Logo UAB
2020/2021

Initiation to specialized translation B-A (German-Catalan)

Code: 101350 ECTS Credits: 5
Degree Type Year Semester
2500249 Translation and Interpreting OB 3 2
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Montserrat Franquesa Godia
Email:
Montserrat.Franquesa@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Prerequisites

At the beginning of the course, the student will be able to:

Demonstrate that he / she possesses knowledge about the methodological principles that govern translation, professional and instrumental aspects, and the contrastive problems of the language combination.

Apply this knowledge to solve translation problems of non-specialised texts with different text functions, which reflect linguistic variation and cultural references.

Combine different areas of knowledge when taking decisions about questions related to translating a range of non-specialised texts with different text functions, which reflect linguistic variation and cultural references.

Convey information, ideas, problems and solutions relating to translating a range of non-specialised texts with different text functions, which reflect linguistic variation and cultural references.

 

Note for exchange students. Students wishing to take this course should have B2+/C1 skills in this language combination. Contact course coordinator for more specific details concerning eligibility.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The purpose of this course is to develop problem-solving skills when translating basic specialised texts from a range of fields (scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal). At the end of the course, students should be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the basic methodological principles governing translation, professional and instrumental aspects and the contrastive problems for this language combination.

Apply this knowledge to solving translation problems in basic specialised scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal texts.

Combine different areas of knowledge when taking decisions about questions related to translating basic specialised scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal texts.

Convey information, ideas, problems and solutions relating to translating basic specialised scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal texts.

Competences

  • Applying cultural knowledge in order to translate. 
  • Learning in a strategic, independent and continuous manner.
  • Mastering the main methodological principles of translation. 
  • Producing written texts in language A in order to translate.
  • Solving translation problems from different specialisation fields (legal, financial, scientific, technical, literary, audiovisual texts, localization).
  • Solving translation problems of non-specialised texts.
  • Understanding written texts in a foreign language in order to translate.
  • Understanding written texts in language A in order to translate.
  • Using documentation resources in order to translate.
  • Using technological resources in order to translate.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying graphical, lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge.
  2. Applying technological resources in order to solve translation problems: Applying technological resources in order to solve translation problems of scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  3. Applying technological resources of collection, preparation and analysis of information in order to translate: Applying the technological resources of collection, preparation and analysis of information in order to translate basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  4. Applying the documentation resources in order to solve translation problems: Applying the documentation resources in order to translate basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative, and legal specialised written texts.
  5. Assessing the obtained results in the information retrieval process in order to translate: Assessing the obtained results in the information retrieval process in order to translate basic scientific technical, economic, administrative, and legal specialised written texts.
  6. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of written texts of several fields: Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative, and legal specialised written texts.
  7. Finding the most appropriate translation solution in each case: Finding the most appropriate translation solution in each case.
  8. Formulating the appropriate informative needs in order to translate: Formulating the proper informational needs in order to translate basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  9. Identifying the existing (digital and analogue) information sources in order to translate: Identifying the existing (digital and analogue) information sources in order to translate basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  10. Identifying the need to mobilise cultural knowledge in order to translate: Identifying the need to mobilise cultural knowledge in order to translate basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  11. Identifying the specific translation problems of each field: Identifying the specific translation problems of each field.
  12. Identifying the textual and dynamic nature of the translation equivalence: Identifying the textual and dynamic nature of the translation equivalence.
  13. Identifying the translation as an act of communication that is addressed to a recipient: Identifying the translation as an act of communication that is addressed to a recipient.
  14. Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts of different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce simple scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  15. Implementing strategies in order to understand written texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to comprehend basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  16. Implementing strategies to acquire cultural knowledge in order to translate: Implementing strategies to acquire cultural knowledge in order to translate basic scientific, technical, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  17. Incorporating cultural knowledge in order to solve translation problems: Incorporating cultural knowledge in order to solve translation problems of basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  18. Learning in a strategic, independent and continuous manner: Relating knowledge between disciplines.
  19. Learning in a strategic, independent and continuous manner: Searching for documentary evidence in order to provide more information.
  20. Producing written texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts, that are appropriate to their context and posses linguistic correctness.
  21. Solving interferences between the working languages: Solving interferences between the working languages.
  22. Students must demonstrate they know the technological resources needed to translate: Students must demonstrate they know the technological resources in order to edit basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.
  23. Successfully interrogating the documentation sources in order to translate: Successfully interrogating the documentation sources in order to translate basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised texts.
  24. Using the appropriate strategies and techniques in order to solve translation problems: Using the appropriate strategies and techniques in order to solve translation problems of basic scientific, technical, economic, administrative and legal specialised written texts.

