Unit information: Applied Translation (Mandarin) in 2021/22

Unit name	Applied Translation (Mandarin)
Unit code	MODLM2069
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Fricker
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	none
Co-requisites	none
School/department	School of Modern Languages
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

A programme of applied translation between Mandarin and English in a broad range of text types. Students will be required to submit annotated translations to the Blackboard discussion board and to participate in group discussion and feedback. In so doing, they will be expected to evaluate the nature of the source text and its anticipated readership and to consider different translation strategies and solutions, drawing on experience gained also in the unit on Theories of Translation. They will develop their competence in editing and revising translated texts.

Aims:

The aim of the unit is to prepare students with a good degree-level knowledge of Mandarin to become reflective practitioners of translation into and from English, and to develop increasingly sophisticated strategies to that end. The emphasis is less on further rule-based foreign-language acquisition than on building critical appreciation and evaluation of contextually and functionally appropriate translation of a range of source texts. Students will increase their overall competence as translators both through regular and varied translation assignments, and through formal reflection on their own practice and that of others in the group, using the electronic discussion-board.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit students will have:

1. Linguistic knowledge and understanding of their study of Translation Theory, and will enhance their ability to reflect critically on the practice of translation.
2. Be skilled in evaluating a range of translation strategies, and will have confidence and competence as translators through conscious motivation of contextually-based choices.
3. Gained experience in appropriate methods of researching the linguistic and cultural context of source texts. Students will acquire experience of translating to a variety of task-specific briefs, working quickly but accurately to a series of submission deadlines.
4. The ability to format their assessed submissions to professional standards.

Teaching Information

Delivered through distance learning, via Blackboard.

Students will be set regular tasks and submission deadlines. They will construct reflective portfolios, and evaluate their own practice and that of their peers in accordance with ethical guidelines. The unit tutor will oversee the group discussion, accessing the discussion board on a weekly basis, providing brief comments on individual performance and more extended group feedback.

Assessment Information

1 x 2,000-word learning log reflecting on the student's practice of translation: 25% (ILOs 1-4) 2 x 800-word annotated translations (translation 60% of each assignment and annotations + 700-word commentary 40% of each assignment): 75% (ILOs 1-4)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MODLM2069).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.