82042 - Specialized Translation from German into Italian

Learning outcomes

The student knows the strategies, techniques, traditional and state-of-the-art tools and methods used in specialized translation tasks; s/he is able to apply them to the translation of technical and scientific texts from different genres and text types, from German into Italian, meeting specific translation briefs and respecting the communicative functions of the source texts; s/he knows the basic techniques required for information mining, drafting, editing and revising texts, including the overall quality evaluation of the translated text.

Course contents

The 40-hour-course, which will be held in the second semester, aims to introduce students to "institutional" translation, i.e. translation activity for use by public bodies and the judiciary. 

Institutional translation, especially in judicial and administrative sectors, still represents a professional field that is rich in job opportunities and in high demand both in the private market and in public bodies.

In particular, students will be facing the translation of judicial documents in the civil, criminal and admistrative field. Swiss and Austrian documents will also be translated. Students will become familiar with the German judicial and administrative language, learning to properly use the resources employed by the legal translator (laws, codes, case law manuals, specialist dictionaries, terminology databases, parallel texts, corpora, etc.).

They will also acquire the ability to critically evaluate machine translation output and to recognise the limitations of AI in handling complex institutional texts, where terminological accuracy, stylistic consistency and legal accountability still require human intervention. Machine translation errors in the fields dealt with can actually have significant legal consequences.

The main post-editing strategies will be introduced, with practical exercises on ltexts translated by machine translation systems, in order to learn how to correct errors, improve quality and ensure appropriateness with respect to the context of use.

Basic theoretical and practical information concerning the activity of sworn translation will also be provided.

Readings/Bibliography

Language and law

Arens, Peter / Lüke, Wolfgang (2019): Zivilprozessrecht I. Erkenntnisverfahren und Europäisches Zivilverfahrensrecht. München: C.H. Beck.

Hilgendorf, Erich (2008): dtv-Atlas Recht. München: Dt.Taschenbuch Verlag.

Jacometti, Valentina (2008): “Il linguaggio giuridico tedesco” in: Barbara Pozzo / Marina Timoteo (a cura di): Europa e linguaggi giuridici. Milano: Giuffrè, 123-184.

Koch, Rainer (2012): Der Strafprozess. Eine Einführung für Gerichtsdolmetscher und -übersetzer. Berlin: BDÜ Fachverlag.

Thorman Isabelle / Hausbrandt Jana (2016): Rechtssprache klar und verständlich gemacht für Dolmetscher, Übersetzer, Germanisten und andere Nichtjuristen. Berlin: BDÜ Fachverlag.

Legal translation

 Schena, Leandro / Snel Trampus, Rita (a cura di) (2002): Traduttori e giuristi a confronto. Interpretazione traducente e comparazione del discorso giuridico. Vol. II. Bologna: CLUEB.

Wiesmann, Eva (2004): Rechtsübersetzung und Hilfsmittel zur Translation. Wissenschaftliche Grundlagen und computergestützte Umsetzung eines lexikographischen Konzepts. Tübingen: Narr.

Translator's resources (printed texts/dictionaries/encyclopaedias)

Conte, Giuseppe / Boss, Hans (2017): Dizionario giuridico ed economico / Wörterbuch der Rechts- und Wirtschaftssprache. 2 Tedesco- Italiano / Deutsch- Italienisch. Milano: Giuffrè.

Creifelds Rechtswörterbuch (2019). München: Beck.

Enciclopedia del diritto (2009). Milano. Garzanti

Favata, Angelo (2013). Dizionario dei termini giuridici. Piacenza: La Tribuna.

Patti, Salvatore (2010): Codice di procedura civile tedesco: Zivilprozessordnung. München / Milano: Beck / Giuffrè.

Troike Strambaci, Hannelore / Strambaci, Luca / Helffrich Mariani, Elisabeth G. (2019): Vocabolario del Diritto e dell’Economia / Wörteruch für Recht und Wirtschaft. 1 Tedesco Italiano Deutsch-Italienisch. Milano/München: Giuffrè/Beck.

Tilch Horst / Alroth Frank (2001): Deutsches Rechtslexikon in drei Bändern. München: Beck.

Online Resources

Online resources and further reading will be provided by the teacher the beginning and during the course.

Teaching methods

Lessons take place mainly in workshop-like mode, but also in lecture mode.

During the lectures, basic knowledge of the German legal system, along with the resources available to the legal translator for the acquisition of specialist knowledge and related linguistic means will be provided.

Workshops will include a combination of the discussion of translations carried out individually at home and post-editing exercises under the supervision of the lecturer. During the discussion, feedback will be provided on the main translation problems and the methodology will be improved.

Translations will be carried out with the aid of print and electronic resources for legal translators as well as dedicated software programs and translation tools (word processing programs, text analysis tools, CAT-tools).

Compulsory course attendance: 70%.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend the online Modules 1, 2 on Health and Safety [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas].

Assessment methods

Individual learning progress will be assessed through a regular evaluation of translations carried out individually at home and by a mid-term test (translation of a text of 200-230 words and a post-editing exercise, with 2 hours and 30 minutes available).

All students will undergo a final exam, consisting of two parts: a translation of a text of 250-300 words, and a post-editing exercise, with 3 hours available).  

The final mark will be the average between the mark obtained in the first part and the mark obtained in the second part of the course (Specialized Translation from Italian into German).

The test texts will be of the same type as those covered during the course.

In all the tests, the adequacy and correctness of the translation will be assessed. The evaluation will take into account both positive and negative elements. As for the latter, the categories of errors are sense, terminology, non-terminological vocabulary, phraseology, grammar, textual conventions, omissions, unjustified additions.

Grading scale:

30-30L

Excellent level. The candidate possesses excellent translation/language skills, with a very high level of competence in the target language /(or) in the language and culture being studied.

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

Minim level. The candidate only meets the minimum level required and shows a minimal command of the required skills and competences.

>18 Fail

Basic knowledge not achieved: the examination must be repeated

The test is considered failed in case of errors leading to the non-usability of the translation. The usability of the translation is affected especially in case of serious errors of sense.

The mark 18 is assigned to translations which, although there are errors in all the categories indicated, are still usable.

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

Personal computers, beamers.

Online resources: electronic dictionaries and encyclopedias, terminological data bases, comparable texts, corpora, MT and AI.

Printed resources: handbooks, printed dictionaries and encyclopedias.

During the collective practice, students will carry out their translation work in classrooms equipped with the above mentioned print and electronic resources, as well as dedicated software programs and translation tools (word processing programs, text analysis tools, CAT-tools).

Office hours

See the website of Flavia Rita Vecchione