Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 100195

Coordinator Kenny Wang Opens in new window

Description This is a core unit for students in the Bachelor of Arts (Interpreting and Translation) course and an elective foundation unit for language key field of study in the BA. It introduces students to translation theory and practice. Lectures are held in English for students of all languages. The tutorials are language specific in Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish. The unit is only available to students with a high level of proficiency (native or near-native level) in one of the languages offered. The languages offered, subject to demand, are: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish.

School Humanities & Comm Arts

Discipline Translating and Interpreting

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Equivalent Subjects LGYB 2096 - Translation 1 LGYB 2097 - Translation 2 LGYB 2850 - Introduction to Translation

Assumed Knowledge

Proficiency in English and other language (LOTE) at native or near-native level.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge of the different theories of translation throughout history, including those advanced by theorists such as Catford, Nida, Newmark, Steiner and others;
2. show familiarity with the different translation approaches such as literal versus free, semantic versus communicative;
3. explain the intricacies of language and the difficulties of achieving cross linguistic equivalence, at the morphemic, lexical, syntactic and textual levels;
4. describe the cross-cultural differences as they influence language;
5. compare different notions of accuracy and equivalence from the syntactic, to the semantic, to the pragmatic dimensions;
6. demonstrate linguistic proficiency by translating a variety of text genres;
7. show familiarity with existing resources for translation including dictionaries, thesauruses, the Internet; and
8. demonstrate the Translation profession in Australia, NAATI qualifications, and ethics of the profession.

Subject Content

1. General overview of translation theories through the ages.
2. Different approaches to translation according to genre and purpose of translation.
3. The hierarchy of language from the lexical to the textual and discourse as well as some typological differences found across languages.
4. Describe the cross cultural differences that influence language use and language choice.
5. The meaning of accuracy and the difficulties of finding cross linguistic and cross cultural equivalence at the different levels of the language hierarchy.
6. The Translation profession in Australia and its codes of ethics.
7. Semantic versus pragmatic equivalence.
8. The application of theory to problem solving and decision making in the process of translation.