78474 - Interpreting from German into Italian II (5 ECTS)

Learning outcomes

Students attending this course are expected to acquire and become proficient in the main conference interpreting techniques (consecutive and simultaneous interpreting) from German into Italian and from Italian into German to be used in professional contexts.

Course contents

- Enhancing consecutive and simultaneous interpreting techniques, especially for the language combination German-Italian. - Enhancing note-taking for consecutive interpreting. - Enhancing analytic and synthetic elaboration of spoken discourse, also with written and visual components, and relay interpreting. - Enhancing expression, communication and public speaking skills, also using documentation and terminological work.

Readings/Bibliography

Kalina, Sylvia (1998) Strategische Prozesse beim Dolmetschen. Tübingen: Narr.

Pöchhacker, Franz (2000) Dolmetschen. Konzeptuelle Grundlagen und deskriptive Untersuchungen. Tübingen: Stauffenburg.

Pöchhacker, Franz (2004) Introducing interpreting studies. London: Routledge.

Setton, Robin & Andrew Dawrant (2016) Conference Interpreting – A Complete Course. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Teaching methods

Practical exercises, if possible also in conference settings, with audio- and videorecording of students' output; theory-oriented discussion of processes and problems; self-, peer and teacher assessment.

Assessment methods

The course includes continuous assessment of students' progress in learning consecutive and simultaneous interpreting techniques. The exam at the end of the course aims at checking whether the student has fully acquired interpreting techniques and can master specialised terminology taught during the course.

The exam will consist in consecutive (about 8 minutes) and simultaneous (about 16 minutes) interpreting performances from German into Italian on current affairs and/or social, political and economic topics as well as the special subject taught in the specialty module. The final grade will be an average of the marks obtained by the students in the different parts of this exam.

In order to obtain the highest marks (28 to 30 with honours), the student’s performance must have the following features: complete and accurate rendering of the source language text into the target language: only minor mistakes or distortions can be present in the rendering provided they do not undermine cohesion and the main rhetorical features of the original speech; language and register must be appropriate: the rendering can contain minor grammar or pronunciation mistakes only.

Rendering in consecutive mode must not be longer than the original speech.

In order to obtain 25-27 (good) or 21-24 (fair), the student’s performance must have the following features: there can be omissions or inaccuracies provided they are not serious; there can be mistakes or distortions provided they do not cause a complete loss of cohesion and of the main rhetorical features of the original speech; there can be some inaccuracies in register and language the rendering can contain minor grammar, syntax or pronunciation mistakes.

Rendering in consecutive mode must not be longer than the original speech.

In order to obtain a pass (18 to 20) the student’s performance must have the following features: the rendering may contain omissions and distortions but overall it should convey the content of the original speech; language and register may show inaccuracies but should not undermine the comprehension of the rendering: there can be grammar, syntax and pronunciation mistakes.

Rendering in consecutive mode may not excede the original speech by more than 10%.

Teaching tools

Spontaneous and audio/videotaped speeches from authentic communication situations, audio and videotapings of student output, use of e-learning platform and electronic tools for documentation and terminology management.

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Dorothe Mack