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

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Docente: Rachele Raus
  • Credits: 5
  • SSD: L-LIN/04
  • Language: Italian
  • 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 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 Moodle platform.

Further readings:

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

Josiane Podeur (2008/2016), Les jeux de la traduction. Giochi di traduzione. Naples: Liguori.

Further bibliographical references will be suggested during the course.

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.

Text contextualization, comprehension and translation will be complemented by other related exercises. 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.

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, 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.

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.

It will be necessary to demonstrate that you have developed skills of expression and critical reading of the texts based on the following table:

30-30L excellent test, which demonstrates excellent acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills in Translation (FR-IT)

27-29 test above the average, with minimal errors or compensated by more than sufficient demonstration of the knowledge and skills acquired

24-26 valid test, but with some obvious errors that denote a partial acquisition of the required knowledge and skills

21-23 test sufficient but with conspicuous limits in the knowledge and skills to be acquired

18-20 test that meets only the minimum criteria of knowledge and skills to be acquired

Less than 18 insufficient, the exam must be repeated

Teaching tools

Rooms with networked PC and Internet; Moodle platform; printed, electronic and online dictionaries; encyclopaedias.
Bevause of activity and teaching methods adopted, attendance at this training activity requires the prior participation of all students in modules 1 and 2 of training on safety in the workplace in e-learning mode (https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio).

Office hours

See the website of Rachele Raus

SDGs

Gender equality Reduced inequalities

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