Content

- Methodology of specialized translation.
- Resolution of translation problems when dealing with administrative genres such as, for example, academic certificates, civil registry documents, etc.
- Resolution of translation problems when dealing with legal genres, such as laws, judgments, contracts, notarial documents, etc.
- Resolution of problems of translation of economic genres such as, for example, annual accounts reports, financial reports, etc.
- Resolution of problems of translation of technical genres such as, for example, technical press articles, technical journal articles, teaching manuals, technical encyclopedia entries,
technical descriptions for non-expert readership, user manuals, etc.
- Resolution of problems of translation of scientific genres such as, for example, scientific articles, didactic manuals, scientific encyclopedia entries, scientific journal articles, etc.
- Use of technological tools and documentation sources acquired in the various degree subjects for the translation of specialised texts.
- Use of dictionaries, glossaries and specialised databases and specialised parallel texts.

Methodology

An active methodology is used with activities of various types. The instruments of the Virtual Campus of the UAB are used and / or any virtual environment of teaching and learning.

 Possible methodologies:

     Performing translation tasks
     Completion of translation projects
     Exercise resolution
     Presentations of individual / group work
     Debates (face to face or in forums)
     Cooperative learning techniques

 The didactic activities are organized in three blocks, according to the degree of autonomy required of the student:

- Guided activities: responds to a predetermined time schedule and requires a teacher's face-to-face direction.

- Supervised activities: requires a more or less timely supervision of a teacher.

- Autonomous activities: the student organizes time and effort autonomously (individually or in groups).

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Classes of contents and methodology of the specialised translation and exposition of theoretical subjects of the field of specialty 15.25 0.61 1, 16, 19, 8, 11, 10, 13, 7
Realization of translation activities 16.5 0.66 1, 19, 22, 8, 12, 10, 13
Resolution of exercises and presentation of individual or group work 6 0.24 1, 16, 19, 22, 8, 13
Type: Supervised      
Documentation search 12.5 0.5 3, 15, 19, 5, 6, 22, 8, 11, 10, 13, 9, 17, 23
Preparation of exercises 10 0.4 1, 4, 3, 19, 5, 22, 8, 11, 10, 9, 17
Preparation of the student's portfolio 14 0.56 1, 4, 3, 14, 19, 6, 8, 11, 10, 13, 9, 17
Preparation of translations and other works 32 1.28 1, 3, 16, 14, 19, 6, 22, 11, 10, 13, 9, 20, 7, 24
Type: Autonomous      
Knowledge ampliation 12.5 0.5 19, 18

Assessment

Legal-administrative / scientific-technical translation project: 30%.

Individual legal-administrative translations: 30%.

Scientific-technical individual translations: 30%.

Student portfolio with all the translations and exercises done in class or at home, plus a final reflection on the knowledge acquired: 10%.

Students are required to complete 75% of the assignments in order to pass this course.

Students with a final mark lower than 5 will have the right to take an in-person re-sit exam consisting of a specialized text translation (30%).

 

These categories may vary from year to year. Definitive weightings will be specified by the instructor at the beginning of the course.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Legal and administrative translation 30% 2 0.08 1, 3, 2, 16, 19, 8, 11, 10, 13, 7
Scientific and technical translation 30% 2 0.08 1, 16, 15, 14, 19, 6, 8, 11, 10, 13, 9, 17, 21, 7
Student's portfolio 10% 0.25 0.01 1, 19, 18, 22, 8, 12, 10, 13, 20
Work on legal-administrative / scientific-technical translation 30% 2 0.08 1, 4, 16, 15, 14, 19, 5, 6, 22, 8, 11, 10, 13, 17, 23, 21, 24

Bibliography

It will be provided as the syllabus develops.