Students
TRAN894 – Legal Translation and Interpreting
2014 – S2 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Yan Qian
Della Goswell
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
TRAN820 or TRAN822
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
The aim of this unit is to provide translation and interpreting students with the opportunity to discuss and practice advanced translation and interpreting skills in the specialist area of law. Students will analyse the complex linguistic, cultural and ethical challenges of translating legal documents and interpreting in Australian legal settings. Students will explore the theoretical foundations of legal practice, legal terminology and discourse, and the roles of key participants. Applied aspects of this unit focus on the development of preparation techniques and interpreting strategies for police and solicitor interviews, court and other legal settings; and on the translation of various legal documents, including legal correspondence, application forms, and legal papers. The unit delivery will include a mix of combined and language-specific sessions.
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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:
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the Australian legal system in an international context.
- Explain the roles of various participants in criminal and civil legal processes
- Discuss the linguistic, cultural and ethical issues faced by translators and interpreters working in legal contexts
- Identify appropriate translation and interpreting techniques to be used with legal texts or in legal contexts
- Practice the development of legal translation and interpreting skills in both language directions
- Apply discourse analysis to legal translations and interpretations
- Reflect on and evaluate the legal translating and interpreting process
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI assisted? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal T&I Context - Quiz | 10% | week 5 | No | ||
| Court observation report | 10% | week 7 | No | ||
| Translation tasks | 40% | ongoing | No | ||
| Legal interpretation | 20% | week 6 or week 8 | No | ||
| Interpreting self-assessment | 20% | week 13 | No |
Legal T&I Context - Quiz
Due: week 5
Weighting: 10%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:
Review of Australian Legal T&I context.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the Australian legal system in an international context.
- Explain the roles of various participants in criminal and civil legal processes
Court observation report
Due: week 7
Weighting: 10%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:
Observation and written report of a civil or criminal case in a Sydney courtroom.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Explain the roles of various participants in criminal and civil legal processes
- Discuss the linguistic, cultural and ethical issues faced by translators and interpreters working in legal contexts
- Identify appropriate translation and interpreting techniques to be used with legal texts or in legal contexts
- Reflect on and evaluate the legal translating and interpreting process
Translation tasks
Due: ongoing
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:
3 translation tasks related to the Legal setting. 2 tasks from English into LOTE (300-500 words) and 1 task from LOTE into English (800-1000 words).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Discuss the linguistic, cultural and ethical issues faced by translators and interpreters working in legal contexts
- Identify appropriate translation and interpreting techniques to be used with legal texts or in legal contexts
- Practice the development of legal translation and interpreting skills in both language directions
Legal interpretation
Due: week 6 or week 8
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:
Interpretation of a legal consultation or court hearing. Role play scenarios with industry professionals and LOTE clients.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Explain the roles of various participants in criminal and civil legal processes
- Identify appropriate translation and interpreting techniques to be used with legal texts or in legal contexts
- Practice the development of legal translation and interpreting skills in both language directions
- Apply discourse analysis to legal translations and interpretations
Interpreting self-assessment
Due: week 13
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:
Analysis of filmed legal interpretation (from role play session) - discussing decisions made at the time, improvements for future practice, linked to relevant literature.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the Australian legal system in an international context.
- Discuss the linguistic, cultural and ethical issues faced by translators and interpreters working in legal contexts
- Identify appropriate translation and interpreting techniques to be used with legal texts or in legal contexts
- Apply discourse analysis to legal translations and interpretations
- Reflect on and evaluate the legal translating and interpreting process
Delivery and Resources
The unit is delivered via combined weekly lectures/tutorials, as well as role-play sessions on two weekend dates (to be confirmed at the start of semester). The TRAN 886 iLearn website also provides unit information and tasks to support the unit learning. The readings for this unit will be available from the TRAN 886 iLearn website and/or the library’s e-Reserve system.
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/
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
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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.
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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 - 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
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the Australian legal system in an international context.
- Explain the roles of various participants in criminal and civil legal processes
- Identify appropriate translation and interpreting techniques to be used with legal texts or in legal contexts
- Practice the development of legal translation and interpreting skills in both language directions
- Apply discourse analysis to legal translations and interpretations
Assessment tasks
- Legal T&I Context - Quiz
- Translation tasks
- Legal interpretation
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
- Discuss the linguistic, cultural and ethical issues faced by translators and interpreters working in legal contexts
- Apply discourse analysis to legal translations and interpretations
- Reflect on and evaluate the legal translating and interpreting process
Assessment tasks
- Court observation report
- Interpreting self-assessment
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 outcome
- Identify appropriate translation and interpreting techniques to be used with legal texts or in legal contexts
Assessment tasks
- Translation tasks
- Interpreting self-assessment
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 outcomes
- Explain the roles of various participants in criminal and civil legal processes
- Discuss the linguistic, cultural and ethical issues faced by translators and interpreters working in legal contexts
- Identify appropriate translation and interpreting techniques to be used with legal texts or in legal contexts
- Practice the development of legal translation and interpreting skills in both language directions
- Apply discourse analysis to legal translations and interpretations
- Reflect on and evaluate the legal translating and interpreting process
Assessment tasks
- Court observation report
- Translation tasks
- Legal interpretation
- Interpreting self-assessment
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 outcomes
- Discuss the linguistic, cultural and ethical issues faced by translators and interpreters working in legal contexts
- Reflect on and evaluate the legal translating and interpreting process
Assessment task
- Legal interpretation
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
- Discuss the linguistic, cultural and ethical issues faced by translators and interpreters working in legal contexts
- Identify appropriate translation and interpreting techniques to be used with legal texts or in legal contexts
- Practice the development of legal translation and interpreting skills in both language directions
- Reflect on and evaluate the legal translating and interpreting process
Assessment tasks
- Court observation report
- Translation tasks
- Legal interpretation