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PL52126: Chinese/English translation

[Page last updated: 01 October 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Credits: 15 [equivalent to 30 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 300
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CWSI 80%, EXOB 20%
Assessment Detail:
  • English<>Chinese translation coursework 1 (CWSI 10%)
  • English<>Chinese translation coursework 2 (CWSI 10%)
  • English<>Chinese translation coursework 3 (CWSI 10%)
  • English<>Chinese translation project (CWSI 20%)
  • English<>Chinese translation coursework 4 (CWSI 10%)
  • English<>Chinese translation coursework 5 (CWSI 10%)
  • English<>Chinese translation coursework 6 (CWSI 10%)
  • English<>Chinese translation examination (EXOB 20%)
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 skills and techniques required of a professional translator
  • that you have a critical insight into the problems arising in a translation process and are able to tackle a wide range of translation assignments with confidence
  • that you have gained a comprehensive understanding of the role of translators and are familiar with advanced concepts in translation theory.



Synopsis: Familiarise yourself with the principles, skills and techniques of translation between English and Chinese. You'll approach translation practice from theoretical and applied perspectives, working with materials of an increasingly challenging nature. These will be selected with the specific needs of the Chinese-English translation market in mind, seeking to strike a balance between business, scientific, political, social, economic and literary texts and requiring you to work in both directions

Content: This unit adopts a practical approach to translation, using graduated materials presenting a range of translation challenges. These will be selected with the specific needs of translators working in the Chinese/English language pair in mind. Seminars will focus on the analysis of a range of varied translation text types, addressing the differing theoretical issues raised and considering strategic, practical approaches to resolving difficulties. You will complete two formative assessments in October, one from English to Chinese and one from Chinese to English, followed by eight assessed translations throughout the year. To simulate different real-world scenarios, six assignments will take the form of take-home translations to be completed within three days, while in January you will complete a longer translation project and in May a timed open-book examination.

Course availability:

PL52126 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies

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.