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Module Catalogue

LN313-30 Undergraduate Translation Project

Department
School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
Lee Purvis
Credit value
30
Module duration
21 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

This module offers final-year students an opportunity to develop their own extended translation project autonomously, but with the support of a language-specific supervisor and the module convenor.
There are two separate routes for the project which the student can decide between (no mixing):
(1) Students will provide their own extended translations of materials from 2 different genres (1,000-1,250 words each) and include 2 analytical commentaries (2,000-2,250 words each) on their translation strategies and methods.
(2) Students will engage in 2 extended analytical commentaries (4,500-5,000 words each) on previously published materials.
Students entering outside the translation pathway must have a 2.1 in specified translation modules to be considered for a project.

Module web page

Module aims

By completing a translation project, students will have the opportunity to advance their critical understanding of the processes and challenges of translation, their analytical writing skills and they can opt to further develop their own translation skills (by choosing route 1).
This module aims to allow students to:

  • become aware of the various challenges associated with translating different text types
  • be able to critically reflect on translation practice
  • critically engage with theoretical literature to support arguments
  • opt to produce translations from their language of specialism
  • develop a capacity for independent study and self-directed inquiry and research
  • develop further key transferable skills including effective and efficient communication, self-motivation, self-reliance, and time and information management.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Lectures & seminars:
T1: 3 x 2 hour plenary sessions
T2: 1 x 2 hour plenary sessions
Individual Supervisions:
2 x 30 min in T1 & T2 [1 per term]
Group Supervisions:
4 x 1-hour in T1 and T2 [2 per term]
Drop-in session: 1 x 2 hours in T3

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Understand the linguistic and cultural implications of translating cultural products
  • Reflect on the specific strategies that translators adopt when translating and how these strategies mirror linguistic as well as cultural dynamics.
  • Use their language specialism and cross-cultural awareness to either self-reflect or reflect on their own translation strategies or on those of others
  • Use knowledge acquired in seminars and from prescribed reading as basis for individual translation project
  • Successfully conceive, plan, and deliver their translation project

International

All modules delivered in SMLC are necessarily international. Students engage with themes and ideas from a culture other than that of the UK and employ their linguistic skills in the analysis of primary materials from a non-Anglophone context. Students will also be encouraged to draw on the experiences of visiting exchange students in the classroom and will frequently engage with theoretical and critical frameworks from across the world.

Subject specific skills

This module will develop students’ analytical skills through engaging with primary materials in the target language and theoretical literature. It will build students’ capacity to engage with aspects of translation through analysis of this primary material and through seminar discussion aimed at deeper critical thinking. In particular, students’ awareness of translation will be enhanced through seminars, individual consultations, and independent study which engage in scholarship in the field.

Transferable skills

All SMLC culture modules demand critical and analytical engagement with artefacts from target-language cultures. In the course of independent study, class work and assessment students will develop the following skills: written and oral communication, creative and critical thinking, problem solving and analysis, time management and organisation, independent research in both English and their target language(s), intercultural understanding and the ability to mediate between languages and cultures, ICT literacy in both English and the target language(s), personal responsibility and the exercise of initiative.

Study time

Type Required
Seminars 5 sessions of 2 hours (3%)
Tutorials 4 sessions of 1 hour (1%)
Project supervision 2 sessions of 30 minutes (0%)
Private study 285 hours (95%)
Total 300 hours

Private study description

N/A

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A5
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Undergraduate Translation Project 100% Yes (extension)

This is assessed 100% by coursework.
Students can opt to take either route 1 OR route 2:

  1. Students will provide their own extended translations of materials from 2 different genres (1,000-1,250 words each) and include 2 analytical commentaries (2,000-2,250 words each) on their translation strategies and methods.
  2. Students will engage in 2 extended analytical commentaries (4,500-5,000 words each) on previously published materials.
    Total word count:
    Route 1: 6,000 - 7000 words
    Route 2: 9,000 - 10,000 words
    The assessment weighting for Route 1 is:
    Translation: 20% each [40% in total]
    Commentary: 30% each [60% in total]
    There is no practical component in Route 2, so the analytical commentaries are worth 50% each [100% in total]
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Feedback will be provided in the course of the module in a number of ways. Feedback should be understood to be both formal and informal and is not restricted to feedback on formal written work.
Oral feedback will be provided by the module tutor in the course of seminar discussion. This may include feedback on points raised in small group work or in the course of individual presentations or larger group discussion.
Written feedback will be provided on formal assessment using the standard SMLC Assessed Work feedback form appropriate to the assessment. Feedback is intended to enable continuous improvement throughout the module and written feedback is generally the final stage of this feedback process. Feedback will always demonstrate areas of success and areas for future development, which can be applied to future assessment. Feedback will be both discipline-specific and focussed on key transferrable skills, enabling students to apply this feedback to their future professional lives. Feedback will be fair and reasonable and will be linked to the SMLC marking scheme appropriate to the module.

