B2553 - Translation from Russian (Second Language) into Italian

Academic Year 2024/2025

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Forli
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Languages and Technologies for Intercultural Communication (cod. 5979)

Learning outcomes

Students will come to know basic instruments (grammar books, dictionaries and corpora) and basic translation methodology and strategies (analysis of a source text and its transposition into a target text). They will also be able to apply instruments and strategies while translating a variety of simple texts from and into Russian. They will finally be able to identify and use the translation strategies that are most useful for the communicative functions of the texts to be translated.

Course contents

The aim of the course is to provide students with the basic theoretical and practical tools for translation from Russian into Italian. The topics covered in the Russian texts (levels A2-B1) will be of general culture and will cover geography, tourism, holidays, national cuisine, mass-media and history. Particular attention will be paid to the linguistic analysis of the source text, thus consolidating the grammatical knowledge acquired, and its communicative function, in order to develop a specific translation project that provides the most appropriate translation strategies. The main theoretical and translation problems will also be presented with the help of examples.

Readings/Bibliography

Additional readings

Dobrovolskaja, Ju., Il russo: l’ABC della traduzione, Milano: Hoepli, 2016.

Nergaard S. (a cura di), La teoria della traduzione nella storia, Milano: Bompiani, 2002.

Nergaard S. (a cura di), Teorie contemporanee della traduzione, Milano: Bompiani, 1995.

Salmon, L., Teoria della traduzione. Milano: FrancoAngeli, 2017.

Dictionaries and corpora

Majzel', B., Skvorcova, N., Bolšoj russko-ital'janskij slovar', Moskva: Russkij jazyk, 2001.

Zor’ko, G., Majzel', B., Skvorcova, N., Novyj ital’jansko-russkij slovar’, Moskva: Russkij jazyk, 1995.

Dobrovolskaja, Ju., Grande dizionario russo-italiano, italiano-russo, Milano: Hoepli, 2011.ù

Ožegov, S., Švedova, N., Tolkovyj slovar' russkogo jazyka, Moskva: Az’’ Ltd., 1992.

Kuznecov, S., Bol’šoj tolkovyj slovar’ russkogo jazyka, Sankt-Peterburg: Norint, 2004.

Prochorov, A. gl. red., Bol’šoj ènciklopedičeskijj slovar’, Sankt-Peterburg: Norint, 1999.

Slovar’ Lingvo Live http://www.abbyyonline.com/ru

www.ruscorpora.ru

Teaching methods

The lessons, which require 70% attendance, will be of the seminar type, but will also include some moments of frontal lesson dedicated to the theoretical and methodological aspects of translation. In the discussion phases, the active participation of all students is required. You will be asked to deliver some work done at home, on which you will be given individual feedback. Some preparatory exercises are planned, such as cross linguistic-dictation, sight translation, contrastive grammar exercises, translation only with the use of the monolingual dictionary and comparison of one's own translation with the text produced by an automatic translator.

Students will work individually and sometimes in small groups. Simulations of the examination will also be carried out, the evaluation of which will not affect the final evaluation.

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

A written exam consisting in a Russian text to be translated into Italian with the use of paper dictionaries and online resources.

Total Length: 300 words. Time: 3 hours.

The mark of the examination is expressed out of thirty - the pass markis 18/30 and the highest mark is 30/30, according to the following 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

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

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

Teaching tools

  • Computer, video-projector, Internet connection
  • Common paper dictionaries
  • On line and cd-rom dictionaries
  • Monolingual and parallel corpora
  • E-learning platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/)

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Biagini