SPECIALIZED CHINESE AND MEDIA TRANSLATION

The course falls within the basic curriculum of the MA degree in Interpreting and Translation for Editorial and Specialised Purposes, and aims to provide students with a theoretical basis and to improve their skills in media translation.
The course aims to develop the knowledge of the criteria and principles of localisation, multimedia translation and audiovisual translation, as well as of their practical application.

By attending and taking part in the activities of the course, the students will be able to achieve the following results:

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1. Knowing the basic theoretical principles of media translation (localisation, multimedia translation, audiovisual translation)
1.2 Knowing the terminology of media translation

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
2.1 Being able to correctly apply the theoretical principles of media translation (localisation, multimedia translation, audiovisual translation) to a translation project according to its specific features
2.2 Being able to correctly use the terminology of media translation in all the processes of application and communication of the knowledge acquired

3. Making judgements
3.1 Being able to formulate and justify hypotheses in translation into Italian, developing a critical approach to the assessment of alternative hypotheses
3.2 Being able to critically comment on the translation strategies adopted in a specific translation project

4. Communication skills
4.1 Being able to effectively complete a Chinese-Italian media translation project according to the specific features of the texts and its recipients

5. Learning skills
5.1 Being able to critically use the recommended reference works and the bibliography indicated therein

Knowledge of the Chinese language (vocabulary and syntactic structures) achieved thanks to the language courses attended in the first year of the MA degree programme in Interpreting and Translation for Editorial and Specialised Purposes, especially the course in Chinese Language and Translation. Medium-high specialised translation skills and a sound knowledge of the basic theoretical principles of translation are required.

During classes, the theoretical and critical reflection on the features of specialised and media translation will be combined with the practice of localisation, multimedia translation and audiovisual translation, stimulating discussion on the translation problems encountered in such texts, as well as on the most effective strategies adopted to solve them. To do so, examples of existing translations will also be the object of critical analysis from a comparative perspective. Special attention will be placed on film and TV translation (subtitling), web and software translation (localization), audio description, and the translation of promotional texts.

The following texts may be used as further readings on the themes, approaches, and techniques discussed during classes:

Bernal-Merino Miguel Á., Translation and Localisation in Video Games. Making Entertainment Software Global, London & New York, Routledge, 2015 (esp. chapter 2, pp. 45-100).

Chiaro, Delia; Heiss, Christine; Bucaria, Chiara (eds), Between Text and Image. Updating Research in Screen Translation, Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins, 2008.

Díaz Cintas, Jorge; Anderman, Gunilla, Audiovisual Translation. Language Transfer on Screen, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

Díaz Cintas, Jorge; Matamala, Anna; Josélia Neves (eds), New Insights into Audiovisual Translation and Media Accessibility, Amsterdam & New York, Rodopi, 2010.

Gambier, Yves, “The Position of Audiovisual Translation Studies”, in Carmen Millán & Francesca Bartrina (eds), The Routledge Handbook of Translation Studies, London & New York, Routledge, 2013, pp. 45-69.

Gambier, Yves; Gottlieb, Henrik (eds), (Multi)Media Translation. Concepts, Practices, and Research, Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins, 2001.

Jiménez-Crespo, Miguel A., Translation and Web Localization, London & New York, Routledge, 2013.

Kaindl, Klaus, “Multimodality and Translation”, in Carmen Millán & Francesca Bartrina (eds), The Routledge Handbook of Translation Studies, London & New York, Routledge, 2013, pp. 257-269.

Pellat, Valerie; Liu, Eric T., Thinking Chinese Translation: A Course on Translation Method: Chinese to English, London & New York, Routledge, 2010.

Perego, Elisa, La traduzione audiovisiva, Roma, Carocci, 2005.

Pérez-González, Luis, Audiovisual Translation. Theories, Methods and Issues, New York & London, Routledge, 2014.

The following handbook is provided for reference in the general field of TS, not only for specialized and multimedia translation:

Gambier, Yves; van Doorslaer, Luc (a cura di), Handbook of Translation Studies, voll. 1-2, Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins, 2010.

Further recommended works and teaching materials will be provided in due time.

In order to take the final exam, students will be required to submit to the teacher the translations of all texts discussed during classes, including a short translation commentary for each translated text. In-course assessment will be completed by a final written exam, consisting of 1) the Chinese-Italian translation of a text similar to those discussed during classes in terms of text type and content, and 2) a short translation commentary.

[REMOTE EXAM]

Following health emergency measures, some changes have been made to the exam mode previously indicated in the syllabus.

The final exam of the course will be held remotely on the Moodle platform by using the Assignment tool.

The exam is the translation and translation commentary of a text whose type and contents are similar to those of the texts discussed during the course. The text to be translated will be provided by the instructor on Moodle by using the Assignment tool. The student will submit his/her own assignment as an attachment.

Detailed information about practical procedures will be provided shortly in the course Moodle space.

The course is taught through stand-up classes, classroom workshops and homework. Active participation in the classroom and significant home preparation between sessions are required.

Italian

written