Pre-requisites

This module is Core for Year 4 of Undergraduate Modern Languages with Translation and Transcultural Studies. The module is also open to SMLC students who have previously taken a Translation Studies module at Year 1 or Intermediate level and who have obtained at least a 2:1 in their assessment for this module.

To take this module, you must have passed:

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 4 of UITA-R310 BA in Italian
  • Year 4 of RHPA-R4P2 Postgraduate Masters by Research in Hispanic Studies
  • RGEA-R2P2 Postgraduate Research German Studies
    • Year 4 of R2PA Film & Television Studies and German Studies (Research)
    • Year 4 of R2P2 German Studies (Research)
    • Year 4 of R2P2 German Studies (Research)
    • Year 4 of R2PB German Studies (Research) (co-tutelle with Justus Liebig University Giessen)
    • Year 4 of R2PBC German Studies (Research) (co-tutelle with Justus Liebig University Giessen)
    • Year 4 of R2PBC German Studies (Research) (co-tutelle with Justus Liebig University Giessen)
  • Year 4 of UFRA-QR3A Undergraduate English and French
  • Year 4 of ULNA-QR37 Undergraduate English and German
  • Year 4 of UHPA-QR34 Undergraduate English and Hispanic Studies
  • Year 4 of UFRA-R101 Undergraduate French Studies
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1Q2 Undergraduate French Studies with Linguistics
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1L4 Undergraduate French and Economics (4-year)
  • Year 4 of ULNA-RR14 Undergraduate French and German
  • Year 4 of UFRA-R1VA Undergraduate French and History
  • Year 4 of ULNA-RR15 Undergraduate French and Italian
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1Q3 Undergraduate French and Linguistics
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1WB Undergraduate French and Theatre Studies
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1A6 Undergraduate French with Arabic
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1A0 Undergraduate French with Chinese
  • Year 4 of UFRA-R1WA Undergraduate French with Film Studies
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1A2 Undergraduate French with German
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1A3 Undergraduate French with Italian
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1A8 Undergraduate French with Japanese
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1A5 Undergraduate French with Portuguese
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1A7 Undergraduate French with Russian
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R1A4 Undergraduate French with Spanish
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2Q2 Undergraduate German Studies with Linguistics
  • Year 4 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
  • Year 3 of ULNA-R2L4 Undergraduate German and Economics (4-year)
  • Year 4 of UGEA-R2V1 Undergraduate German and History
  • Year 4 of ULNA-RR16 Undergraduate German and Italian
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2Q3 Undergraduate German and Linguistics
  • Year 4 of UGEA-RW24 Undergraduate German and Theatre Studies
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2A6 Undergraduate German with Arabic
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2A0 Undergraduate German with Chinese
  • Year 3 of UGEA-RP33 Undergraduate German with Film Studies
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2A1 Undergraduate German with French
  • Year 4 of UGEA-R2M1 Undergraduate German with International Studies
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2A3 Undergraduate German with Italian
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2A8 Undergraduate German with Japanese
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2A5 Undergraduate German with Portuguese
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R2A7 Undergraduate German with Russian
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R4L1 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and Economics (4-year)
  • ULNA-R4RF Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and French
    • Year 3 of R4RF Hispanic Studies and French
    • Year 4 of R4RF Hispanic Studies and French
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R4RG Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and German
  • ULNA-R4V1 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and History
    • Year 4 of R4V1 Hispanic Studies and History
    • Year 4 of R4V1 Hispanic Studies and History
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R4RH Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and Italian
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R4Q1 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and Linguistics
  • Year 4 of UHPA-R4W4 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies and Theatre Studies
  • Year 4 of UHPA-R4T6 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies with Arabic
  • Year 4 of UHPA-R4T1 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies with Chinese
  • Year 4 of UHPA-RP43 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies with Film Studies
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R4RK Undergraduate Hispanic Studies with German
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R4RL Undergraduate Hispanic Studies with Italian
  • Year 4 of UHPA-R4T2 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies with Japanese
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R4Q2 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies with Linguistics
  • Year 4 of UHPA-R4R5 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies with Portuguese
  • Year 4 of UHPA-R4R7 Undergraduate Hispanic Studies with Russian
  • Year 4 of UITA-R3V2 Undergraduate History and Italian
  • Year 3 of ULNA-R3Q2 Undergraduate Italian Studies with Linguistics
  • Year 4 of UITA-RQ38 Undergraduate Italian and Classics
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R3L4 Undergraduate Italian and Economics (4-year)
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R3Q3 Undergraduate Italian and Linguistics
