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2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: TRAM093 Module Title: ECONOMIC/BUSINESS TRANSLATION
Module Provider: Language & Translation Studies Short Name: TRAM093
Level: M Module Co-ordinator: ROGERS MA Prof (Lang & Trans)
Number of credits: 30 Number of ECTS credits: 15
 
Module Availability

Semesters 1 and 2
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment
Weighting towards Module Mark (%)
A three-hour open-book examination at the end of the Semester 2. Two economics/business texts of approximately 280-300 words must be translated
70%
A dossier of 5 translations selected from the weekly translation homework, plus 1 longer translation of 750 words to be presented towards the end of the Semester 2.
30%
 
Qualifying Condition(s): A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module.

Module Overview

This module provides students with no previous experience of specialist translation in Economics/Business with the opportunity to reach an acceptable professional level of translation competence. It combines regular translation practice in smaller groups with lectures on underlying principles of Economics and Applied Economics. Students will also receive instruction on issues of practical translation methodology, terminology research, proofreading and editing, etc. Offered in a range of languages, subject to demand: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites

Native or near-native competence in the relevant languages, including English.
Module Aims
This module aims to provide students with no previous knowledge of specialist translation in this area with professional-level competence in the translation of business and economics texts between English and another language from those available (subject to demand and staffing). The module incorporates selected aspects of the principles of economics as a basis for the translation work according to expertise and relevance to the particular translation pair and further translation-related research. This module aims to:
  • provide a grounding on activities that revolve around translation practice per se (e.g. background research, reviewing, presentation, etc.);
  • familiarise students with economics and business genres and terminology from selected sub-fields including selected legal sub-fields where relevant through practical work on texts;
  • offer the opportunity for extensive background reading in economics/business including relevant legal domains in English and another language as a basis for informed translation practice;
  • encourage research into economics/business including relevant legal topics in order to gain an insight into the complexities of translation in these areas.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, the student will:
  • be able to use the World Wide Web effectively for monolingual and bilingual terminology research;
  • proofread, edit and revise own and third-party translations;
  • have acquired the skills and knowledge to research translation problems e.g. related to terminology, genre conventions and style;
  • be able to identify, analyse and solve problems when translating economics/business documents;
  • be able to describe and explain the characteristics of various economics/business documents including relevant legal text genres;
  • be able to apply the principles of economics/business in the decision-making process of solving translation problems, and to identify and locate appropriate reference material;

be able to translate, revise and format specialised economics/business texts of various genres in selected sub-fields to a standard approaching a professionally acceptable/revisable level.
Module Content
  • Introduction to translation methodology;
  • Hands-on work on internet research skills, file and project management, editing/reviewing/ proofreading, document formatting;
  • Texts are selected from a variety of sources that reflect the needs and demands of the market in selected subfields. The specific subject matter will vary depending on language combination and tutor expertise;
  • Principles of Economics: economics and the economy; objectives of Government economic policy; inflation and unemployment; economic growth; business cycle; balance of payments and international trade; the determination of exchange rate; industrial structure in the UK;
  • Applied Economics: financial terminology; central banking and the monetary system; foreign exchange markets; European Monetary Union; the international monetary system and international finance.
Methods of Teaching/Learning
For the first six weeks of teaching, classes will not be language-specific. Students will be provided with a general introduction on translation methodology (how to approach a text, identifying linguistic / terminological problems, etc.) and then hands-on sessions will follow with techniques for using the World Wide Web effectively in order to locate relevant documentation and tackle translation problems. In the next stage there will be sessions with principles of good practice in file and project management and a thorough introduction on translation-related activities, which will include hands-on tasks in editing, reviewing, proofreading, document formatting and presentation (advanced skills in Office applications).
Contact hours: 2 hours per week
Translation practice:
Classes generally take the form of group workshops, sometimes on unseen texts. Translation assignments of 250-300 words in length are set on a regular basis. One longer translation of 750 words will be set in Semester 2. Students are expected to spend time researching the subject and are encouraged to develop Internet and research skills to enable them to find parallel texts. Translation problems arising from assignment texts are discussed in class.
Contact hours: 2 hours per week
Principles of Economics and Applied Economics; Introduction to English Law:
Informal lectures with student participation, incorporating case studies

Contact hours: One hour per week
Selected Texts/Journals
Essential reading
Parkin M, Powell M & Matthew K (2008) Economics Harlow: Addison Wesley 7th edn
 
Recommended reading
Allen M (1991) The Times Guide to International Finance Times Books
Begg D, Dornbusch R, Fischer S (1997) Economics  McGraw Hill, 5th edn
Chapman C (1994) How the Stock Markets Work, 5th edn, Century
Foster N (2004) Blackstone’s EC Legislation London: OUP
Harris P (2006) An Introduction to Law 7th edn Cambridge: CUP
Weatherill S (2000) Cases and Materials on EC Law 5th edn London: Blackstone Press
Perry F.E., revised by Klein G (1989) The Elements of Banking 6th edn
Valdez S (1993) An Introduction to Western Financial Markets Macmillan
 
Background reading/reference
Economist Style Guide (downloadable from http://www.economist.com/research/styleguide/)
English Style Guide (2009) European Commission Directorate General for Translation 5th revised edn (downloadable from http://ec.europa.eu/translation/writing/style_guides/english/style_guide_en.pdf)
Garner A (1995) A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage New York: OUP
Inman C (1994) The Financial Times Style Guide Financial Times/Pitman (out of print but available second hand)
Martin E A (ed.) (2006) A Dictionary of Law Oxford: Oxford University Press 6th edn
Penner, J.R. (2005) Mozley and Whiteley’s Law Dictionary 12th edn OUP.
Reuters (1994) Reuters Glossary of International Financial & Economic Terms Reuters/ Longman
Walmsley J (1985) Macmillan Dictionary of International Finance Macmillan, 2nd edn
Walmsley J (1992) The Foreign Exchange and Money Markets Guide Wiley
 
Articles written in English and representative of each subject domain extracted from daily newspapers, magazines and periodicals.

In addition, language-specific references will be provided by the module tutor in class.
Last Updated

17 December 2010