69308 - Translation from French into Italian I (First Language)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Forli
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Intercultural and Linguistic Mediation (cod. 8059)

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 integrated course will be divided into two parts: the first (passive translation) will take place in the first semester; the second (active translation) in the second semester. The course will take place in the classroom, with the possibility of remote participation via MS TEAMS.

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

Through a selection of different text types and 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. 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 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 (a cura di) (2002), Terminologia della traduzione, traduzione di Caterina Falbo e 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, traduzione di Chiara Bucaria, Bologna: Bononia University Press.

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 Moodle. Such texts will cover different text types and topics, in particular a variety of texts from newspapers and periodicals, political and institutional texts, children’s literature, and informative and educational texts in the human sciences 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.

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.

The exam will take place in a computer lab and will last three hours. It will be possible to take the exam online (on EOL).

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 mark for the entire course 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

Rooms with networked PC and Internet; Moodle platform; printed, electronic and online dictionaries; encyclopaedias

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Pederzoli

SDGs

Gender equality Peace, justice and strong institutions

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.