Learning objectives
By improving their language knowledge and skills in text analysis as well as by studying the current translation theories, students will acquire advanced translation skills in the field of editorial translation from German into Italian and vice-versa. They will be able to consider texts from different perspectives, including the pragmatic one, thus developing a holistic understanding of texts as linguistic as well as socio-cultural phenomena.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of German language (at least B2).
Course unit content
Text analysis, contrastive syntax and morphology, text comprehension and interpretation, text translation, translation studies
N.B. (only for students in Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs) Please refer to the specific Syllabus published on the Elly platform in the course Deutsche Sprache. To sum up, the module concerning the Text Types is the same for all students, but the Translation module is replaced by a blended learning path on Intercultural Communication in German teaching for students in Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs.
Full programme
Both modules of the course include a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical part consists in the basics and analytical instruments supplied by text linguistics and translation studies, with particular regard to texts and translations for publishing purposes. The second part, which cannot be separated chronologically from the first, aims at putting into practice the acquired knowledge and working methods, through several examples and exercises which will show a wide variety of texts. These case studies will go through the whole translation process, from the comprehension and interpretation of the source text to the final revision.
Non-attending students are requested to contact the teachers in due advance by e-mail or at office hours for counseling.
Bibliography
Blühdorn, Hardarik & Foschi Albert, Marina (2012), Leseverstehen für Deutsch als Fremdsprache: ein Lehrbuch für die Lehrerausbildung, Pisa: Pisa University Press. ISBN: 9788867410477
Moraldo, Sandro M. (Hrsg) (2009), Internet.kom. Neue Sprach- und Kommunikationsformen im Worldwideweb, Bd. 1: Kommunikationsplattformen, Aracne. ISBN: 9788854829190 (un capitolo a scelta)
Nord, Christiane (2009), Textanalyse und Übersetzen. Theoretische Grundlagen, Methode und didaktische Anwendung einer übersetzungsrelevanten Textanalyse, Tübingen: Julius Groos Verlag. ISBN: 9783872768681 (only for LM 37 students)
Ulrike A. Kaunzner (Hrsg.) (2008), Der Fall der Kulturmauer. Wie kann Sprachunterricht interkulturell sein?, Münster: Waxmann. ISBN: 9783830918233 (only for students in Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs)
Teaching methods
- lecture with students’ active participation
- individual training + training in small groups
- analysis of case studies
The texts analyzed and translated together will help students to develop a method to be applied autonomously to other texts and situations that they will analyze in depth on their own.
The lectures will be held in German.
Assessment methods and criteria
The examination is passed when both modules have been tested. Such tests are as follows:
1) text typologies: final oral examination (20-30 minutes) consisting of two parts: a general question on the basics of text linguistics; a specific question on one of the text typologies analyzed in the book edited by Moraldo (text typology chosen by the student and presented through a case study on an authentic text, which shall be sent by e-mail to the teacher at least one week before the oral examination).
2) translation: written homework consisting in the commented translation (German-Italian) of a text chosen by the student (to be sent by e-mail).
The language of the tests, including the written homework, is German, with the only exceptions of the translation into Italian.
Each teacher tests his/her own module and the final mark is the average of the partial marks. Students can make the single examinations in the order they want.
Based on these premises, the evaluation will be carried out according to the following criteria:
A negative assessment will be given if the student is unable to attain the minimum requirements of the course. Sufficient evaluation (18-23/30) is determined by the demonstration by the student to have learned the basic and minimum contents of the course. The mean scores (24-27/30) are assigned to the student who produces evidence of a level more than sufficient (24-25/30) or good (26-27/30) in the indicators listed above. Higher scores (from 28/30 to 30/30 cum laude) are awarded based on the demonstration of a level from very good to excellent in the knowledge of contents, the ability to re-elaborate them individually and the mastery of the specific lexicon of text linguistics and translation studies.
Other information
Knowledge and understanding: students will be able to distinguish various text typologies and evaluate their cultural specificity, even in comparison to each other. They will also learn the basics of the current translation theories, with particular regard to editorial translation.
Applying knowledge and understanding: students will be able to analyze complex texts under different perspectives and translate them in a pragmatically adequate manner, based on the destination of the target texts.
Making judgements: students will be able to critically discuss others’ and their own translation choices, selecting the best one for their situational context.
Communication skills: capacity to communicate fluently in oral and written German, effectively supporting their points of view with good argumentation and using the appropriate terminology of text linguistics and translation studies.
Learning skills: through self-reflection, students learn how to autonomously improve more and more their language and translation skills, even finding new paper and digital resources independently identified.
