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

Code: 101350 ECTS Credits: 5
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500249 Translation and Interpreting OB 3

Contact

Name:
Joan Ferrarons i Llagostera
Email:
joan.ferrarons@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

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

  • Demonstrate that they 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.

Activities and Methodology

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 15.5 0.62 1, 19, 22, 8, 12, 10, 13
Type: Supervised      
Documentation search 13.5 0.54 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 12 0.48 1, 4, 3, 14, 19, 6, 8, 11, 10, 13, 9, 17
Preparation of translations and other works 24.25 0.97 1, 3, 16, 14, 19, 6, 22, 11, 10, 13, 9, 20, 7, 24
Type: Autonomous      
Knowledge ampliation 12.5 0.5 19, 18

An active methodology is used with activities of various types. The instruments of the Virtual Campus of the UAB or any virtual environment of teaching and learning are used. 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 organised 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 organises time and effort autonomously (individually or in groups).

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Glossary of terminology 25% 5 0.2 3, 16, 19, 18, 5, 22, 12, 11, 10, 9, 23, 21
Individual specialised translation 25% 5 0.2 1, 4, 3, 2, 16, 15, 14, 19, 18, 5, 6, 22, 8, 12, 11, 10, 13, 9, 17, 23, 20, 21, 7, 24
Specialised group translation 35% 10 0.4 1, 4, 3, 2, 16, 15, 14, 19, 18, 5, 6, 22, 8, 12, 11, 10, 13, 9, 17, 23, 20, 21, 7, 24
Theoretical exercise on topics related to specialised translation 15% 2 0.08 1, 14, 19, 18, 5, 8, 12, 11, 10, 13, 17, 20, 21, 7

At the beginning of the course, the assessment activities and the relevant deadlines will be specified in a document accessible from the virtual campus.

Continuous assessment

Assignments subjected to assessment

  1. Individual glossary of terminology (25%)
  2. Specialised group translation and subsequent presentation in class (35%)
  3. Individual translation of a specialised text and subsequent oral defence (25%)
  4. Theoretical exercise or test on topics studied throughout the course (15%)

Rules for the presentation of assessment activities

  • All assessment activities must specify the name and surname(s) of the author(s), the name of the lecturer, the subject and the academic year.

  • The assessment activities and the student's portfolio must be submitted within the established deadlines in order to be assessed.

  • Unless otherwise specified, assessment activities must be submitted in editable text format (DOC or ODT) or in editable spreadsheet format (XLS or ODS) in the case of the glossary of terminology.

  • Unless otherwise specified, the use of machine translation or artificial intelligence software is not allowed.

Review

When publishing final marks prior to recording them on students' transcripts, the lecturer will provide written notification of a date and time for reviewing assessment activities. Students must arrange reviews in agreement with the lecturer

Missed/failed assessment activities

Students may retake assessment activities they have failed or compensate for any they have missed, provided that those they have actually performed account for a minimum of 66.6% (two thirds) of the subject's final mark and that they have a weighted average mark of at least 3.5. The lecturer will inform students of the procedure involved, in writing, when publishing final marks prior to recording them on transcripts. The lecturer may set one assignment per failed or missed assessment activity or a single assignment to cover a number of such activities. Under no circumstances may an assessment activity worth 100% of the final mark be retaken or compensated for. 

Consideration of  "not assessable"

In the event of the assessment activities a student has performed accounting for just 25% or less of the subject's final mark, their work will be classified as "not assessable" on their transcript.

Misconduct in assessment activities

Students who engage in misconduct (plagiarism, copying, personation, etc.) in an assessment activity will receive a mark of “0” for the activity in question. In the case of misconduct in more than one assessment activity, the students involved will be given a final mark of “0” for the subject. Students may not retake assessment activities in which they are found to have engaged in misconduct. Plagiarism is considered to mean presenting all or part of an author's work, whether published in print or in digital format, as one's own, i.e. without citing it. Copying is considered to mean reproducing all or a substantial part of another student's work. In cases of copying in which it is impossible to determine which of two students has copied the work of the other, both will be penalised.

Single assessment

This subject may be assessed under the single assessment system in accordance with the terms established in the academic regulations of the UAB and the assessment criteria ofthe Faculty of Translation and Interpreting.

Students must make an online request within the period established by the faculty and send a copy to the lecturer responsible for the subject, for the record.

Single assessment will be carried out in person on one day during week 16 or 17 of the semester. The Academic Management Office will publish the exact date and time on the faculty website.

On the day of the single assessment, teaching staff will ask the student for identification, which should be presented as a valid identification document with a recent photograph (student card, DNI/NIE or passport).

Single assessment activities

Single assessment will include a minimum of three assessment activities of different types, as stated in the assessment guidelines.

Grade revision and retake procedures for the subject are the same as those for continual assessment. See the section above in this Study Guide.


Bibliography

It will be provided as the syllabus develops.


Software

Unless otherwise specified, the use of machine translation software and artificial intelligence programmes is not allowed.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed