| Unit name | Translation Practice and Analysis I: French |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MODLM0056 |
| 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 |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one | |
| School/department | School of Modern Languages |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
The focus of this workshop-style practical unit is on translation projects requiring linguistic creativity and a keen awareness of the differences between source and target audience needs. Students will analyse client briefs and needs, learn to understand audience expectations, devise a translation strategy based on this knowledge, and manage relevant resources, including parallel texts, when approaching a specific text. Students will translate these texts into English, present an analysis of their own work, and participate in group discussion on the project and its outcomes. The aim is for students to develop their linguistic imagination in translation, and find their own voice in producing contextually and functionally appropriate translated texts.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study'?
The MA in Translation is characterised by a balance between practical and research-intensive elements, allowing you to chart a course that is either industry-focused or preparing you for a career in the study of translation. The unit is the first of two that simulates real-world translation projects and tasks. With its additional emphasis on strategy, analysis and reflection, the unit highlights that the craft of translation is enhanced by ‘knowing what you are doing.‘ You are able to draw on knowledge you gain in the Theories unit and consider links with aspects of the profession as explored in the Industry unit. The learning from this unit can also be applied to other practice-rich units such as Principles of Subtitling.
An overview of content
Projects involve texts selected from a variety of genres and domains, including marketing, the arts, tourism, news, literature, and public service communications; some of them may be multimodal in nature.
What skills will you develop in this unit?
The unit will encourage you to find your voice as a translator: to interact confidently with client expectations, to enquire about their nature, to create work that represents an independent yet appropriate response to them, to communicate your decisions to your client, and to reflect on your work.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the unit, you will be able to
Tasks are set via the Discussion Board. You are encouraged to discuss your approach and useful resources and strategies with your peers and tutor, simulating the collaborative nature of many real-world translation projects and aiming to improve your work through the exploration of a variety of possible takes on it. Once submitted, you, your fellow students and your tutor will discuss what has been successful and where future work may best start off from. In other words, while each translation you submit will be your own, the path towards it as well as its evaluation harnesses the insights of the group as a whole. Different learning styles can easily be accommodated within this format, and in the learning log you are able to reflect on them. Tutors will design projects in ways that reflect their own practical experiences within different parts of the translation industry and thus offer you a set of tasks that is indicative of real-world opportunities.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Four practice projects are comprised of a source text to be translated plus an analysis. They build on introductory and smaller research and creative exercises carried out within the unit and follow the same format as the Assessed translation projects. Submission is to the VLE, and feedback takes the form of peer review and tutor comment, plus the tutor’s own solution to each task.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Assessed translation projects are comprised of an 800-word source text to be translated plus 700 words of introductory analysis. The translation accounts for 60% of the mark, and the analysis for 40%.
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
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. MODLM0056).
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.
