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PL52139: German / English public service and commercial interpreting

[Page last updated: 16 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Credits: 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 100
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CWOA 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Public Service and Commercial Interpreting (German) (CWOA 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, you will be able to demonstrate:
  • that you have assimilated the professional skills and techniques of public service and commercial liaison interpreting by acting as an intermediary in a dialogue lasting around 15 minutes in a police, court or commercial situation
  • that you have the requisite specialised knowledge to understand the context in which you are interpreting and explain cultural differences as required
  • that you can communicate clearly and concisely in idiomatic English and German using correct terminology
  • that you can research topic areas and build glossaries of relevant terminology
  • that you have gained an understanding of the role of professional interpreters and how they interact with both speakers and end-users



Synopsis: Learn the skills and techniques required to work as an interpreter in police, court and commercial contexts. You'll work in both directions between the languages. Through role-play scenarios in the interpreting suite and TV Studio, you'll develop the skills of short consecutive and whispered simultaneous interpreting, as well as sight translation, enabling you to act as an effective intermediary in sophisticated dialogues. This is also an opportunity to develop your active German.

Content: The unit seeks to develop students' techniques, confidence and ability to deal with a range of realistic work situations, including in commercial, police and family law contexts. Techniques are taught through role-play scenarios, with students taking turns to interpret between two live speakers. Initial sessions focus on interpreting short utterances consecutively in both directions. Whispered simultaneous interpreting and sight translation into German are introduced in subsequent weeks, while the consecutive utterances become longer, requiring support from notes. Students are also taught how to carry out background research and prepare for assignments. A significant amount of legal terminology must be committed to memory. Students are also provided with practice materials to use for individual and group practice. All students taking this unit may benefit from a preliminary introductory session on PSCI, and TPLS students may receive an introductory session on consecutive note-taking and simultaneous interpreting. Towards the end of the semester, students may have the opportunity to take part in a mock trial. Individual, formative feedback is provided to each student in class at least once every two weeks, fostering continuous progress. In addition, one formative assessment (mock exam) is held around Week 30. Summative assessment consists of the interpretation from German into English and from English into German of an approximately 15-minute dialogue in a specialised commercial or legal situation. The dialogue incorporates shorter and longer utterances, whispered simultaneous interpretation into German, and sight translation into German. This final examination is held in the TV Studio and the format reflects that of professional accreditation tests. Students on the MA Interpreting and Translating (European) course who achieve at least 50% in their final PSCI examination may apply to register with the NRPSI.

Course availability:

PL52139 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM48 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills - German

PL52139 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM45 : MA Interpreting and Translating - French and German
  • THPL-AFM45 : MA Interpreting and Translating - German and Spanish
  • THPL-AFM45 : MA Interpreting and Translating - Italian and German
  • THPL-AFM45 : MA Interpreting and Translating - Russian and German
  • THPL-AFM48 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills - French and German
  • THPL-AFM48 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills - German and Spanish
  • THPL-AFM48 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills - Italian and German
  • THPL-AFM48 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills - Russian and German

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.