69547 - Translation from French into Italian II (First Language)

Learning outcomes

Students know the basic tools (grammar books, dictionaries, and corpora) and basic translation methods (for the analysis of a source text and its transfer into a target text). They are able to apply these instruments and methods when translating a variety of more complex texts from French into Italian. They are 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 40-hour course (Translation from French into Italian) will be taught in the first semester. It is part of the integrated course Translation between Italian and French I along with the course of Translation from Italian into French (40 hours), that will be held in the second semester.

The course aims at giving students the basic theoretical and practical tools and skills to become professional translators.

Its programme includes the analysis, documentation, translation, revision and editing of various text types dealing with different topics. students will learn how to deal with the translation process and its different phases. Particular attention will be first paid to ‘pre-translation’ activities: close reading, contextualization, and in-depth understanding of the text and its linguistic, lexical, morphosyntactic and discursive characteristics in a contrastive perspective with the Italian language; identification of the main translation problems and particularly problematic text segments; research and documentation. This first phase will be followed by the drafting of the translation and its final version, identifying and adopting the most appropriate macro and micro strategies for that specific type of text. The last phase involves individual and group revision and quality control of the translation.

During the different phases of the translation process and activities students will be guided by the lecturer and encouraged to work both individually and in groups, to reinforce sharing and collaboration and acquire teamwork skills.

Translation practice will also always be accompanied by a critical reflection on students’ work, in order to develop a theoretical awareness of the translation process with a view to becoming professional translators.

Students will be asked to translate individually the texts provided by the lecturer, in order to actively participate in class discussions of translation choices and strategies, and to properly acquire basic translation concepts.

The course will also introduce the main translation tools (monolingual and bilingual dictionaries, glossaries, print and online lexicographical databases) to enable students to carry out documentary and terminological research, to draw up specific personalized glossaries, and to become acquainted with the use of new technologies.

Readings/Bibliography

Texts to be translated will be made available on Virtuale platform.

Further readings:

Delisle, Jean, Hannelore Lee-Jahnke, Monique C. Cormier (eds.) (2002), Terminologia della traduzione, transl. Caterina Falbo and Maria Teresa Musacchio, Milano: U. Hoepli.

Guidère, Mathieu (2010), Introduction à la traductologie : penser la traduction : hier, aujourd'hui, demain, Bruxelles: De Boeck.

Munday, Jeremy (2012), Manuale di studi sulla traduzione, transl. Chiara Bucaria, Bologna: Bononia University Press.

Josiane Podeur (2002), La pratica della traduzione. Dal francese in italiano e dall’italiano in francese, Napoli, Liguori.

Further readings will be provided during classes.

Teaching methods

Students are required to attend at least 70% of classes.

The course will be mainly based on seminars and students are expected to actively participate in class. Texts to be translated will be made available by the lecturer on Virtuale. Such texts will cover different text types and topics, in particular a variety of texts dealing with museums and cultural heritage (newspaper articles, reviews, catalogues, children’s literature, etc.) will be presented.

Text contextualization, comprehension and translation will be complemented by other related exercises such as shortened translation and adaptation. Some classes will be devoted to collaborative translation and revision.

Students are asked to carry out documentary research and translate texts individually; translations will then be discussed, corrected, and commented during classes. Some texts translated by students will be corrected by the lecturer.

 

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

To assess knowledge of the main translation tools and basic translation methods, the understanding of how to apply them to the translation of a variety of text types, and the ability to identify and apply the basic translation strategies most appropriate to the lexical, morphosyntactic, discursive and terminological characteristics of the text to be translated as well as to its communicative/operational functions, the examination will consist of a written translation from French into Italian of a text of approximately 350-400 words. A written comment discussing, contextualizing and explaining translation choices is required as part of the examination.

Text type and topic will be chosen from one of the areas covered during the course. Students are allowed to use the resources presented in class, as well as the main computer tools (except for Machine Translation tools).

The exam will take place in a computer lab and will last three hours.

An additional score from 0 to 3 points for the comment will be added to the translation mark.

The mid-term mock exam aims at students’ self-assessment and at illustrating how the final exam will be corrected and assessed.

The final grade for the entire course (Translation between Italian and French II) is calculated as the average of the marks obtained in the two constituent modules. The final mark for this module will be averaged out (at 50%) against the mark of the other module (Translation from Italian into French), taught in the second semester.

Grading scale

30-30L: Excellent level. The candidate possesses excellent translation skills, with a very high level of competence in the target language.

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

Fail: The candidate does not meet the required standard and shows a wholly inadequate command of the required skills and competences.

Teaching tools

Lab with networked PC and Internet; Virtuale e-learning platform; mono- and bilingual dictionaries (printed and online).

Texts to be translated will be made available in advance on Virtuale and it will be the students’ responsibility to bring them to class in the format they are more comfortable with.

Office hours

See the website of Valeria Illuminati