University of Surrey - Guildford
Registry
  
 

  
 
Registry > Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE
View Module List by A.O.U. and Level  Alphabetical Module Code List  Alphabetical Module Title List  Alphabetical Old Short Name List  View Menu 
2011/2 Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 Module Code: TRA2050 Module Title: TRANSLATION QUALITY ASSURANCE
Module Provider: Language & Translation Studies Short Name: TRA2050
Level: HE2 Module Co-ordinator: ASIMAKOULAS D Dr (Lang & Trans)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Availability
Semester 2
Assessment Pattern
Unit(s) of Assessment (SITS MAB)
Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)
In-class presentation
Text-based task (1,500 words)
50%
Qualifying Condition(s) 
A weighted aggregate of 40% is required to pass the module.
Module Overview
This module constitutes an introduction to practical issues of quality in translation. This is combined with relevant theorising on this issue and discussion of the necessary measures that a professional translator, or translation organisation need to take in order to minimise quality problems in every stage of the translation process.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
Successful completion of HE1 or equivalent.
Module Aims
This module is designed to offer students an overview of the practical issues pertaining to translation assessment and of attitudes to translation quality both in the field of translation studies and in the industry in general. The module is suitable for students with different linguistic backgrounds who wish to enter the translation/publishing industry.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
  • understand of the relativity of pronouncements on translation assessment/quality or of the way in which such notions transpire in different contexts, both academic and professional
  • understand and carry out different tasks associated with translation quality assurance in the translation/publishing industry (as simulated in class and in the assignment)
  • effective use of/develop relevant conceptual tools that will be transferable to other modules in their course
  • use professional revision and problem-solving techniques which will be useful for their future employment in the translation world.
Module Content
Introduction to the main concepts pertaining to translation analysis, evaluation, revision and quality assessment
  • Practice in applying these concepts to their respective source text-target text language pairs as well as to target texts in English (also a simulation of monolingual quality assessment and an exercise in isolating features of ‘translationese’)
  • Exploration of the roles/responsibilities of the commissioning body/organisation, editors, revisers and translators
  • Simulation of relevant contexts and practice in problem-solving skills
  • Practical revision and editing exercises
Methods of Teaching/Learning
2 hours per week for 1 semester. Interactive language seminars (in English) including student presentations and practical tasks; lesson materials will focus on translating into or from English, so they will be accessible to students of varied language backgrounds.
Selected Texts/Journals
Passages for analysis and relevant case-studies of quality in translation are provided by the lecturer.
 
Essential Reading:
Mossop, B. (2007) Revising and Editing for Translators. Manchester: St Jerome Publishing.
House, J. (1997) Translation Quality Assessment. A Model Revisited, Tübingen: Gunter Narr Verlag.
 
Recommended Reading:
Austermühl, F. (2001) Electronic Tools for Translation, Manchester: St Jerome Publishing.
Maier, C. (ed.) (2000) “Evaluation and Translation” Special Issue of The Translator 6(2).
Nord, C. (1991) Text Analysis in Translation, Amsterdam & Atlanta: Rodopi.
 
Background Reading:
Butcher, Judith (1992) Copy-Editing: the Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Authors and Publishers. Cambridge: C.U.P.
Einsohn, Amy (2000) The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, With Exercises and Answer Keys, Berkeley: University of California Press. 
European Commission (2008) Translation and Drafting Aids in the European Union Languages. European Commission. [last accessed 13 Jan 2010]
European Commission (2008) English Style Guide. A Handbook for Authors and Translators in the European Commission. Directorate-General for Translation. [last accessed 13 Jan 2010] <http://ec.europa.eu/translation/writing/style_guides/english/style_guide_en.pdf>
Modern Humanities Research Association (2008) MHRH Style Guide for Authors, Editors and Writers of Theses. [last accessed 13 Jan 2010]
Samuelsson-Brown, G. (2004) A Practical Guide for Translators. Fourth Edition. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
The Chicago Manual of Style [15th edition] (2003). Chicago: Chicago University Press.
Last Updated
7.4.11