Students
TRAN880 – Discourse and Text Analysis for Translators and Interpreters
2015 – S1 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jing Fang
Margaret Wood
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MAdvTrans or MTransInter or PGDipTransInter or MTransInterMAppLing or MTransInterMIntRel or MTransIntStudies
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Awareness of the fundamental properties of a given text is essential for effective, professional translating and interpreting. This unit builds on and draws on principles from a range of discourse and text analysis approaches to examine the nature of text and of text analysis strategies essential to effective, professional translation and interpreting. Analytical approaches include: discourse analysis, conversation analysis, and systemic functional grammar. The goal of the unit is to promote awareness of differences between English and students' other working language, and the implications of these differences for achieving lexical, morphological, syntactical and discourse equivalence in translation and interpreting.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Engage with texts in ways that are critical to the success of translators and interpreters
- Demonstrate improved translating and interpreting skills through close analysis of discourse features of English texts and equivalent texts in LOTE
- Recognise discourse features of English and LOTE in different genres, registers and text types, and apply this knowledge to practical translating and interpreting assignments
- Communicate effectively in English and LOTE for the purposes of translation and interpreting
General Assessment Information
Assignment Submission
All assignments should be submitted via iLearn.
TRAN880 – (NAME OF ASSIGNMENT) – (YOUR NAME)
Example: TRAN880 – CLASS ASSIGNMENT 1 – WU WEI
Your assignments should be double-spaced, with your name and the subject code clearly displayed on every page as a header, and the page number as a footer.
Unless students have negotiated an extension based on documented evidence of significant disruption to their studies, a penalty of 5% per day will apply to late submission of assignments.
Unless otherwise negotiated, assignments will not be accepted at all AFTER the date on which the marked assignments are returned to all students in the unit.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1: text collection | 20% | Week 7 |
| Assignment 2: text analysis | 50% | Week 14 |
| Blog discussion | 25% | Ongoing |
| Attendance and participation | 5% | Ongoing till Week 13 |
Assignment 1: text collection
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%
6 bilingual texts and their classification based on the text typology theory introduced in Week 2.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Engage with texts in ways that are critical to the success of translators and interpreters
- Recognise discourse features of English and LOTE in different genres, registers and text types, and apply this knowledge to practical translating and interpreting assignments
Assignment 2: text analysis
Due: Week 14
Weighting: 50%
Metafunctional analysis of an English text of approx. 300-500 words.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Engage with texts in ways that are critical to the success of translators and interpreters
- Demonstrate improved translating and interpreting skills through close analysis of discourse features of English texts and equivalent texts in LOTE
- Recognise discourse features of English and LOTE in different genres, registers and text types, and apply this knowledge to practical translating and interpreting assignments
Blog discussion
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 25%
At least three contributions to the blog discussion forum at iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Engage with texts in ways that are critical to the success of translators and interpreters
- Demonstrate improved translating and interpreting skills through close analysis of discourse features of English texts and equivalent texts in LOTE
- Recognise discourse features of English and LOTE in different genres, registers and text types, and apply this knowledge to practical translating and interpreting assignments
- Communicate effectively in English and LOTE for the purposes of translation and interpreting
Attendance and participation
Due: Ongoing till Week 13
Weighting: 5%
Attendance at all lectures and tutorials and participation in class activities is compulsory.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Communicate effectively in English and LOTE for the purposes of translation and interpreting
Delivery and Resources
The learning and teaching strategies used in this Unit are thirteen lectures/workshops, individual readings by students and a number of class assignments, including take-home assignments (see below). Students in this unit are expected to participate in all thirteen lectures, read all texts marked as obligatory, and engage in additional readings and research of topics of special interest. Students will conduct independent research on selected topics and describe the results in assignments for assessment.
Prescribed texts
Baker, M., 1992, In other words: A coursebook on translation. Routledge, Oxford.
Butt, D., Fahey R., Spinks, S & Yallop, C., 2000. Using functional grammar: an explorer’s guide. Sydney: Macquarie University, NCELTR (National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research).
Halliday, M.A.K. and Matthiessen. C. 2004. An introduction to functional grammar (3rd edition). London: Arnold.
House, J. (2001): "How do we know when a translation is good?" In: E. Steiner & C. Yallop (eds.) Beyond Content: Exploring Translation and Multilingual Text Production. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
House, J. (2006), ‘Text and context in translation’, Journal of Pragmatics, vol 38, no. 3, pp. 338-358. (Available: ScienceDirect database)
Matthiessen, M. 2014. Choice in translation: metafunctional considerations. In Kunz, K. et al. (eds) Caught in the Middle –Language Use and Translation. pp.271-334. Postfach: Saarland University Press.
Steiner, E. 2002. Grammatical metaphor in translation – some methods for corpus-based investigations. In Hasselgard et al. (Hrsg.) 2002. Information Structure in a Cross-Linguistic Perspective. Amsterdam, New York: Rodopi.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Student Support
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Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Engage with texts in ways that are critical to the success of translators and interpreters
- Recognise discourse features of English and LOTE in different genres, registers and text types, and apply this knowledge to practical translating and interpreting assignments
Assessment tasks
- Assignment 1: text collection
- Assignment 2: text analysis
- Blog discussion
- Attendance and participation
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Engage with texts in ways that are critical to the success of translators and interpreters
- Demonstrate improved translating and interpreting skills through close analysis of discourse features of English texts and equivalent texts in LOTE
- Recognise discourse features of English and LOTE in different genres, registers and text types, and apply this knowledge to practical translating and interpreting assignments
Assessment tasks
- Assignment 1: text collection
- Assignment 2: text analysis
- Blog discussion
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Engage with texts in ways that are critical to the success of translators and interpreters
- Demonstrate improved translating and interpreting skills through close analysis of discourse features of English texts and equivalent texts in LOTE
- Recognise discourse features of English and LOTE in different genres, registers and text types, and apply this knowledge to practical translating and interpreting assignments
Assessment tasks
- Assignment 1: text collection
- Assignment 2: text analysis
- Blog discussion
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Engage with texts in ways that are critical to the success of translators and interpreters
- Demonstrate improved translating and interpreting skills through close analysis of discourse features of English texts and equivalent texts in LOTE
- Recognise discourse features of English and LOTE in different genres, registers and text types, and apply this knowledge to practical translating and interpreting assignments
- Communicate effectively in English and LOTE for the purposes of translation and interpreting
Assessment tasks
- Assignment 1: text collection
- Assignment 2: text analysis
- Blog discussion
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Communicate effectively in English and LOTE for the purposes of translation and interpreting
Assessment tasks
- Blog discussion
- Attendance and participation
PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Communicate effectively in English and LOTE for the purposes of translation and interpreting
Assessment tasks
- Assignment 2: text analysis
- Blog discussion
- Attendance and participation