89921 - Translation - English 1 (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at introducing contemporary theoretical debates in Translation Studies, and at providing the students with the methodologies and the tools necessary to translate different text-types. Students are expected to be aware of how translation is not only a linguistic operation, but also a cultural one. Lectures will provide an overview of scholarly research on translation, with particular attention to contemporary cultural-linguistic perspectives, especially those of Anglophone scholars. The students are expected to become expert in the translation, from English into Italian, of different text-types, namely semi-specialized (e.g., in the field of news and popular science journalism) and literary, and, from Italian into English, specialized (e.g., in the museum field). They become aware of the inextricable text-context connection and of the strategies employed, especially to solve problems arising from cultural differences, linguistic varieties and language for specific purposes. They are made familiar with the professional task of the translator, his/her visibility and ethics, the role of the client and the purpose/function of a translation. Language classes aim at improving students linguistic competence; over the two year period students knowledge of English should reach the level C2 according to the European framework in all four abilities. These classes will work in connection with the lectures to improve students writing skills in particular.

Course contents

The course is for the students of the II level degree course in ‘Language, Society and Communication' (LSC).

It will be offered in the second term (all term).

The mode of delivery will be in presence, following the University rules.

 

Course contents: Translation Studies - Theory and Practice

The course focuses on translation as a linguistic, cultural and communicative form of mediation, by integrating theoretical reflections from the discipline of Translation Studies and the practical task of translating, in particular from English into Italian, authentic texts.

Dealing with written translation and mainly ‘interlingual' translation, the course explores the role played by communicative aims and functions, addressees, cultural context and stylistic features in influencing the translator's choices in different text types.

The course adopts a primarily seminar-based approach, integrating theoretical discussion with practical translation activities, in which students will develop a critical approach, also through the use of technological tools e artificial intelligence (AI) supporting the translation process.

Practical activities will mainly concern the translation of journalistic, popular science, children's and literary texts. Through such text types, students will reflect on the relationship between communicative function, translation strategies, cultural and ideological aspects, stylistic and rhetorical choices, as well as the role of creativity in the translation process.

If the current agreement continues, students who decide to follow the course regularly may have the possibility of taking part in a museum translation project, from Italian into English, in conjunction with the language classes and in collaboration with a local museum. More details will be provided at the beginning of the course.

 

NOTE: Students are advised to possess a high level of language competence in the source language (i.e., English), especially in reading/textual analysis and writing skills, as well as in the target language, i.e., Italian.

 

The course also includes language classes (esercitazioni), strictly linked to the official course (Translation Studies) and focusing on translation practice from Italian into English.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

Main course-book:

· Munday, Jeremy (2016), Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications, 4th edition, London/New York, Routledge.

The book is offered in formats such as print, e-Publication and PDF.

The text will be available for students at the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures library, also online at

https://sol.unibo.it/SebinaOpac/resource/introducing-translation-studies-theories-and-applications/UBO7320946

 

Further Required Reading:

• Malone, Joseph L. (1988) The Science of Linguistics in the Art of Translation: Some Tools from Linguistics for the Analysis and Practice of Translation, Albany: State University of New York, selected pages (for the Comment on Translation Strategies).  

• Manfredi, Marina (2021) “Professional Museum Translators for Promoting Multilingualism and Accessible Texts: Translation Practices in Some Italian Museums and a Proposal”, JOURNAL OF TRANSLATION STUDIES, 2021, 1, pp. 59 – 851 (online at: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/plg/jts/2021/00000001/00000001/art00006 )

 

Further bibliographical information will possibly be provided during the course, according to the activities carried out in class. The final programme will be available on the Professor's 'Virtuale' page  during the course. A list of recommended dictionaries will also be offered.

The texts for the practice of translation from English into Italian (exclusively drawn from authentic sources) will be found on the Professor's 'Virtuale' page, before each translation class.

Students will also be able to access a selection of the class PPTs on the Professor's 'Virtuale' page.

 

As regards the language component (esercitazioni), a ‘dispensa' will be available on the Virtuale page of Dottor James by the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

Translation is a practical activity and class work offers a good opportunity to focus on problems, look for diverse feasible solutions to solve them, discuss the effects of certain choices and also critically engage with AI. Active class participation is therefore recommended.

 

Official course (Translation Studies):

The official course (6 hours a week, all second term) includes the following activities:

a) Lectures held by the professor of the course;

b) Individual study of course texts;

c) Other activities including:

- the translation of short texts – specialized, semi-specialized and literary – in small groups or individually;

- discussion of translation problems encountered and the problem-solving strategies adopted.

- critical engagement with AI.

- possible participation in a project focused on museum translation in collaboration with a museum in Bologna.

 

Optional tutorial sessions will be available for students wishing to receive individualised feedback on selected translation assignments related to course activities.

 

 

Language componenent (Esercitazioni):

The course will include 36 hours of language classes (esercitazioni), which will be held by Dottor Nigel James.

