TRANSLATION OF CHINESE POLITICAL-ECONOMIC DISCOURSE

The Translation of Chinese political and economic discourse is held in the second year of the Master’s Degree Programme in Translation and Interpreting. It aims to provide students with theoretical and methodological tools for designing and implementing discourse analysis as applied to translation studies. The goal is to stimulate theoretical reflection for interlingual comparison. After a theoretical introduction, the course will have a practical orientation.

The course in Specialised Translation of Chinese Political and Economic Discourse aims to progressively introduce students to the theory, methodology and practice of specialised translation between Chinese and Italian, placing particular emphasis on the discursive-ideological dimension of textual analysis and how this influences the translation process. In this regard, the theoretical notions necessary for the conscious development and definition of translation strategies will be provided. The expected learning outcomes are as follows:

Knowledge and understanding:
- Knowledge of the main features of Chinese political and economic discourse;
- Understanding of the discursive-ideological value inherent in the structural elements of political and economic discourse

Analytical and translational skills:
- Develop the methodological tools for linguistic analysis and inter-linguistic comparison;
- Ability to analyse, interpret and comment on the translation strategies adopted as well as develop one's own

Before starting the course, students must:
- Have a very good theoretical and practical knowledge of the Italian language: they must be able to express themselves correctly both in writing and in oral forms, as well as master the tools of grammatical analysis and logical analysis.
- Have a Chinese language proficiency equivalent to level B2+ of the CEFR (Common European framework of reference for language proficiency).

The course will be organised into four thematic units:
Unit 1: Theoretical introduction on the theorisation of 'discourse', discourse analysis and the relationship between discourse analysis and translation
Unit 2: Analysis and translation of Chinese political discourse
Unit 3: Analysis and translation of Chinese economic discourse

Compulsory texts
• Nicoletta Pesaro (ed.), La traduzione dal cinese: Riflessioni, strategie e tipologie testuali (Hoepli 2023).
• The Chinese texts read and translated during the lessons will be available on Moodle.

In addition, the following texts are suggested:
Blommaert, J. 2005. Discourse. A Critical Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Howarth, D., & Stavrakakis, Y. (2000). Introducing Discourse Theory and Political Analysis. In D. Howarth, A.J. Norval and Y. Stavrakakis (Eds.), Discourse Theory and Political Analysis: Identities, Hegemonies and Social Change. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Schaffner C., 2004, «Political Discourse Analysis from the point of view of Translation Studies», Journal of Language and Politics, Volume 3, Issue 1, p. 117 – 150

The reading list will be updated during the course.

The verification of acquired abilities and skills is carried out through a paper written independently by each student during the course and to be handed in one week before the exam. The thesis will focus on the analysis -- in light of the theoretical perspectives covered in the course -- of the strategies adopted for the translation of a Chinese text on a topic relevant to the texts seen during the course.
The written paper will also be discussed orally with the lecturer during the exam call.

Teaching is organized in frontal instruction, writing and conversation practice aimed at building and consolidating the knowledge, skills and competences necessary to meet the goal of the course.

Italian

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development