29776 - Linguistic Mediation - English (LM)

Learning outcomes

The students are expected to be familiar with theories of ‘language mediation' and its practical/professional application in public- and social services. The student will be expected to apply the theoretical and practical tools learned in class that pertain to international and intercultural communication. They are also expected to use the learning methods developed during the course to be able to independently examine in depth and update their skills and competencies and to conduct research in this area. Through practical exercises during these two years, their communicative competencies in all the abilities, active and passive, will reach a B2 level of the European Common Framework which will put them in a position to effectively interpret socio-linguistic and cultural codes of people involved in a communicative rapport.

Course contents

Cultural/Language Mediation

With Mariella Lorusso

The objective of this course is to provide the students with an introduction to the role of the English-Italian interpreter in the fields of tourism, business and public services. The course focuses on this emerging profession in Italy and on the interpreting strategies adopted during interpreting sessions. It also examines the diversification of the role and tasks of the interpreter and the language/cultural mediator. The material and institutional differences between these two job-tasks deeply influence the communicative skills needed for this job. The discourse modes that pertain to the legal, health and social service institutions in the Italian context will be examined.

A basic premise in this profession is the foreign citizen's right to full access to justice, to healthcare and to social services, fully cognizant of Italian language expressions through the medium of his/her own language by way of an English-Italian interpreter.

Given that English is a global language, it often functions as a lingua franca in these contexts. Indeed, it often happens that the interpreter will have to interpret to/from a ‘non-standard' English in which the accent and the morphological/lexical/syntactical expressions of the language vary significantly; this may jeopardize not only communication but ultimately also access to legal, medical etc., services. These variations will be addressed in class. Lastly we will discuss various aspects of the code of ethics pertaining to public service- and community interpreting, such as confidentiality and impartiality.

The course teachers will be using audio-visual material to give examples of how interpreting functions in practice, and the students will be asked to take an active part in the lessons through oral presentations in English pertaining to the theory and practice of the profession. The students will also be given exercises aimed at improving oral competencies and skills.

 

Esercitazioni nella LM LSC

 

In the second-level degree course, Language, society and communication, the English Language and Linguistics courses all aim at making the students language and cultural experts possessing a deep theoretical understanding of, and a high practical competence (C2) in, the language. In order to develop their practical language skills,  language classes are offered; these classes are not linked to any one LSC English course, but are rather valid for each/any of these. In the first semester these classes are open to the students in the second year, while the first year students are asked to attend those in the second semester. Attendance, as always in the Faculty, is not required, but it is very much encouraged, as Second Language Acquisition studies have shown the strong link between attendance and progress made. There will be no final exam in either the first or the second year.

The aim of this course is to practise, consolidate and add to the language skills the students acquired in their three year degree programme, bringing them to a C 2 level. To achieve this, students will be given practice in:

1. oral language skills through reading and comprehension and eventual discussion of current affairs from newspaper articles, blog comments and newscasts;

2. writing skills through the production of essays dealing with discussion topics and summaries of articles used (at point 1);

3. translation from Italian to English of e mails, short newspaper articles, brochures and business and friendly letters.

Readings/Bibliography

All of the books on this list can be found in the Department library.

Textbook:

G. Garzone, M. Rudvin (2003), Domain-specific English and Language Mediation in a Professional and Institutional Setting, Milano, Arcipelago (this book can be found at the bookshop 'Capitello del Sole' in via Cartoleria)

S. Hale (2007) Community Interpreting, MacMillan

Recommended reading:

A. Gentile, U. Ozolins, M. Vasilakakos, (1996), Liaison Interpreting. A Handbook, Melbourne, Melbourne University Press

Heather Bowe and Kylie Martin (2007) Communication Across Cultures. Mutual Understanding in A Global World. Cambridge University Press

Supplementary reading material will be available in the two photocopying shops in Via Cartoleria,(MasterCopy e Ecrire in via Cartoleria).

Teaching methods

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of

- an essay on a subject discussed in class (essay guidleines will be provided),

- a discussion in English based on the the textbook,

- a short interpretation from/into English-Italian to test the interpreting skills that the candidate has learned during the course of the module.

Teaching tools

Overhead and Power Point slides

Office hours

See the website of Mette Rudvin

See the website of Mariella Lorusso