Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102015

Coordinator Chong Han Opens in new window

Description This is a pool unit in some postgraduate interpreting and translation 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

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate program.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. demonstrate understanding of interpreting theories and their relevance to research and practice;
2. apply knowledge about different speech styles, registers and social dialects to accurately render different discourses in the target language;
3. demonstrate an understanding of context-specific interpreting techniques used in dialogue, consecutive, simultaneous interpreting and sight translation;
4. apply listening skills and techniques in a variety of settings such as business, immigration, tourism and motor transport, and develop techniques for autonomous learning of these skills;
5. use the memory skills required for dialogue interpreting and consecutive interpreting;
6. use note taking skills effectively to interpret accurately in the long consecutive interpreting mode,
7. demonstrate effective public speaking skills, including techniques for autonomous learning of these skills.

Subject Content

. Variables of spoken language; content, speed, text type, number of interlocutors, accent, speaker's gender; techniques for improving listening comprehension.
. Cognitive processes behind interpreting
. 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.