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Module Catalogue
 Module Code: TRAM064  Module Title: INTERPRETING STUDIES
Module Provider: Language & Translation Studies Short Name: TRAM064 Previous Short Name:
Level: M Module Co-ordinator: BRAUN S Dr (Lang & Trans)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Availability
Autumn semester
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment
Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)
One 4000 - 5000 word essay
100%

Qualifying Condition(s): A mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Module Overview
The module provides a systematic framework for understanding the major principles and challenges of interpreting, the role of the interpreter and the nature of comprehension, decision-making and production processes involved in interpreting. It enables students to apply this framework to practical interpreting tasks.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
First degree in English, an appropriate language or equivalent.
Module Aims
Drawing on relevant models of monolingual and mediated communication, this module helps students to develop an understanding of the fundamental characteristics of interpreting and the interpreter's role in the communication process. The module raises awareness for typical problems of interpreting, and for relevant interpreting strategies and solutions. Particular emphasis will be on the application of the communication models discussed in class to analyse practical scenarios of interpreting.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module students will:
  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of the fundamental characteristics of interpreting,
  • demonstrate a sound knowledge of communication models relevant to interpreting,
  • demonstrate a good understanding of the different types and modes of interpreting, their main features and purposes, specific problems and typical interpreting solutions,
  • be able to use scholarly approaches and communication models to reflect on their own practice,
  • be able to apply scholarly approaches to analyse and critically evaluate standard professional practice in the light of current and future requirements,
  • demonstrate a broad understanding of the current and future challenges of interpreting.
Module Content
Starting from a preliminary analysis of typical situations of interpreting practice, the module will deal with the following topics:
  • Interpreting and translating as related types of linguistic and cultural mediation;
  • For whom do we interpret: participation frameworks and participant roles in interpreter-mediated communication, the role of the interpreter;
  • How do we interpret: modes of interpreting – consecutive, simultaneous/whispered and liaison;
  • Where do we interpret: types of interpreting – conference interpreting; public service interpreting, business interpreting etc.;
  • What do we interpret: characteristics of oral communication and features of spoken language;
  • The pragmatic dimension: conversational interaction, communicative intentions, speech acts and audience design;
  • The processing dimension: discourse comprehension and production under interpreting conditions; types of knowledge involved in interpreting;
  • The strategic dimension: interpreting strategies in relation to different modes of interpreting;
  • The socio-cultural dimension: explicit and implicit, direct and indirect communication, politeness and face-saving in intercultural settings;
  • The impact of globalisation and social change: current trends and future prospects of interpreting (interpreting and English as a global language; public service interpreting);
  • The impact of new technologies: new forms of interpreting ('remote interpreting');
  • Interpreting research: questions, methodologies, types of data, elicitation and analysis of data.
Methods of Teaching/Learning
This module will consist of a mix of approx 30% teacher-led input and 70% whole-class and small-group discussion, focussing on discussion of assigned topics, tasks and readings. Through task-based group and individual activities students will be given the opportunity to explore and apply the concepts introduced in the module.
 
The module will involve twenty four hours class contact over the semester.
Selected Texts/Journals
ANDERMAN, Gunilla (2000) Interpreting. In Byram, Mike (Ed) The Routledge Encyclopedia of Language Teaching and Learning. London: Routledge
ANGELELLI, Claudia (2000) Interpretation as a communicative event: a look through Hymes’ lenses. Meta, XLV(4), 580-592
BLAKEMORE, Diane (1992) Understanding utterances. Oxford: Blackwell
BRAUN, Sabine (2007a). Interpreting in small-group bilingual videoconferences: challenges and adaptation processes. Interpreting (9)1, 21–46
BRAUN, Sabine (2007b) Multimedia communication technologies and their impact on interpreting. In Gerzymisch-Arbogast, Heidi (Ed) Challenges in Multidimensional Translation. Saarbrücken: TC Publishing http://ww.euroconferences.info/ Copenhagen Proceedings)
BROWN, Gillian & YULE, George (1983) Discourse analysis. Cambridge: CUP
GARZONE, Giuliana & VIEZZI, Maurizio (Eds) (2002) Interpreting in the 21st Century: Challenges and opportunities. Amsterdam: Benjamins
GERNSBACHER, Morton Ann & Givón, T. (Eds) (1995) Coherence in spontaneous talk. Amsterdam: Benjamins
GILE, Daniel (1995) Basic concepts and models for interpreter and translator training. Amsterdam: Benjamins
GOFFMANN, Erving (1981) Forms of talk. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press
HATIM, Basil & MASON, Ian (1997) The Translator as communicator. London: Routledge
HOUSE, Juliane & BLUM-KULKA, Shoshana (Eds) (1986): Interlingual and intercultural communication. Tübingen: Narr
KEITH, Hugh (1984): Liaison interpreting: an exercise in linguistics and interaction. In Wilss, Wolfram & Tome, Gisela (Eds) Die Theorie des Übersetzens und ihr Auf­schlußwert für die Übersetzungs- und Dolmetschdidaktik. Tübingen: Narr, 308-317
KOHN, Kurt & KALINA, Sylvia (1996) The strategic dimension of interpreting. Meta, XLI(1), 118-138
KONDO, Masaomi & TREBBLE, Hellen (1997) Intercultural communication, negotiating and interpreting. In Gambier, Yves, Gile, Daniel & Taylor, Christopher (Eeds) Con­ference interpreting: current trends in research. Amsterdam: Benjamins, 149-166
MASON, Ian (Ed) (1999) The Translator, 5(2) (Special issue on dialogue inter­pret­ing)
MASON, Ian (Ed) (2001) Triadic exchanges: studies in dialogue interpreting. Manchester: St. Jerome
MÜLLER, Frank Ernst (2002) Inter- and intra-cultural aspects of dialogue-interpreting. Culture in communication. Analyses of intercultural situations. In Di Luzio, Aldo, Günthner, Susanne & Orletti, Franca (Eds) Culture in communication, Analyses of intercultural situations. Amsterdam: Benjamins. 245-270
PISTILLO, Giovanna (2004) The Interpreter as Cultural Mediator. Journal of Intercultural Communication 6. (http://www.immi.se/intercultural/nr6/pistillo.htm)
PÖCHHACKER, Franz (2004) Introducing Interpreting Studies. London: Routledge
PÖCHHACKER, Franz & SCHLESINGER, Miriam (Eds) (2001) The Interpreting Studies Reader. London and New York: Routledge
PYM, Anthony, SHLESINGER Miriam & JETTMAROVÁ, Zuzanna (Eds) (2006) Sociocultural aspects of translating and interpreting. Amsterdam: Benjamins
SCHIFFRIN, Deborah (1994) Approaches to discourse. Oxford: Black­well
SHLESINGER, Miriam & PÖCHHACKER, Franz (Eds) Interpreting. International Journal of Research and Practice in Interpreting. Amsterdam: Benjamins
WADENSJÖ, Cecilia (1993) The double role of a dialogue interpreter. Perspectives. Studies in translatology 1, 105-121
WADENSJÖ, Cecilia (1998) Interpreting as interaction. London: Longman
WILSON, Deidre & SPERBER, Dan (2004) Relevance Theory. In Horn, Laurence & Ward, Gregory (Eds) The Handbook of Pragmatics. Oxford: Blackwell, 607-632(http://www.dan.sperber.com/relevance_theory.htm)
YULE, George (1996): Pragmatics. Oxford: OUP
Last Updated
27 August 2008

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