82042 - Specialized Translation from German into Italian

Learning outcomes

The student knows the strategies, techniques, traditional and state-of-the-art tools and methods used in specialized translation tasks; s/he is able to apply them to the translation of technical and scientific texts from different genres and text types, from German into Italian, meeting specific translation briefs and respecting the communicative functions of the source texts; s/he knows the basic techniques required for information mining, drafting, editing and revising texts, including the overall quality evaluation of the translated text.

Course contents

The 40-hour-course, which will be held in the second semester, aims to introduce students to "institutional" translation, i.e. translation activity for use by public bodies and the judiciary.

In particular, texts relating to three main areas will be addressed: criminal law and procedure, administrative law and civil procedure. An interdisciplinary approach will be adopted, aimed at providing students with the methodological and procedural tools to adequately deal with the translation of certain types of acts (including judgments, decrees, administrative acts) also from a comparative perspective. Swiss and Austrian documents will also be translated. At the same time, students will become familiar with the German judicial and administrative language, learning to properly use the resources employed by the legal translator (laws, codes, case law manuals, specialist dictionaries, terminology databases, parallel texts, corpora, etc.). Students will thus learn to critically engage in machine translation, in a way that takes full advantage of the acquired ability to understand legal language and of the MT superior data processing in legal translation context. Training in the analysis of MT output is also part of the teaching activity.

Readings/Bibliography

Language and law

Arens, Peter / Lüke, Wolfgang (2019): Zivilprozessrecht I. Erkenntnisverfahren und Europäisches Zivilverfahrensrecht. München: C.H. Beck.

Hilgendorf, Erich (2008): dtv-Atlas Recht. München: Dt.Taschenbuch Verlag.

Jacometti, Valentina (2008): “Il linguaggio giuridico tedesco” in: Barbara Pozzo / Marina Timoteo (a cura di): Europa e linguaggi giuridici. Milano: Giuffrè, 123-184.

Koch, Rainer (2012): Der Strafprozess. Eine Einführung für Gerichtsdolmetscher und -übersetzer. Berlin: BDÜ Fachverlag.

Simon, Heike / Funk-Baker, Gisela (2017): Deutsche Rechtssprache. Ein Studien- und Arbeitsbuch mit Einführung in das deutsche Recht. München: Beck.

Thorman Isabelle / Hausbrandt Jana (2016): Rechtssprache klar und verständlich gemacht für Dolmetscher, Übersetzer, Germanisten und andere Nichtjuristen. Berlin: BDÜ Fachverlag.

Legal translation

Megale, Fabrizio (2008): Teorie della traduzione giuridica. Fra diritto comparato e Translation Studies. Napoli: Editoriale scientifica.

Sandrini, Peter (Hg.) (1999): Übersetzen von Rechtstexten. Fachkommunikation im Spannungsfeld zwischen Rechtsordnung und Sprache. Tübingen: Narr.

Šarčević, Susan (1997): New approach to legal translation. The Hague: Kluwer Law International.

Schena, Leandro / Snel Trampus, Rita (a cura di) (2002): Traduttori e giuristi a confronto. Interpretazione traducente e comparazione del discorso giuridico. Vol. II. Bologna: CLUEB.

Wiesmann, Eva (2004): Rechtsübersetzung und Hilfsmittel zur Translation. Wissenschaftliche Grundlagen und computergestützte Umsetzung eines lexikographischen Konzepts. Tübingen: Narr.

Translator's resources (printed texts/dictionaries/encyclopaedias)

Conte, Giuseppe / Boss, Hans (2017): Dizionario giuridico ed economico / Wörterbuch der Rechts- und Wirtschaftssprache. 2 Tedesco- Italiano / Deutsch- Italienisch. Milano: Giuffrè.

Creifelds Rechtswörterbuch (2019). München: Beck.

Enciclopedia del diritto (2009). Milano. Garzanti

Favata, Angelo (2013). Dizionario dei termini giuridici. Piacenza: La Tribuna.

Patti, Salvatore (2010): Codice di procedura civile tedesco: Zivilprozessordnung. München / Milano: Beck / Giuffrè.

Troike Strambaci, Hannelore / Strambaci, Luca / Helffrich Mariani, Elisabeth G. (2019): Vocabolario del Diritto e dell’Economia / Wörteruch für Recht und Wirtschaft. 1 Tedesco Italiano Deutsch-Italienisch. Milano/München: Giuffrè/Beck.

Tilch Horst / Alroth Frank (2001): Deutsches Rechtslexikon in drei Bändern. München: Beck.

Online Resources

Online resources and further reading will be provided by the teacher the beginning and during the course.

Teaching methods

Lessons take place mainly in workshop-like mode, but also in lecture mode.

During the lectures, basic knowledge of the German legal system, along with the resources available to the legal translator for the acquisition of specialist knowledge and related linguistic means will be provided.

Workshops will include a combination of the discussion of translations carried out individually at home and post-editing exercises under the supervision of the lecturer. During the discussion, feedback will be provided on the main translation problems and the methodology will be improved.

Translations will be carried out with the aid of print and electronic resources for legal translators as well as dedicated software programs and translation tools (word processing programs, text analysis tools, CAT-tools).

Compulsory course attendance: 70%.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend the online Modules 1, 2 on Health and Safety [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas].

Assessment methods

Individual learning progress will be assessed through a regular evaluation of translations carried out individually at home and by a mid-term test (translation of a text of 200-230 words and a post-editing exercise, with 2 hours and 30 minutes available).

All students will undergo a final exam, consisting of two parts: a translation of a text of 250-300 words, and a post-editing exercise, with 3 hours available). During the translation exam into Italian (which will be carried out in classrooms equipped with print and electronic resources), students may use all the resources they are familiar with, except for MT.

The final mark will be the average between the mark obtained in the first part and the mark obtained in the second part of the course (Specialized Translation from Italian into German).

The test texts will be of the same type as those covered during the course.

In all the tests, the adequacy and correctness of the translation will be assessed. The evaluation will take into account both positive and negative elements. As for the latter, the categories of errors are sense, terminology, non-terminological vocabulary, phraseology, grammar, textual conventions, omissions, unjustified additions.

Grading scale:

30-30L

Excellent level. The candidate possesses excellent translation/language skills, with a very high level of competence in the target language /(or) in the language and culture being studied.

27-29

Above average level. The candidate makes only minor errors, and shows a solid command of the required skills and competences.

24– 26

Generally sound level. The candidate displays a number of shortcomings, indicating a reasonable command of the required skills and competences.

21-23

Adequate level. The candidate displays significant shortcomings and only an adequate command of the required skills and competences.

18– 20

Minim level. The candidate only meets the minimum level required and shows a minimal command of the required skills and competences.

>18 Fail

Basic knowledge not achieved: the examination must be repeated

The test is considered failed in case of errors leading to the non-usability of the translation. The usability of the translation is affected especially in case of serious errors of sense.

The mark 18 is assigned to translations which, although there are errors in all the categories indicated, are still usable.

Teaching tools

Personal computers, beamers.

Internet, search engines.

Online resources: electronic dictionaries and encyclopedias, terminological data bases, comparable texts, corpora

Printed resources: handbooks, printed dictionaries and encyclopedias.

During the collective practice, students will carry out their translation work in classrooms equipped with the above mentioned print and electronic resources, as well as dedicated software programs and translation tools (word processing programs, text analysis tools, CAT-tools).

Office hours

See the website of Flavia Rita Vecchione