Description This is a core component of the Bachelor of Arts (Interpreting and Translation) and a pool unit in some postgraduate courses. The unit is aimed at developing essential skills in interpreting and deals with the specialised technical skills necessary for the different modes of interpreting: dialogue, consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation. Given the large amount of independent practice needed to develop competence in interpreting, it pays special attention to the teaching of techniques for autonomous learning. Lectures are held in English for students of all the languages available. The tutorials are language specific in Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin or 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 2 subject
Restrictions Students need to be bilingual (in the language combinations offered by the School).
Assumed Knowledge
Proficiency in English and their other language (LOTE) at native or near-native level.
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
distinguish between spoken and written language in terms of content, structure, speed, text type, number of interlocutors, accent, etc;
apply knowledge about different speech styles, registers, social dialects and develop skills necessary to accurately render different discourses in the target language;
demonstrate an understanding of context-specific interpreting techniques used in dialogue, consecutive, simultaneous interpreting and sight translation;
improve listening skills in a variety of contexts such as business, immigration, tourism and motor transport, and develop techniques for autonomous learning of these skills;
use the memory skills required for dialogue interpreting and consecutive interpreting;
master the note taking skills necessary to accurately interpret in the long consecutive interpreting mode, and develop techniques for autonomous learning of these skills;
develop effective public speaking skills, including techniques for autonomous learning of these skills.
- Variables of spoken language; content, speed, text type, number of interlocutors, accent, speaker's gender; techniques for improving listening comprehension;.
- Different speech styles, registers and social dialects and interpreting exercises to develop the skill to accurately render such variables in the Target Language;.
- Characteristics of dialogue, consecutive, simultaneous interpreting and sight translation; participants and their roles; typical contexts and content and role implications for each mode; differing cognitive demands of each mode.
- Memory and interpreting: exercises and techniques for developing short-term memory.
- Standard systems for note taking; individual adaptation; techniques for note taking practice.
- Public speaking skills; voice work, audience contact, discourse organisation; techniques for autonomous development of public speaking skills.
Assessment
The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.
Item
Length
Percent
Threshold
Individual/Group Task
Portfolio
Continuous assessment
30
N
Individual
Tutorial tasks
Continuous assessment of interpreting skills development in class through practical tutorial exercises.
