69424 - Translation from French into Italian I (Second Language)

Learning outcomes

The student knows the basic tools (grammar books, dictionaries and different kinds of corpora) and basic translation methods (for the analysis of a source text and its transfer into a target text). S/he is able to apply these instruments and methods to the task of translating a variety of simple texts from French into Italian. S/he is able to identify and use the most adequate basic translation strategies, depending on the communicative functions of the texts to be translated.

Course contents

The course aims at giving students the basic knowledge to become a professional translator. The student will learn to recognize specific linguistic (morphosyntactic, lexical and phraseological) features in a collection of different types of French discourses (mainly informative texts), and to compare them with equivalent Italian structures. S/he will be offered exercises in written translation and guided by the teacher during the different phases of the translation process. The translated texts, characterized by various levels of difficulty, will require different translation strategies, which will be discussed during classes. Theoretical elements, useful to develop a critical awareness of the translation process, will also be offered. Since the relationship between translation practice and reflexion is considered as essential to become a true professional translator, an active participation and debate between students about their translation choices will constantly be encouraged. A variety of translation tools, both online and on paper, will be presented (such as monolingual and bilingual dictionaries, glossaries, encyclopaedias, lexicographical databases, etc.) and students will be asked to become more and more skilled in using them.

Readings/Bibliography

Nadine Celotti, Mots et cultures dans tous les sens, Torino : UTET 2015.

Jean Delisle, Hannelore Lee-Jahnke, Monique C. Cormier, Terminologia della traduzione; a cura di Margherita Ulrych ; traduzione di Caterina Falbo e Maria Teresa Musacchio, Milano : U. Hoepli, 2008.

Other translation toools :

Le Nouveau Petit Robert, Dictionnaire Alphabétique et Analogique de la Langue Française, texte remanié et amplifié sous la direction de Josette Rey-Debove et Alain Rey, Paris, Dictionnaires Le Robert, 1993-1998.

Il Boch, Dizionario francese italiano italiano francese, di Raoul Boch, con la collaborazione di Carla Salvioni, Bologna, Zanichelli, 1998.

Le Grand Robert de la langue française, deuxième édition dirigée par A. Rey du Dictionnaire Alphabétique et Analogique de la Langue Française de Paul Robert, VI voll., Paris, Dictionnaires Le Robert, Vuef, 2001.

Teaching methods

Students are expected to be present during the course (at least 70% of classes) and take actively part in classes. At the beginning of the course, students will receive a collection of printed French informative texts about contemporary problems and current events in French society. Such texts, coming from the most important French newspapers and periodicals (such as Le Monde, Libération, L’Express, Le Nouvel Observateur, Le Monde diplomatique), will allow to examine different kinds of translation strategies. Each text to be translated will be presented and examined by the teacher (author, source, possible public, etc). This preliminary work will be followed by the correction/assessment of the translated text during classes. Students will be asked to translate text excerpts as homework. The translation work must be accompanied by an activity of study and research aiming at deepening their knowledge of the treated subjects as well as their specific vocabulary/terminology. This will allow them to be able to discuss their translation choices with classmates. Some texts translated by students will be corrected by the teacher, published on the e-learning platform Moodle, and commented during classes.

Assessment methods

Students, in order to demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge of the basic tools and basic translation methods for the analysis of a source text and its transfer into a target text, will be asked to analyse and translate a written text of 250/300 words. The exam will last 2 hours, and will take place in a lab. A comment of the translated text is not required. The subject and the type of text will be taken from one of the subject areas dealt with during the course. The student is mainly asked to show a deep understanding of the source text and an ability to recognize its specific linguistic, morphosyntactic, lexical and phraseological features, so as to produce a correct, faithful and idiomatic translation of it. Students are allowed to use dictionaries and other translation tools shown during classes.

There will be a mock test, but this mark will not contribute towards the final mark. This test only aims at explaining students how their translation will be assessed for their final mark. The final mark for this module will be averaged out (at 50%) against the mark of the other Translation (Italian into French) module.

Teaching tools

Rooms with networked PC, Internet and projector.

Paper, online and digital dictionaries

E-learning platform (Moodle)

Office hours

See the website of Sara Amadori