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R3WA Undergraduate Italian and Theatre Studies
  • Year 4 of UITA-R3T6 Undergraduate Italian with Arabic
  • Year 4 of UITA-R3T1 Undergraduate Italian with Chinese
  • Year 4 of UITA-R3W5 Undergraduate Italian with Film Studies
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R3A1 Undergraduate Italian with French
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R3A2 Undergraduate Italian with German
  • Year 4 of UITA-R3T2 Undergraduate Italian with Japanese
  • Year 4 of ULNA-R3R5 Undergraduate Italian with Portuguese
  • Year 5 of ULNA-R3R7 Undergraduate Italian with Russian
  • Year 4 of UITA-R3W4 Undergraduate Italian with Theatre Studies
  • ULNA-R902 Undergraduate Modern Language Studies
    • Year 4 of R902 Modern Language Studies
    • Year 4 of R902 Modern Language Studies
  • UFRA-R900 Undergraduate Modern Languages
    • Year 4 of R91G French and German with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R91G French and German with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R91D French and German with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R91D French and German with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R91J French and German with Italian
    • Year 4 of R91J French and German with Italian
    • Year 4 of R91C French and German with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R91C French and German with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R91E French and German with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R91E French and German with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R91F French and German with Russian
    • Year 4 of R91F French and German with Russian
    • Year 4 of R91H French and German with Spanish
    • Year 4 of R91H French and German with Spanish
    • Year 4 of R90M French and Italian with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R90M French and Italian with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R90J French and Italian with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R90J French and Italian with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R90N French and Italian with German
    • Year 4 of R90N French and Italian with German
    • Year 4 of R90H French and Italian with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R90H French and Italian with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R90K French and Italian with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R90K French and Italian with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R90L French and Italian with Russian
    • Year 4 of R90L French and Italian with Russian
    • Year 4 of R90P French and Italian with Spanish
    • Year 4 of R90P French and Italian with Spanish
    • Year 4 of R90E French and Spanish with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R90E French and Spanish with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R90B French and Spanish with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R90B French and Spanish with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R90G French and Spanish with German
    • Year 4 of R90G French and Spanish with German
    • Year 4 of R90F French and Spanish with Italian
    • Year 4 of R90F French and Spanish with Italian
    • Year 4 of R90A French and Spanish with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R90A French and Spanish with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R90C French and Spanish with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R90C French and Spanish with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R90D French and Spanish with Russian
    • Year 4 of R90D French and Spanish with Russian
    • Year 4 of R90Z German and Italian with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R90Z German and Italian with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R90W German and Italian with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R90W German and Italian with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R91A German and Italian with French
    • Year 4 of R91A German and Italian with French
    • Year 4 of R90V German and Italian with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R90V German and Italian with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R90X German and Italian with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R90X German and Italian with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R90Y German and Italian with Russian
    • Year 4 of R90Y German and Italian with Russian
    • Year 4 of R91B German and Italian with Spanish
    • Year 4 of R91B German and Italian with Spanish
    • Year 4 of R90U German and Spanish with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R90U German and Spanish with Arabic
    • Year 4 of R90R German and Spanish with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R90R German and Spanish with Chinese
    • Year 4 of R90Q German and Spanish with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R90Q German and Spanish with Japanese
    • Year 4 of R90S German and Spanish with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R90S German and Spanish with Portuguese
    • Year 4 of R90T German and Spanish with Russian
    • Year 4 of R90T German and Spanish with Russian
    • Year 4 of R900 Modern Languages
    • Year 4 of R900 Modern Languages
  • ULNA-R9Q2 Undergraduate Modern Languages with Linguistics
    • Year 4 of R9Q2 Modern Languages with Linguistics
    • Year 4 of R9Q2 Modern Languages with Linguistics
  • Year 4 of UPOA-M163 Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and French
  • UPOA-M164 Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and German
    • Year 4 of M100 Politics
    • Year 4 of M164 Politics, International Studies and German
  • Year 4 of UPOA-M166 Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and Hispanic Studies
  • Year 4 of UPOA-M165 Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and Italian
  • Year 4 of UITA-R3V3 Undergraduate Taught Italian and History of Art
  • UGEA-R2R4
  • UITA-R3R4