Language classes aim at the acquisition of communicative language skills through various activities. The main focus is on the translation, from Italian into English, of a wide variety of text-types. Principal text-types include: tourism-related texts, museum texts, promotional material, and abstracts of scientific articles.

 

Both the official course (Translation Studies) and the language classes (esercitazioni) will be held in the second term.

 

Students are advised to regularly consult the PERSONAL WEB PAGE of their Professor (http://www.unibo.it/docenti/marina.manfredi ), where all notices are kept up to date, and of their language teacher as well(http://people.unibo.it/it/nigel.james ).

Assessment methods

Assessment will be through written exams only.

The final exam linked to the official course (Translation Studies) consists of a written test. It counts for 2/3 of the mark.

Students who attend the course have the possibility of taking an in-course test focusing on Translation Theory ('pure' and 'applied') at the end of the course.

In addition, there will also be a written exam on the language component of the course (esercitazioni). This exam accounts for approximately 1/3 of the final mark.

Students must pass the 2 written exams before registering their final mark on Almaesami.

 

Exam structure

Official course (Translation Studies):

The practical and methodological component will be assessed by means of a written examination after the end of the course. The theoretical component may be assessed either through an in-course test or through a short written test during the official examination sessions.

The exam is divided into 2 parts:

A) a task on translation practice, from English into Italian (text of roughly 270 words and included in the text types covered in the course), and a commentary on the main translation strategies employed in the translation, following J. Malone's model (115 minutes);

B) a series of theoretical questions (pure and applied) on Translation Studies for those students who did not take the in-course test (20 minutes).

For the first part, the use of all kinds of dictionaries is permitted (monolingual, bilingual, synonyms), but not of other resources.

Despite the critical engagement with AI for educational purposes throughout the course, the use of AI tools in any form during examinations is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, chatbots, text generation systems, advanced translation tools, content summarization tools, and AI functionalities integrated into electronic devices. Any use of such tools, however minimal, constitutes a breach of academic integrity. 

 

 

Language componenent (Esercitazioni):

The written exam for the ‘esercitazioni' component will be a practical translation, from Italian into English, of approximately 200 words, of a type similar to the text-types offered during the course. Time allowed to perform the task is 60 minutes. The use of monolingual and bilingual dictionaries is permitted.

The exam is on paper.

 

Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities: we suggest that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and your professor immediately to work together to find the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for exams. Any requests for accommodations must be made at least 15 days before the date of the exam, by sending an email to the lecturer and copying (Cc) the email address disabilita@unibo.it (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

 

 

Marking criteria and levels

Evaluation will be based on the student's performance in the various components of the exam. Translation practice, from English into Italian, will be evaluated along a range of possibilities typically related to translation, i.e., positively, from ‘brilliant' to ‘appropriate' and to ‘satisfactory' (which broadly correspond to ‘excellent', ‘good', ‘satisfactory'), or negatively, from ‘inappropriate', to ‘undesirable'/‘approximative'/‘misleading' and to ‘containing serious errors'.

Students are also required to show they are able to discuss their translation choices and demonstrate knowledge of the main theories of Translation Studies, and how to apply them. Thus, students who produce an effective and accurate translation from English into Italian, also as far as editing is concerned – functionally equivalent to the source text and acceptable for the communicative situation that is intended for in the target language and context –, who show the ability to discuss their translation method and critically justify their translation choices, who show a good knowledge of the main theories of translation and the capacity to apply the theoretical concepts to the analysis of translation products, using the proper metalanguage, will obtain an excellent mark. Students who produce a mediocre translation, who justify their choices in a mechanical way and who show an imprecise knowledge of the main translation theories without the capacity to apply them will pass the exam but with a low mark. Finally, students who display seriously insufficient translation competence, analytical capacity and theoretical awareness will not pass the exam.

 

Language component (Esercitazioni):

In order to obtain a good pass mark, students must: focus attention on the source message in both linguistic/stylistic features and subject matter; bring the target text closer to the target reader whilst adhering as closely as possible to the linguistic elements of the source text. Lexico-grammatical accuracy is of major importance. Papers will be assessed on the basis of language requirements at the C2 level of the Common European Framework.

 

The final mark of the whole exam is calculated as follows: the score obtained in the Translation Studies component is multiplied by 2, and added to the score obtained in the language component. This figure is divided by 3.

Students cannot refuse a passing mark (a score of at least 18/30) in any of the single (partial) exams taken towards the final average mark in the course. Only the final average mark itself can be refused, obliging the student in that case to take each single exam again. Marks obtained in written exams remain valid for 4 exam sessions only, including the sessions they were taken in.

 

Written exams for the offical course take place twice in each exam session; the written exam for 'esercitazioni' takes place once.

The 2 written exams can be taken in any order and it is not obligatory to take/pass both exams in the same exam session.

The exams are the same for attenders and non-attenders.

Taking part in the 'Museum project' - in case the agreement continues - will involve an alternative type of assessment (take-home exam).

 

Teaching tools

Lectures will involve Power Point presentations.

Links to further information

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/marina.manfredi

Office hours

See the website of Marina Manfredi