Course overview
This course will prepare students with advanced skills in translating high complexity texts from Chinese into English. The course will help the learners acquire an adequate understanding of different approaches to translation that not only preserve the meaning of the source, but also conform to context and relevant conventions. The content focuses on the relationship between language and culture, and the question of how intercultural communication can be facilitated and enhanced through effective translation and interpreting between Chinese and English. Students will be guided to develop advanced skills in tackling textual complexity at lexical, grammatical and conceptual levels for various text types and negotiating differences in cross-cultural thought forms through translation practice. Students will be equipped to increase cultural awareness and cultural flexibility in order to interact effectively between cultures Practice covers topics related to different types of businesses, industries and professions including, but not limited to, health, finance, legal proceedings, media, public institutions, academic publications, literature and science. The course also provides students with opportunities to participate in group work and utilise computer-based translation technology. It is expected that at the end of this course, students will have developed a sophisticated understanding of how translation and interpreting can be a shift, not between two languages, but between two cultures and will be able to negotiate and manage the cultural differences they encounter to serve a valued communicative purpose.
Course learning outcomes
- Integrate translation and cultural theories with translation practice
- Develop critical analysis and problem-solving strategies to deal with textual complexity at lexical, syntactic, grammatical and conceptual levels
- Consolidate research skills to reflect on and communicate one’s own translation processes, challenges and problem-solving strategies
- Engage in collaborative work to solve problems and explore cultural issues encountered in translation
- Enhance ethical awareness as a professional translator to negotiate cultural differences for a valued communicative purpose through effective translation
- Communicate effectively in bilingual and cross-cultural settings to participate in public discussion with skills and confidence as a translator prepared for NAATI's certified translator test in the direction from Chinese into English