TRANSLATION TECHNOLOGIES - 2020/1

Module code: TRAM428

Module Overview

This module is an introduction to the theoretical principles and practical implications of translating in the 21st century. It addresses the impact of technology upon translation process and product. Working hands-on in a computer lab, students will learn how to use translation-memory and terminology-management systems, and also to work with post-editing machine translation output.

 

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

DO CARMO Felix (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 120

Lecture Hours: 22

Tutorial Hours: 8

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

 Indicative content includes:


  • Translating in the 21st Century: new tools and resources

  • Translation-memory systems and hands-on practice

  • Machine translation and post-editing

  • Terminology, terminology-management tools and hands-on practice

  • Text alignment


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
School-timetabled exam/test 90-MINUTE CLASS TEST 30
Coursework 1500-WORD ESSAY 70

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that they understand the main issues involved in the use of translation technology and are able to use computer-assisted translation tools in their professional lives.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

·         An short-answer class test (30%)

·         A 1500-word essay based on a practical translation technology task. (70%)

All assignments are to be completed individually

Formative assessment and feedback

The students will receive continual informal verbal feedback during the hands-on sessions as well as formal written feedback on their tests and essays.

Module aims

  • Enable students to describe and discuss how technology impacts present-day translation process and product, from the use of electronic files instead of paper to the wide range of ICT tools available for translators today;
  • Enable students to explain machine translation, translation-memory and terminology-management systems and what their advantages and disadvantages are;
  • Enable students to explain machine translation, translation-memory and terminology-management systems and what their advantages and disadvantages are;

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Appreciate how technology can impact translation process and product; KCT
2 Discern when and how to use technology in translation; CP
3 Appreciate the importance of file management and manage files and backups professionally;) PT
4 Recognize the principles of machine translation and the advantages and disadvantages of using it as an aid to human translation; ) KCP
5 Explain terminology, employ terminology tools and store and retrieve terms in terminology-management systems; KCP
6 Create translation memories and use translation-memory systems with different types of text and different file formats; P
7 Populate a translation memory with translations produced outside a translation-memory system; P
8 Practise translation in a computer-assisted translation environment P

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Provide students with a good understanding of, and an opportunity to practice using, translation technology. This is in line with the MA in Translation’s overall aims of combining the study of the major principles of, and scholarly approaches to, Translation with opportunities for application and practice.

The learning and teaching methods include:


  • Lectures will be interspersed with hands-on activities in class and opportunities for group and whole class discussions (22 hours)

  • Contact hours will be complemented with materials and activities for guided study posted on SurreyLearn (8 hours)

  • Self-study: reading and practising using translation technologies outside the classroom (120 hours)



 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: TRAM428

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Translation and Interpreting Studies MRes 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Translation MA 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Translation and Interpreting MA 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.