Unit information: Translation for Subtitling in 2020/21

Unit name	Translation for Subtitling
Unit code	MODLM0009
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Carol O'Sullivan
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

This unit aims to develop students’ ability to translate the subtitles of movies and TV programmes.

Students will learn how to apply general translation competency to subtitling and to understand the differences between subtitling and other modes of translation and interpreting. Students will also develop a critical understanding of the way in which translation subtitling touches upon and is informed by other disciplines such as linguistics, semiotics, media studies and cultural studies. The aim is for students to become not only a competent subtitle translator but also a researcher able to take theoretical implications and contextual factors into consideration in looking for best answers to translation problems.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course students will have developed their ability to:

1. translate movie and TV programme titles competently between their working languages;
2. use subtitling software to carry out subtitling assignments;
3. choose, evaluate and analyse resources and tools critically to help achieve the best translation for a given audio-visual subtitling task;
4. to contextualise the practical work in a suitable theoretical framework;
5. justify choice of translation strategies using relevant theoretical models.

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered online through a combination of synchronous sessions and asynchronous activities, including seminars, lectures, and collaborative as well as self-directed learning opportunities supported by tutor consultation.

Assessment Information

Coursework assignment involving translation of subtitles of a movie or TV video clip of c.2-3 minutes from English into the student's first language (assessing ILOs 1-3, with accompanying theoretically informed commentary of 1,500 words (assessing ILOs 3-5): value = 50% of unit grade.

Coursework assignment involving translation of subtitles of a movie or TV video clip of c.2-3 minutes from the student's first language into English (assessing ILOs 1-3, with accompanying theoretically informed commentary of 1,500 words (assessing ILOs 3-5): value = 50% of unit grade.

Reading and References

• De Linde, Z., & Kay, N. (1999). The Semiotics of Subtitling. Manchester: St. Jerome.

• Ghia, E. (2012). Subtitling matters: New Perspectives on Subtitling and Foreign Language Learning. Oxford: Peter Lang.

• Incalcaterra McLoughlin, L., Biscio, M., & Ní Mhainnín, M. A. (2011). Audiovisual Translation: Subtitles and Subtitling: Theory and Practice. Oxford; New York: Peter Lang.

• International Conference on Dubbing and Subtitling in a World Context, Fong, G. C. F., & Au, K. K. L. (2009). Dubbing and Subtitling in a World Context. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press.