CHINESE LANGUAGE 2

The Chinese language module 2 is one of the courses characterizing the Master’s Degree Programme in Languages, Economics and Institutions of Asia and North Africa. It aims to strengthen students’ abilities to translate into Italian from Chinese, and vice versa, texts of a political, economic and commercial nature, as well as to develop methodological tools for linguistic analysis and interlinguistic comparison. Students will thus be able to make their linguistic competence a key tool for understanding and interpreting the main political, economic and social transformations that occurred in modern and contemporary China. Conversation courses aim to guide students in acquiring the ability to discuss issues related to the socio-political field in the context of the ongoing globalization processes.

1. Knowledge and understanding
1A. Becoming familiar with the basic linguistic terminology of the translation
1B. Acquire skills in the analysis of language and its rhetorical devices, with particular reference to Chinese.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2A. Knowing how to perform a linguistic analysis on different aspects of the mother tongue and the Chinese language, taking into account the universal properties of language and the interlinguistic variation parameters with respect to some specific phenomena.
3. Ability to judge
3 A. Knowing how to formulate and argue hypotheses, while developing a critical approach to the evaluation of alternative hypotheses as well.
4. Communication skills
4 A. Acquire the ability to discuss topics related to the world of economics and globalization issues using the appropriate terminology.
4 B. To know how to interact with peers and with the tutor, in a critical and respectful way, both in presence and on the forum of the virtual classroom.
5. Learning skill
5 A. Knowing how to take notes and share them in a collaborative way on the online platform.

CEFR Level: C1
Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer clauses, and recognize implicit meaning.
Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

To have a good knowledge of the Italian language and a Chinese language proficiency corresponding to the level B2+ of the CEFR (Common European Framework of reference for language proficiency).

The course is structured as follows:

- 30 hours of reading classes, divided into two sub-modules:
1) Understanding the present day through language: analysis and translation of academic essays on current socio-political topics. This part focuses on the improvement of language skills and complex grammar structures, related to shumianyu 书面语, in addition to the in-depth analysis of specific topics discussed by the essays;
2) Audiovisual language: analysis and translation of the subtitles of a TV series. The analysis will focus on the living forms taken by the language in various social contexts, on the kouyu 口语 register and its hybridisations with shumianyu 书面语 in everyday linguistic exchanges, and finally on the most appropriate translation methods.

- 60 hours of training in conversation (A);

- 60 hours of training in Italian- Chinese translation (B).

The texts to be translated and further bibliographic information will be supplied during the course.

Dictionaries:
- Wenlin 3.x (www.wenlin.com) or later.
- Xinhua zidian, Beijing, Shangwu yinshuguan, 1971 or later.
and:
- Casacchia G. e Bai Yukun, Grande dizionario Cinese-Italiano, IsIAO, Roma 2008, 2 vols.
or:
- Han-ying da cidian - Chinese-English Dictionary, a cura di Wu Guanghua, Shanghai, Shanghai Jiaotong Daxue chubanshe, 1993 or later, 2 vols.

For translation into Chinese:
- Zhang Shi Hua, SFLEP Dizionario Conciso Italiano-Cinese Cinese-Italiano, Waiyu jiaoyu chubanshe, Shanghai 2006 (Italian edition: Dizionario cinese-italiano italiano-cinese, Hoepli, Milano 2007)
or:
Dizionario italiano-cinese - Yi-han cidian, Beijing, Shangwu yinshuguan, 1985 e succ.

The exam consists of three tests:
- conversation in Chinese.
- translation from Italian into Chinese;
- translation from Chinese into Italian of an academic essay, selected from the CNKI database, or an official document; the text must be accompanied by a paper of 6-7 pages (bibliography not included in the word count) one of the topics dealt with during the course. The text to be translated and the topic of the paper must be discussed in advance with the lecturer and submitted at least 10 days before the test.

Optional intermediate test: at the end of the first sub-module, in accordance with the methods and deadlines circulated at the beginning of the class, students may submit a 4-5 page paper analysing one of the topics addressed by the articles; further to being a useful exercise in view of the term paper, it will contribute an additional 1.5 points to the final grade for the Chinese-Italian translation part.

Distance-learning students should keep up-to-date with the advancements of the class via Moodle.

Teaching is organized in:
a) front lessons;
b) writing and conversation practice aimed at building and consolidating the knowledge, skills and competences necessary to meet the goal of the course;
c) tutoring aimed at discussing and clarifying specific language problems that emerged during the teaching.

Italian

written and oral