione linguistico culturale nel contesto formativo e professionale, Milano: Hoepli, 2005.

Falbo, C./Russo, M./Straniero Sergio, F. (a cura di) (1999) Interpretazione simultanea e consecutiva. Problemi teorici e metodologie didattiche, Milano, Hoepli.

Gillies, A. (2005) Note-taking for consecutive interpreting - a short course, Manchester, St. Jerome Publishing.

Monacelli, C. (1999) Messaggi in codice. Analisi del discorso e strategie per prenderne appunti, Milano, Franco Angeli.

Russo M., L'interpretazione consecutiva dallo spagnolo in italiano. Conoscere altri sistemi per sviluppare il proprio, Bologna, Gedit Edizioni, 2005

Pochhacker F., Introducing Interpreting Studies, 2004, Routledge

Teaching methods

The lectures will be divided into a part dedicated to the deepening of the Portuguese language at an advanced level and a part of introduction to conference and liaison interpreting for the Portuguese - Italian linguistic combination.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of:

- a written test common to the two courses consisting of questions of grammar, advanced vocabulary and interlingual reformulation exercises.

Furthermore, the student will undergo:

- an oral consecutive interpretation test from Portuguese to Italian lasting about 6 minutes which will focus on one of the topics covered during the course. The evaluation will take into account the ability to understand and express into the target language, starting from the relative knowledge of the topic. Particular attention will also be paid to breathing, the use of the voice, gestures and posture.

The final evaluation in thirtieths of the test will be divided as follows:

- the written part common to the two addresses is 18/30

- the oral part of the program is 12/30

Teaching tools

Youtube videos and podcasts from Portuguese or online radio stations.

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Melotti