Year
2020
Units
4.5
Contact
1 x 2-hour lecture weekly
Prerequisites
SPAN3201 - Upper Intermediate Spanish Part 1
Enrolment not permitted
1 of LING3107, LING3502, LING3502A, SPAN3402, SPAN7412 has been successfully completed
Assumed knowledge
Students who have completed SPAN3402 should consult the topic coordinator before enrolling
Topic description
This topic provides an introduction to the theory and practice of translation for students who have no experience of translation. It involves the translation of texts in various styles, including journalism, advertising and public notices, from Spanish into English and from English into Spanish. At a theoretical level, the topic introduces the fundamental issues involved in translation and the problems raised by the translation of various genres of writing. It also aims to introduce students to strategies to resolve difficulties in the areas of vocabulary, idioms, cultural equivalence, and syntax. Teaching will be based on lectures and, above all on tutorials, in which students are expected to participate actively by discussing problems encountered in their translation assignments and their application of strategies to resolve them.
Educational aims
This topic aims to:

  • introduce students to some of the theoretical issues and problems involved in translation

  • introduce students to some of the most common strategies in the practice of translation

  • give students the opportunity to translate texts from Spanish to English in different written styles, e.g., journalism, advertising, and public notices. Students will also be able to translate texts from English to Spanish in a similar variety of styles

  • develop further students' comprehension of written Spanish and English at an advanced level in the context of translation

  • develop further students' ability to write in English and Spanish at an advanced level in the context of translation
Expected learning outcomes
On completing this topic, students will be able to:

  • demonstrate an understanding of the issues and problems involved in translation and be able to discuss and justify their choices with reference to the relevant theoretical concepts taught in the course

  • apply some of the most common translation strategies appropriately

  • translate different types of texts from Spanish to English and, where applicable, from English to Spanish

  • demonstrate an understanding of written Spanish and English at an advanced level

  • write in English and Spanish at an advanced level