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Unit information: Applied Translation (Mandarin) in 2021/22

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Applied Translation (Mandarin)
Unit code MODLM0007
Credit points 20
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director Mr. Paul Golf
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

None.

School/department School of Modern Languages
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The aim of the unit is to prepare students who already have fluent/native or degree-level knowledge of Mandarin to become reflective practitioners of translation into and from English, and to develop increasingly sophisticated strategies to that end. The emphasis is less on further rule-based foreign-language acquisition than on building critical appreciation and evaluation of contextually and functionally appropriate translation of a range of source texts. Students will increase their overall competence as translators both through regular and varied translation assignments, and through formal reflection on their own practice and that of others in the group.

A programme of applied translation between Mandarin and English in a broad range of text types. Students will be required to submit annotated translations and to participate in group discussion and feedback. In so doing, they will be expected to evaluate the nature of the source text and its anticipated readership and to consider different translation strategies and solutions, drawing on experience gained also in the unit on Theories of Translation. They will develop their competence in editing and revising translated texts.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course students will have developed their ability to:

  1. apply previous linguistic knowledge and their study of translation theory to enhance their ability to reflect critically on the practice of translation
  2. evaluate critically and apply a range of translation strategies,
  3. research the linguistic and cultural context of source texts
  4. reflect upon and apply this contextual knowledge in the practice of translation;
  5. translate to a variety of task-specific briefs, working quickly but accurately to a series of submission deadlines;
  6. format and present their assessed submissions to professional standards;
  7. participate in informed and structured discussion of the above with other students and tutors, evaluating their own practice and that of their peers in accordance with ethical guidelines

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered online through a combination of synchronous sessions and asynchronous activities, including seminars, lectures, and collaborative as well as self-directed learning opportunities supported by tutor consultation.

Assessment Information

a) 40%: One 800-word annotated translation from Chinese into English, accompanied by a 700-800 word commentary and annotations (translation 60%, commentary 40% of each assignment) – reflecting ILOs 1-7

b) 40%: One 800-word annotated translation from English into Chinese, accompanied by a 700-800 word commentary and annotations (translation 60%, commentary 40% of each assignment) – reflecting ILOs 1-7

c) 20%: One 1500-word reflective report. This is a concise report reflecting on the student’s overall learning, their evaluation of their skills, and reflection on the previous two assessments – reflecting ILOs 1,2,4,6,7.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MODLM0007).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

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