B0483 - Mind Language Communication

Learning outcomes

The course will provide students with the knowledge and intellectual tools to study and reflect on the nature of the human mind, the role of language both in structuring our knowledge and as tool to communicate, and the multimodal, interactive, fuzzy workings of communication. By the end of the semester, students should be able to offer informed opinions and cogent insights to answer questions such as How do we remember and understand? Does language have an influence on the way we think? Where is meaning? Can all bilinguals translate? What do we learn when we learn how to translate? What are the differences between translating and interpreting? What is the impact of computers on the way we think, talk, write, and communicate?

Course contents

Weekly topics

1. Language & thought

• The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and Slobin's 'thinking for speaking'
• Thinking & metaphors

2. Language & multimodality

3. Meaning & comprehension

4. Context & prediction

5. Intentions, inference & theory of mind

6. Communication & professionalism

7. Translation, interpreting & emerging tasks

8. Human-computer interaction and ergonomics

9. Learning & entrenchment

 

Please note: the program and the classes comprise 10 weeks. One week will be devoted to either (a) go over particularly difficult points addressed in class; (b) extend or introduce one relevant topic at the request of the students; or (c) review the contents of the full semester to prepare the final essays.

Readings/Bibliography

Alonso, Elisa & Lucas Nunes Vieira. 2020. The impact of technology on the role of the translator in globalized production workflows @ E. Bielsa & D. Kapsaskis, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Globalisation. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 391–405.

Ehrensberger-Dow, Maureen. 2019. Ergonomics and the translation process @ Slovo.ru: Baltic accent 10 (1): 37–51.

Hvelplund, Kristian Tangsgaard. 2016. Cognitive efficiency in translation @ R. Muñoz, ed. Reembedding Translation Process Research. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 2016, pp. 149–170.

Kappus, Martin & Maureen, Ehrensberger-Dow. 2020. The ergonomics of translation tools : understanding when less is actually more @ The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 14 (4): 386–404.

Lakoff, George & Mark Johnson. 1980. Metaphors we live by. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Moorkens, Joss. 2020. “A tiny cog in a large machine” Digital Taylorism in the translation industry @ Translation Spaces 9 (1): 12–34.

Moorkens, Joss. 2021. Translation in the neoliberal era @ E. Bielsa & D. Kapsaskis, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Globalisation. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 323–336.

Muñoz Martín, Ricardo & Ana María Rojo López. 2018. Meaning @ S.-A. Harding & O. Carbonell, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Culture. London: Roudledge, pp. 73–90.

O'Brien, Sharon. 2012. Translation as Human-Computer Interaction. @ Translation Spaces 1 : 101–122.

O’Brien, Sharon, Maureen Ehrensberger-Dow, Marcel Hasler & Megan Connolly. 2017. Irritating CAT tool features that matter to translators @ Hermes—Journal of Language and Communication in Business 56: 145–162.

Reddy, Michael J. 1979. The Conduit Metaphor: A case of frame conflict in our language about language. @ A. Ortony, ed. Metaphor and Thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 284–310.

Schell, V. and Sabbagh, M. 2018. 13. Theory of mind and communication: Developmental perspectives. In: Dattner, E. and Ravid, D. ed. Handbook of Communication Disorders: Theoretical, Empirical, and Applied Linguistic Perspectives. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton, pp. 259-278. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614514909-014

Slobin, Dan I. 1996. From “thought and language” to “thinking for speaking”. In J. Gumperz & S. Levinson (eds.), Rethinking Linguistic Relativity. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, pp. 70–96.

Vieira, Lucas Nunes. 2020. Automation anxiety and translators @ Translation Studies 13 (1): 1–21.

Teaching methods

Due to the didactic methods and activities in this course, attending it requires that students complete before, in e-learning mode, Modules 1 and 2 of the training program on safety in the workplace. More information, here.

 

The course will hinge on the instructor's introductory presentations and students' brainstorming and presentations. The students are expected to discuss the next weeks' topic and prepare their debate interventions. In order to do so, the students will watch the relevant videos suggested below as examples prior to meeting to discuss their contents.

Once again, for clarification. This is a normal weekly cycle:

1. You watch the videos for next week, on your own.
2. You discuss the videos and present your opinions and views in a group meeting before the class where the topic will be addressed (it may be a good idea to bring a laptop along to watch some bits again)
3. You reach some common position(s)—or you do not, you may disagree—and prepare for the class.

 

Twice in the semester, you will need to present the topic and offer a reading list to the class (at least, 10 items). Graphic presentations are recommended, but not a must.

These are the videos

1. Language & thought

• 1.a. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and Slobin's 'thinking for speaking'

Does your language change how you see the world? [click]

Language, culture & thought [click]

• 1.b. Thinking & metaphors

George Lakoff and Mark Johnson. Metaphors We Live By [click]

Metaphor [click]

2. Language & multimodality

More than words [click]

Multimodal Communication – Summary  [click]

3. Meaning & comprehension

Language & meaning [click]

Meaning & language [click]

4. Context, intentions & inference

Inferences and conclusions [click]

Rethinking thinking [click]

What is context? [click]

Cognitive biases [click]

Logical fallacies [click]

5. Prediction & theory of mind

Semantic networks and spreading activation [click]

How we read each others' minds [click]

The theory of mind test [click]

6. Communication & professionalism

What is communication? [click]

The Toolmakers' paradigm [click]

7. Translation, interpreting & emerging tasks

Jobs for language students [click]

Communications Major [click]

8. Human-computer interaction and ergonomics

The future of Human-Computer Interaction [click]

Enter the cult of extreme productivity [click]

The efficiency paradox [click]

A more human approach to productivity [click]

9. Learning & entrenchment

Learning how to learn [click]

What if schools taught us how to learn? [click]

After watching this, your brain will not be the same [click]

Practice makes perfect [click]

 

The Socratic method will be used to challenge the students' received views and to prompt critical thinking and active participation.

Assessment methods

Students may opt for formative (class grades) or summative assessment (exam). In order to qualify for formative assessment, students need to:

 

- choose that option from the beginning of the semester
- attend at least 70% of the course sessions
- participate in at least two group presentations
- turn in a final paper (min. 1200-word long)

Students who meet the above specifications will not need to take ANY exams on the first call. Students who choose a summative assessment (exam only) will take it in the official date and place determined by the DIT.

Assessment
- presentations, 30%
- participation in class, 10%
- final essay, 60%

Alternatively, the exam is 100%

Please note: Presentations need to be turned in before the topic is addressed for class debate. The final essay needs to be turned in the day of the last session of the course.

 

Learning assessment scale
30-30L Excellent. The candidate applies excellent logical and analytical skills, with a very high level of independent and original thinking, resourceful access to pertinent information, and an adequate, realistic integration thereof.

27-29 Above average. The candidate makes only minor errors and shows solid logical and analytical skills, very good access to pertinent information, and an adequate, realistic integration thereof.

24-26 Generally good. The candidate shows some gaps, indicating reasonable mastery of logical and analytical skills, good access to pertinent information, and a basically correct integration thereof.

21-23 Adequate. The candidate shows significant deficiencies and only minimal mastery of the required logical and analytical skills. Access to pertinent information seems limited and is linked to problem in understanding it.

18- 20 Minimum. The candidate meets only the minimum required level and shows minimal understanding and mastery of the required skills.

< 18 Failed. The candidate does not meet the required standard and shows totally inadequate understanding and mastery of the required skills.

Office hours

See the website of Ricardo Munoz Martin