27472 - Specialized translation between English and Italian II (CL2)

Learning outcomes

(Versioni in inglese e modulo di traduzione passiva in italiano):

The student :

- is to acquire a good working knowledge of the strategies, techniques, traditional and current advanced tools and methods of specialized translation work

- is then able to apply them in the translation of specialized texts of different types and genres within the technical-scientific fields

- is to be conversant with and capable of using the basic  techniques of documentation, writing and revising texts, and is able to assess the quallity of the texts s/he has produced

 - is to be able to identify and apply the advanced translation strategies that are most appropriate to the communicative functions of the source texts

Modulo di traduzione passiva (versione italiana segue qui e non nel rettangolo sotto la rappresentazione della bandiera italiana):

Scopo del corso: completare la formazione accademica e professionale per l'intero ciclo dell'attività traduttiva.  

The course's aim is to complete the entire academic and professional training of the student.

Course contents

Together with Prof. Dennis a set of texts will be chosen, probably within the general economic field, as the basis for the translation exercises of the course

Modulo di traduzione passiva (Prof.ssa Scardapane):

A. Specialist texts in the institutional macroeconomic and psychiatric fields, the translation of which, applying the knowledge and expertise of linguistics, pragmatics, semantics etc. already acquired by the student (not only in courses of translation)  is to be accurate and acceptable from a professional point of view.

B. Self-evaluation and and/or revision of one's translation. 

Readings/Bibliography

Peter Newmark is always a good source of sound, practical advice. For linguistic analyses, start from the notions of field, tenor, mode and communicative purpose as outlined in Halliday and Hasan's "Cohesion in English" (absolutely essential). For the analysis of scientific texts see the relevnt chapters of Bhatia ("Analysing Genre") and Swales ("Genre Analysis"), as well as Halliday and Martin's "Writing Science". Juan Sager e M.T. Cabrè are other useful authors for technical-scientific texts, as is Larry Selinker. 

The volume edited by Tullio De Mauro "Studi sul trattamento dell'informazione scientifica", contains a wide range of studies of scientific and technical texts.

For a(n) historical reconstruction of tranlational actrivity, but nopt only this, see M. Morini /La traduzione (Teorie, strumenti, pratiche)/. Sironi Editore, 2007.

·        For macro-micro textual analyses, the main authors to consult are:

Jakobson (1959), Austin (1955), Searle (1997), Palmer (1990, 1986, 2001), Swales (1990), Bhatia (1994), Halliday & Hasan (1976), Hatim & Mason (1990, 1997), Newmark (1982, 1988, 1991),  Gunnarsson, Linel & Nordberg (edit) (1997), Cortellazzo (1994),  Dardano (1994b, 2004, 2005), Gotti (1991, 2006),  Eco (2003).

Whenever possible, consult original source texts rather than those of authors who merely quote them.

·        For self evaluation and revision see::

House (1987, 2000, 2001), Magris (1999), Rega (1999), Sager (1990, 1994), Rothe-Neves (2002), Mossop (2007), Martin (2007).

 

Teaching methods

Module of translation towards English: Translations to be analysed in class while the actual work of translation is to be done outside the lecture/seminar sessions 

Module of translation towards Italian:

Alternation of theoretical-practical lectures in the classroom, with individual presentations including group discussion of the analyses and translations of the ST/TT, complete with corpora e glossaries or terminological files in the SL and TL.

N.B.: The observations and comments on the individual TTs will be commented on and discussed during the office hours of the lecturer.

 

Assessment methods

Translation towards English: Examination, in a computer room with access to internet, that will consist of the translation of a text similar in type to those dealt with during the module. 

·        Traduzione di un testo specialistico (Inglese vs Italiano) di circa 400 parole in 2:30 ore. Possibilmente in aula informatica con accesso alla Rete.

·        Translation Project individuale di circa 2000 parole da concordare con la docente, completo di a) breve introduzione all'argomento del TP; b) cenni metodologici e strumenti per la traduzione del TP selezionato; c) TP numerato a fronte del TA numerato; d) osservazioni specifiche sui reali problemi traduttivi del TP e le soluzioni adottate per risolverli; e) autovalutazione e/o revisione del TA, con una conclusione generale su tutto il lavoro svolto; f) bibliografia; g) corpora in LP e LA su CD

 Translation towards Italian:

·        Translation of a specalised text of caa. 400 words in two and a half hours. If possible, this will be in a computer room with Internet access.

·        Individual Translation Project of about 2000 words to be agreed with the lecturer, compleye with a) brief introduction to the subject of the ST; b) comments on the methodology and tools used for the translation of the ST chosen; c) ST and TT both numbered (parallel - left and right opposite facing - pages); d) specific observations on the real probles encountered in translating the ST and the solutions adopted to solve the difficulties; e) self-evaluation andor revision of the TT, with a general conclusion on the entire work undetaken; f) bibliography; g) corpora in the SL and the TL, both provided on a CD.

 

Teaching tools

Translation towards English: Parallel texts, corpora in the two languages (source and target), learners and (preferably) specialist or authoritative mono- and bi-linguial dictionaries; use of Googlescholar (often preferable to the generic Google pages for the use in context of linguistic phrasing and for specialist information).

Translation towards Italian: Internet, WordSmithTools and/or  AntConc 3.2.1, general and specialist on-line and hard copy/paper dictionaries and glossaries, ecc.

It is obvious that the vehicular language for translation towards Italian is Italian but the software program is not designed to include this information in the box related to teaching language, where we have had to insert "English".

 

Office hours

See the website of Derek Boothman

See the website of Linda Rossato

See the website of Rachele Antonini

See the website of Lucia Scardapane