Translation and Discourse - English

obligatory courses

Completion of the following courses: KKK in semester 1.

Competence in Polish (i.e., language A) – C2 level; competence in the foreign (B) language – at least C1 level.

Classroom

The aim of the course is to help students acquire – for translation purposes and by means of translational and analytical exercises – basic skills, routines, and knowledge in the field of discourse analysis and as regards linguistic, pragmatic and cultural factors which influence discourse.

Direction of translation: B–A.

Course coverage:

pre-translation analysis (comprehension and deverbalisation) for: logic, structure, language, factual contents, vocabulary and stylistic aspects, rhetorical effects, pragmatics, cultural dimension, and the connection thereof with the strategies and techniques chosen for translation; basic text types

Individually and in groups, students analyse the text to be translated from the foreign language into Polish; in accordance with the results of the analysis they draft a translation (which is then discussed in class). They also do other exercises aimed at developing analytical and translational competences.

Translation and Discourse: workshops, 30 hrs. Kierunek tłumaczenia: Direction of translation: B–A.

Student’s time investment:

30 class hours

30 hrs for individual preparation

In sum: 60 hrs, corresponding to 2 ECTS

The aim of the course is to help students acquire essential skills in the analysis of discursive features of a text for the sake of translating non-specialist texts.

COURSE CONTENTS:

1. The stages of translation, with a special focus on the comprehension of the source text and its deverbalisation;

2. Analysing the source text for (among others):

- logic

- structure

- vocabulary

- grammar

- stylistic aspects

- rhetorical effects

- factual content

- cultural dimension

- pragmatics

- intertextuality;

2. Methods of conducting texts analyses for translational purposes; sources and methods of research.

3. Selecting a strategy and techniques so as to render adequately the characteristics of the original and so as to make the target text pragmatically suited to the needs and expectations of the target recipient.

4. Types and varieties of texts. Identifying register, style and its markers, as well as methods of rendering thereof in translation. Recognising unequal importance of various elements of the text from translational perspective and being able to prioritise.

5. Analysis of keywords with the view to establishing a translational dominant and to selecting techniques that accommodate the given dominant.

FORMS OF WORK:

Analyses of the source text (identifying the aim, the recipient and the function of a source text); comparative analyses of a translation and the original; analysing mistakes in original texts and in translations; working with varied types of sources; exercises leading to formulating an adequate rendition; preparing analyses at home and discussing the findings in class; preparing brief translation drafts in class.

METHODS OF WORK:

Discussion, group work, individual work, presentations, project work, etc.

SUBJECT MATTER AND TYPES OF ANALYSED TEXTS:

Non-specialist texts on various topics, maximally varied in forms and functions: guides, brochures, websites, advertisements, press texts, leaflets, reviews, opinion journalism, speeches, interviews, etc.

CREDIT REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance and satisfactory performance in class, systematic and timely preparation of homework analyses and translation exercises; conscientious work in class, including involvement in analytical and/or translation tasks; satisfactory performance at mid-semester control tests and the final test.

Specified individually by particular teachers.

KNOWLEDGE:

On completing the course the student

- knows basic terminology concerning text analysis, types of translation, translation theory, translation techniques and strategies;

- knows and understands the interrelations between translation studies and discourse analysis;

- has acquired a certain knowledge of methods and applications of discourse analysis for translation purposes;

- has a general understanding of linguistic and cultural differences and of the social-economic realities of the country/-ies of language A and language B

- is aware of basic types of translation, has a certain knowledge of translation (written intercultural mediation) as a process; knows and recognises the role of the translator in an act of communication.

SKILLS:

- The student is able to conduct an analysis of a source text from varied perspectives and to indicate crucial translation problems;

- can determine the recipient of a translation and apply translation techniques adequate to the recipient’s needs and to the requirements of the client;

- is able to critically analyse texts as cultural products;

- is able to recognise and interpret culture-bound items and social-historical references present in a text;

- can effectively apply the knowledge and methods of discourse analysis for the sake of pre-translation analysis and translation;

- is able to search out, analyse, assess and select authentic texts in the foreign language

- is able to reason and to formulate and express orally his or her own conclusions.

SOCIAL COMPETENCE

- The student allows for cultural differences as a factor in a translator’s work,

- has grown accustomed to identifying and solving the dilemmas of interlingual communication which are caused by the asymmetries between language systems and by cultural differences;

- is able to critically asses his or her own translation skills;

- takes note of special communication needs of persons with disabilities;

- observes ethical standards in his or her behaviour.

Credit is given on basis of: grades for particular assignments; continuous assessment (on basis of attendance, preparedness for the classes, participation in the discussions, individually done translation work, mid-term written tests, final test, end-of-term translation assignment). Each requirement, if assigned, must be fulfilled independently, hence their share in the final mark is not determined.

The criteria of grading written assignments:

99% – 100 – 5!

98% – 91% – 5

90% – 86% – 4,5

85% – 76% – 4

75% – 71% – 3,5

70% – 60% – 3

below this level – 2 (unsatisfactory).

Two absences are allowed. (If the limit is exceeded, the student should ask the teacher for compensation assignments; if the number of absences exceeds 50%, the student fails the course in accordance with the Rules of Study)