Module Information

Module Identifier
ELM4120
Module Title
Translation for Business and the Community
Academic Year
2016/2017
Co-ordinator
Dr Andrea Hammel
Semester
Semester 2
Pre-Requisite
Normally at least a 2:2 degree in French, German and/or Spanish
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminar 5 x 2 Hour Seminars
Tutorial 5 x 1 Hour Tutorials
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 1 x 3,000 word translation with commentary  100%
Supplementary Assessment Translation and commentary to be resubmitted if failed  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. demonstrate a critical understanding of translation as a business
2. demonstrate a critical understanding of the needs of various clients
3. apply a theoretical approaches to actual translation problems

4. demonstrate that they are able to work with clients and others
5. deliver a defined translation project on time and to an acceptable standard
6. use specific vocabulary critically

7. express themselves clearly, coherently and in a logical fashion, both orally and in writing
8. demonstrate that they have a solid foundation for furthering their career as a translator

Aims

This module is designed for the new MA in Translation. It is intended to complement the other modules and to offer students the chance to address both theoretical and practical challenges of working as a translator for business and the community.

Brief description

The aim of this module is to give students the experience of going into the local community and translating texts for local businesses, museums, charities, local authorities and other organisations. This module will investigate various language policies using specific examples from across the UK and Europe. The translation industry is another focus of this module.
Students will apply these considerations to a real translation task, the result of which will be included in the students' portfolio.
The students attend five general seminars taught in English and five tutorials with language specific staff (i-e. a student who decides to translate a hotel website into Spanish will get five sessions with a Lecturer in Spanish). Various agencies have already indicated that they would be interested in working with a student/students and would be happy to provide material for translation, for example, Ceredigion Museum, Ceredigion County Council, the International Office at Aberystwyth University, Literature Across Frontiers, the Tourist Information Office, the Centre for Alternative Technology, and two Aberystwyth Guesthouses.

Content

5 seminars and 5 tutorials

Seminar 1: Introduction: Translation for Business and the Community

Seminar 2: Languages Policies and Business Needs

Seminar 3: The Translation Industry

Seminar 4: Challenges 1: Translating for Ceredigion Museum

Seminar 5: Challenges 2: Translating for the Tourist Industry

READING WEEK

Tutorial 1: Identifying a source text

Tutorial 2: Discussing Vocabulary

Tutorial 3: Discussion of Draft

Tutorial 4: Discussion of Draft

Tutorial 5: Meeting with Client

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Depending on the nature of the translation, an understanding of the application of numbers will be needed.
Communication Participating in practicals and seminars and writing of project will require student to express their ideas clearly, cogently and coherently.
Improving own Learning and Performance Independent preparation for the translation project and seminars independent research for translation.
Information Technology Students will be required to access bibliographical information and to submit word processed translations. They will also be expected to use web resources for research, and to use translation software and electronic resources such as corpora and online dictionaries.
Personal Development and Career planning Students will be expected to show an ability to manage their own time effectively and to translate a specified text independently.
Problem solving Selection of reading material, seminar work, research the translation industry, finding an appropriate translation for the text in question
Research skills Researching for seminars and practicals and the final translation and commentary
Subject Specific Skills Knowledge of a selection of dictionaries and machine-translation software. This is an important professional but also subject-specific skill.
Team work This will apply in the seminars and the translation.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7