Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module MELA3111: TRANSLATION THEORY

Department: MODERN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

MELA3111: TRANSLATION THEORY

Type Open Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2005/06 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Any two Level 1 modules in Linguistics.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • Students may only take up to two Translation modules in MLAC, selected from Translation Theory (MELA3111), Spanish Translation (SPAN3131) and French Translation (FREN3051).

Aims

  • To examine various theories of translation and issues in translating, including text type, target audience, general v language-specific considerations.

Content

  • Topic 1: Translation considerations: text type, audience, language, context.
  • Topic 2: Translation studies/translation theories.
  • Topic 3: The science of translation.
  • Topic 4: Translation and linguistics.
  • Topic 5: Translation and linguistic relativism.
  • Topic 6: The translation process.
  • Topic 7: Other issues.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • At the end of the module the student should be able to demonstrate:
  • knowledge and critical understanding of the factors at play in translation, such as source and target language, text type, target audience, and general and language-specific considerations,
  • an awareness of how they themselves approach the task of translating,
  • understanding of what it means to read a text which has been translated.
Subject-specific Skills:
    Key Skills:

      Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

      • The course is taught through lectures which introduce the key areas of translation theory and provide a focus for the reading
      • The lectures are supplemented by seminars during the year. The seminars enable the students to discuss theoretical and practical issues relating to translation, and to prepare essays

      Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

      Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
      Lectures 22 Weekly 1 hour 22
      Seminars 5 1 hour 5
      Preparation and reading 173
      Total SLAT hours 200

      Summative Assessment

      Component: Essay Component Weighting: 100%
      Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
      Assignment 1 2500 words 50%
      Assignment 2 2500 words 50%

      Formative Assessment:

      Short written summaries of readings set for each lecture

      ■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University