89562 - Portuguese Language - Advanced Course

Learning outcomes

The student is familiar with contexts and problems of liaison interpreting and conference interpreting from and into Portuguese, and is able to choose ethically correct behaviour. He/she is able to use the basic techniques and strategies of conference interpreting (simultaneous and consecutive) and liaison interpreting, he/she is able to manage communication exchanges with properties of language and pragmatic competence.

Course contents

The 30-hour semester course (II semester), optional and without obligation to attend, is aimed at students who already have a level of Portuguese B2 and aims to develop advanced written and oral skills (C2) for the European Portuguese language.

Presents an introduction to the theoretical and practical aspects of oral interpretation in communicative situations of the work of the liaison interpreter from and in Portuguese and the conference interpreter. The course aims to refine the knowledge of the Lusophone countries, in particular of Portugal, improve communication skills and interpretation strategies, taking into account the specific market demand.

A written and oral test with final evaluation is foreseen.

The student has a thorough knowledge of the metalanguage and of the different aspects of a descriptive-analytical model of the Portuguese language, and is competent in all communication skills at least at level B2 of the parameters set by the Council of Europe, therefore the course is aimed at students who have:

a) a good knowledge of the Portuguese language;

b) excellent command of the Italian language;

c) the interest and passion for the language and culture of the Lusophone countries, specifically Portugal;

d) a possibly open and consolidated personality;

e) the ability to deal with stressful situations;

f) precision and accuracy.

Basic requirements:

a) active participation in lessons (practical exercises);

b) constant exercise independently and in small groups outside of class hours, based on the indications provided by the teacher.The exercises are an integral part of the course;

c) updating through the media (TV, radio, newspapers, Internet) in Italian and Portuguese, to enrich linguistic and (inter) cultural background.

The course provides an introduction to the role of the interpreter for the Portuguese - Italian linguistic combination. As regards interpretation, the skills of listening, analysis and interpretation of topics relating to the business world, the tourism sector and contexts typical of conference interpretation will be developed, areas all required by the labour market. Preparatory texts and exercises will be offered to students aimed at strengthening listening, comprehension, memorization and production skills in the two languages, including:

- memorization exercises / oral summaries of texts read in class or recorded texts (audio and video);

- sight translations;

- reformulation of the text, activation of the lexicon by paraphrase, search for synonyms and antonyms.

As for the consolidation part of the skills of advanced Portuguese, exercises on the use of the language and on advanced Portuguese structures (e.g. grammar level C.2) will be presented.

The lessons will have an eminently practical character and the students will be invited to take an active part through the various exercises proposed.

Readings/Bibliography

Melotti Lucia, Salvador Pippa, Interpretare tra portoghese e italiano, in Interpretare da e verso l'italiano. Didattica e innovazione per la formazione dell’interprete., Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2021, pp. 247 - 266 [capitolo di libro]

Russo, M.; Mack, G., Interpretazione di trattativa. La mediazione linguistico culturale nel contesto formativo e professionale, Milano: Hoepli, 2005.

Falbo, C./Russo, M./Straniero Sergio, F. (a cura di) (1999) Interpretazione simultanea e consecutiva. Problemi teorici e metodologie didattiche, Milano, Hoepli.

Gillies, A. (2005) Note-taking for consecutive interpreting - a short course, Manchester, St. Jerome Publishing.

Monacelli, C. (1999) Messaggi in codice. Analisi del discorso e strategie per prenderne appunti, Milano, Franco Angeli.

Russo M., L'interpretazione consecutiva dallo spagnolo in italiano. Conoscere altri sistemi per sviluppare il proprio, Bologna, Gedit Edizioni, 2005

Pochhacker F., Introducing Interpreting Studies, 2004, Routledge

Teaching methods

The lectures will be divided into a part dedicated to the deepening of the Portuguese language at an advanced level and a part of introduction to conference and liaison interpreting for the Portuguese - Italian linguistic combination.

Assessment methods

The techniques learned during the course will be assessed through specific tests from Portuguese into Italian.

The written exam consists of grammar questions, advanced vocabulary and interlinguistic rephrasing exercises.

Written exam assessment grid:

30-28: in-depth knowledge of grammar, accuracy and clarity in answers.

27-26: in-depth but less accurate knowledge of grammar, accuracy and clarity in answers. Less elegant presentation of the task and less ability to produce language.

25-24: fair knowledge of grammar, accuracy and clarity in answers. Overall correct language, although characterised by some inaccuracies, distractions and errors.

23-21: sufficient knowledge of grammar and language that is not entirely correct. Presence of several errors in the answers, answers left blank, minimal production skills.

20-18: overall knowledge of grammar that is little more than sufficient, although sometimes incomplete, with language that is incorrect and inconsistent. Unsatisfactory presentation of the task, little certainty in the answers, poor language production skills.

17-0 Test failed. Serious gaps in preparation regarding grammatical content, with linguistic interference, typos, some parts left unfinished, errors and confused, incorrect and inadequate language.

The oral examination consists of a consecutive interpretation test from Portuguese into Italian lasting approximately 6 minutes, which will focus on one of the topics covered during the course or on a general topic.

Oral examination assessment grid. The assessment focuses on the following three aspects of performance: accuracy of content, quality of language, quality of presentation. In particular, the marks are structured as follows (only the main criteria are indicated here):

30-28

Content: very adequate; complete, coherent and accurate

Language: correct grammar and syntax; appropriate pragmatics, vocabulary and register, absence of interference and calques. Excellent language skills in Italian.

Presentation: absence of long pauses, disfluencies; assertive, pleasant and convincing tone

27- 24

Content: very adequate with some inaccuracies, but generally coherent and complete

Language: correct grammar and syntax; appropriate pragmatics, vocabulary and register, absence of interference and calques. Good language skills in Italian.

Presentation: no long pauses or disfluencies; assertive and pleasant tone.

23-21

Content: adequate despite inaccuracies, generalisations, additions and/or minor omissions.

Language: grammar, syntax, vocabulary and pragmatics that do not compromise comprehension; appropriate vocabulary and register, absence of interference and calques. Fair language skills in Italian.

Presentation: limited presence of full pauses, disfluencies, absence of interference and calques.

20-18

Content: slightly inadequate with minor distortions of meaning, omissions, additions; occasional inconsistencies.

Language: grammar, syntax, vocabulary, pragmatics that do not compromise comprehension. Sufficient language skills in Italian.

Presentation: limited presence of full pauses, disfluencies, absence of interference and calques.

17-0 Test not passed.

Content: inadequate due to poor logical-semantic coherence, distortions of meaning and contradictions, frequent additions and/or omissions.

Language: interference and calques, serious errors in phonetics, grammar, syntax, vocabulary, pragmatics.

Presentation: hesitant tone, frequent full pauses, disfluencies, interference and calques

The final mark, expressed in thirtieths, will be divided according to the following proportions:
- the written part amounts 18/30
- the oral part amounts 12/30

Students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) or with disabilities that can affect their ability to attend courses are invited to contact the University service for students with disabilities and SLD at the earliest opportunity -- ideally before the start of the course: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students. The University service will suggest possible adjustments to the course work and/or exam, which must then be submitted to the course leader so they can assess their feasibility, in line with the learning objectives of the course. Please note that adjustments to the exam must be requested at least two weeks in advance.

 

Teaching tools

Podcasts and videos

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Melotti