Students

TRAN8070 – Introduction to Translation and Interpreting

2024 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Marc Orlando
Lecturer
Jan-Louis Kruger
Lecturer
Jing Fang
Lecturer
Della Goswell
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MTransInter or MTransInterMIntRel or MTransInterMAppLingTESOL or MAdvTransInterStud or MTransInter(Adv) or GradDipTransInter or GradCertCommInter or MConfInt or MAccComm
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

In this unit, you will be presented with various aspects of translation and interpreting theories and their application to translation and interpreting practice. Theories relevant to translation practice are discussed, focusing on linguistic theories, functionalist theories, and discourse-based approaches. The overview of interpreting theory covers equivalence, comprehension, issues relating to language proficiency, and interpreting processes in diverse modes. The various approaches adopted in the unit aim to broaden your perspectives on translation and interpreting and inform your studies.

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:

  • ULO1: Describe and discuss the nature and role of theory.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate familiarity with a range of theories relevant to translation and interpreting.
  • ULO3: Discuss and explain the relevance of translation and interpreting theories.
  • ULO4: Apply theoretical knowledge to translation and interpreting tasks.
  • ULO5: Explain theoretical concepts both orally and in writing to a variety of audiences.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Action research project 50% No Week 7
Problem-solving task 50% No Week 13

Action research project

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 50%

 

Students are required to identify a problem in their T&I practice, devise and implement a strategy based on theories studied, monitor and report on progress. Students are required to submit the assignment in a multimedia video format (6-8 minutes).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and discuss the nature and role of theory.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with a range of theories relevant to translation and interpreting.
  • Discuss and explain the relevance of translation and interpreting theories.
  • Apply theoretical knowledge to translation and interpreting tasks.
  • Explain theoretical concepts both orally and in writing to a variety of audiences.

Problem-solving task

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 50%

 

Students are required to apply 1 or more theories to a practical translation task in an essay format. The word length for the essay assessment is approximately 2,000 words.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and discuss the nature and role of theory.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with a range of theories relevant to translation and interpreting.
  • Discuss and explain the relevance of translation and interpreting theories.
  • Apply theoretical knowledge to translation and interpreting tasks.
  • Explain theoretical concepts both orally and in writing to a variety of audiences.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of learning activities. Classes in the Translation and Interpreting Program will be delivered in a blended mode. Students will cover weekly pre-recorded lectures made available on iLearn and will attend a tutorial/workshop where activities will allow them how to discuss and apply the concepts dealt with in the lecture to their translation and interpreting practice. Attendance and active participation in the tutorial/workshop are expected. Recommended Readings Munday, Jeremy (2022): Introducing Translation Studies (5th edition), Routledge (New York/London) Pöchhacker, Franz (2022): Introducing Interpreting Studies (3rd edition), Routledge (New York,London). Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library

Unit Schedule

Tutorial: Wednesday 4-5.30pm – Room 08SCO 112

 

 

Week/date

 

Lecture Topic

 

Lecturer

 

1 (21/02)

Introduction to T&I Studies

T&I in the 21st century: Practice, Research, Training

Prof Marc Orlando

2 (28/02)

Early translation theories and approaches

 

Prof Jan-Louis Kruger

3 (06/03)

Product and process: T&I and cognition

Prof Jan-Louis Kruger

4 (13/03)

 

Functional Theories

Dr Jing Fang

5 (20/03)

Discourse and register analysis

 

Dr Jing Fang

6 (27/03)

Main theoretical concepts, models, and paradigms in Interpreting Studies

 

Prof Marc Orlando

7 (03/04)

The Interpretive Theory of Translation (Théorie du sens)

 

Prof Marc Orlando

8 (10/04)

 

Discourse in Interaction

 

Ms Della Goswell

9 (01/05)

Systems theories

 

Dr Jing Fang

10 (08/05)

Cultural and ideological turns

 

Dr Jing Fang

11 (15/05)

Sociological approaches

 

Dr Jing Fang

12 (22/05)

New directions in T&I Studies

 

Dr Jing Fang

13 (29/05)

Wrap-up and future work

Prof Jan-Louis Kruger - Prof Marc Orlando

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

Social Inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

PROFESSIONALISM

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, and in the Department of Linguistics, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses. As part of developing professionalism, students enrolled in the Translation and Interpreting program are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including tutorials, workshops, practical and teambased learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session. Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.


Unit information based on version 2024.03 of the Handbook