Translation as a Means of Intercultural Collaboration

Bachelor 2022/2023

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Elective course (Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication)

Area of studies: Linguistics

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

Where: School of Foreign Languages

When: 1 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Elena Zyrianova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 26

Full Syllabus

Abstract

Language is complex, and when abstract or nuanced concepts get lost in translation, the consequences may be catastrophic. As Margaret Atwood famously noted: “War is what happens when language fails”. Interpreters and translators all over the world are aware of that and work diligently behind the scenes to make sure it never does. So, at this optional/elective course we will work consequently first with written and then oral translation theory and practice. I would be happy to share with you the following: - basic translation studies theories; - basic techniques and tips on translating; - simultaneous interpretation secrets (how to listen, translate and speak at the same time); - practices of international issues being solved by means of interpretation. You will enjoy the course if you - have B2-C1 level of English Language - are fond of linguistics and want to learn and practise it more; - want to apply your language knowledge in real life translation situations; - love searching for perfect match of all the language peculiarities in one phrase; - are ready to work in a team and share your ideas; - are interested in examining and discussing language capacities every lesson; - want to understand whether translation or interpretation are for you; - challenge your mind. Note: The course presupposes applying both Russian and English languages in order to perform the translation process (e.g. the source text and target text can be both English and Russian), while theory presenting and instructing are going to be performed in English.

Learning Objectives

Basic knowledge of the types of interpretation.
Examination and development of theoretical and practical skills of translation from English into Russian and vice versa.
Acquisition of systematic knowledge about ways, means and approaches of language units transformation while interpreting.
Basic activities for students preparation to written and oral translation.
Awareness of simultaneous interpreter performance at International conferences.

Expected Learning Outcomes

awareness of basic theoretical standards concerning this or that translation issue or case
awareness of the language systems peculiarities to be able to choose the right translation strategy
possessing a skill of linguistic data processing and systematizing
ability to support the choice of this or that translation strategy or technique
awareness of the recommended rules of translation transformations of the texts of different genres, oral as well as written
awareness and capability of performing necessary practical tasks and exercises for training and practising this or that interpretation peculiarity
awareness of strategies for different types of translation preparation
language systems peculiarities knowledge to be able to choose the right translation strategy
to compile a thematic vocabulary for simultaneous interpretation performance
to be aware of thу techniques typical for simultaneous and consequtive translation types
to be able to adjust the presenter's speech peculiarities
to translate the simplest texts
to develop the critical thinking skills and autonomy of decision making

Course Contents

Introduction to the Interpretation theory.
Strategies and units of translation.
Techniques and strategies of written interpretation.
Simultaneous interpretation basics.
Simultaneous interpretation practice.

Assessment Elements

Ongoing assessment
All the assignments are announced and collected at Smart LMS Platform. Assignments are awarded a “0” in the following cases:  violation of the deadline for more than 5 days;  cheating and copying from another student/source/script;  plagiarism (originality < 80%). The rounding starts with 0,6. So 9,6 is 10, 9,5 is 9.
Final game-test
We will have a quizz at Socrative platform. You will just choose the correct answers. The game will contain some basic questions from the whole course. You can find examples here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fyOON2W-VU50Isf9YbhfN4caX66ggs7H/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100841268532739419308&rtpof=true&sd=true The grades are given by counting the average. The rounding starts from 0,6. So 9,5 is 9, 9,6 is 10.
Written translation project
The plan of work on written translation project is the following: 1) Make up a team of 5-6 students. 2) Choose the part of the text for translation from the document following the link and add the number of your group to the corresponding part. 3) Assign the roles to your team mates on your own. 4) READ the whole text before translating carefully. 5) TRANSLATE your team's part. 6) Be ready to present your translation. Presentation presupposes: - explanation of strategies used (3-5 most debatable and/or extraordinary solutions) - comments on your team's working process (how you organised your work) - a PPT or any other dispaly of your work (probably only most debateble and curious issues) is a must. - the time limit for the presentation is 5 minutes. 7) Attach your group's part translation as a home assignment after the lesson discussion. Every group member attaches the same file with his or her corrections. 8) At the end of the lesson we will attempt assembling the full English version of the text as if we were a team of editors here: Final version The assessment is the following: +5 points max for the group presentation and translation (the criteria are in the Syllabus: adequacy/techniques) +2 points for the final variant (Place your group number before your text part; edit the text in accordance with the discussed final variants of all the general terms of the text; remove all of your notes). +3 points of peer assessment (short anonymous assessement of your groupmates' efficiency after the presentation at the lesson)
Simultaneous translation project.
Perform Final Interpretation Project RECORDING AT THE LESSON The procedure: - you choose any speech you like beforehand (Margaret, Rosen, Malawi, another recording, anything connceted to International affairs or UN - if you choose smth different, please provide me with the link to the speech) - practise that at home as much as you need to make it perfect. You need 1 minute of the chosen speech for the Project recording. Inerpret without reading this time while recording at the lesson. - get prepared to recording it during the lesson and attaching that 1 minute recording of your simultaneous interpretation to Smart LMS post here for me to listen and assess. - you need to attach an audio (if you like a video ) file with you interpreting and the speech interpreted heard on the backgound. Experiment beforehand on how it's most convenient to accomplish that (using a computer recorder/phone recorder/both devices/more devices and how you can attach the file to LMS during the lesson). The criteria is the following: 8-10 - Little confusion/mumbling/pauses. Sentences are more or less full/ideas are transferred fully (omitting is fine unless it changes the overall meaning). 6-7 - Some confusion in speach that prevents you from proper sense transference. Half of ideas is missed out. 3-5 - The ideas are somehow heard and deciphered in your interpretation. with much confusion. 0-2 - silence primarily

Interim Assessment

2022/2023 2nd module
0.25 * Simultaneous translation project. + 0.25 * Written translation project + 0.25 * Ongoing assessment + 0.25 * Final game-test

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Mona Baker, & Gabriela Saldanha. (2019). Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. [N.p.]: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2258036

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Venuti, L. (2012). The Translation Studies Reader (Vol. 3rd ed). London: Taylor & Francis [CAM]. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=506545

Course Syllabus