This course investigates the problems regularly encountered in the process of cross-language and cross-cultural transfer as found in texts not classifiable as literary, and in material other than the written word.  We begin by exploring genres of translation and establishing our focus on vocational, specialised or practical forms, as opposed to the literary genres which are the focus of LANG3001.  We proceed to explore general principles and criteria for evaluation, and look at topics such as translation in international organizations, technical translation, machine translation, interpreting, the translations of film-scripts and the design and use of dictionaries and other works of reference. The School of Language Studies with the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies and the College of Asia and the Pacific together offer a wide range of languages, and some staff members who contribute to this course are experienced translators.

On successful completion of this course, students will have:

1. enhanced their skills as translators of non-literary material;
2. enhanced their ability to evaluate texts which have been translated;
3. gained heightened appreciation of the complex linguistic and cultural problems which form part of the process;
4. developed important analytical skills under the guidance of staff members who are themselves highly skilled and experienced in translation from a range of languages, and who are contributing to the most recent scholarship in Translation Studies.

There is no exam in this course. Assessment is by means of two major assignments (1500 words & 2400 words, 45% each) and participation in tutorials and seminars. The latter may include a short presentation. Assignment work will be informed by reading in the field of Translation Studies.

2 hours per week of lectures/seminars for 13 weeks.

1 hour-long tutorial per fortnight.

The number of hours of study per week outside class time may be expected to be in the range of 6 to 10 hours.

Mona Baker (ed.), The Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, London, 1997: P306.E57 1998

Roger T. Bell, Translation and Translating: Theory and Practice, London and New York, 1991        P306.B39 1991

Alan Duff, The Third Language: Recurrent Problems of Translation into English, London, 1981     PE1498.D83 1981

Basil Hatim and Ian Mason, The Translator as Communicator, London, 1997: P306.H38 1997

Kirsten Malmkjaer, Linguistics and the Language of Translation, Edinburgh, 2005     P306.M35 2005

Jeremy Munday, Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications, London, 2001/2008:               P305.M865 2001

Peter Newmark, A Textbook of Translation, New York, 1988 P306.N474 1988

Mark Shuttleworth and Moira Cowie, Dictionary of Translation Studies, Manchester, 1996                 P306.2.S65 1997

Uriel Weinreich, Languages in Contact. Findings and Problems, The Hague, 1967      P202.W4 1963