69550 - Translation from English into Italian II (First Language) (CL2)

Learning outcomes

Students knows 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). S/he is able to apply these instruments and methods to the task of translating a variety of simple texts from and into English. 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

Students will be shown how to approach a variety of texts, mainly from the popular science and semi-technical fields. In a preliminary phase students will be asked to discuss different strategies to be applied to every single text or problem based on the theories they have learned during previous translation courses. More specifically, all texts will be analyzed from different perspectives, such as genre, function, content and language/style, as well as the best book-format and/or online resources to solve possible terminological problems.

Readings/Bibliography

The following texts will be used during the course either for self study or classroom discussion:

- Munday Jeremy, 2012. Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and applications, London and New York: Routledge

- Venuti Lawrence, 2004. The Translation Studies Reader, London and New York: Routledge.

Additional bibliographical references might be made available on an e-learning platform or, when necessary, distributed by the instructor.

Teaching methods

Lessons will focus mainly on individual and collective, peer-review practice. Students will be asked to discuss their ideas and difficulties as well as to turn in possible assignments that will be used for feedback lessons.

Students will translate texts either individually or in class as group assignments. Depending on the text type, texts will be either corrected in class or returned to students with individual feedback by the teacher.

Texts to be translated will be made available on an e-learning platform or distributed in class if necessary.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of a translation test. Students will have two hours to translate a text (about 400 words) from English into Italian. The text will be similar to those analyzed during the course. Students will be allowed to use dictionaries and other material.

At mid-course, students will also be asked to take a mock exam. During the mock test and final exam students will be allowed to use dictionaries. The ENG>ITA translation is a module of the integrated course for which students will take a separate ITA>ENG translation module. The final grade is determined by an average of both components (Weight: 50% ENG>ITA translation, 50% ITA>ENG translation).

Teaching tools

Texts to be translated will be made available in advance on an e-learning platform and it will be the students’ responsibility to bring them to class in the format they are more comfortable with. During labs and if/when necessary students will be using online dictionaries as well as the Internet to do research.

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Bucaria