INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION STUDIES
Sp 491
Professor: Christian Degueldre
Office: Building AL 159
Office Phone: (619) 594-1245
Office hours: Monday 2-3:15pm and online
e-mail: cdegueld@mail.sdsu.edu
Class time: Mon 4:00 to 6:40 pm
Classroom: EBA 247 and online
Online modality:
The first week [week of August 25 since September 1is LABOR DAY] will be taught
in the regular mode in a classroom, the 3rd week [September 8] will be taught in
LARC SH205 – Mac lab- using the technology that will allow us to continue teaching
and learning online. The next 11 weeks of the semester will be taught online in an
asynchronous mode using Elluminate and Moddle. The last 2 weeks [December 1 and
December 8] will be taught in traditional mode]. This will allow for the final exam to
be taken in a regular classroom environment. This hybrid/ online mode requires that
the students be present at the beginning and at the end of the semester. Students will
have the opportunity to ask questions related to the content of the class by e-mail and
also in a synchronous mode on the day the class is taught from 8-9am.
The students who will finish the five courses of the Certificate will also have the
opportunity to take the final exam in class on Friday Dec 12, 2014
Course Objectives
To expose students to basic theoretical aspects of translation and sight translation.
To provide students with an understanding of the differences between written
translation, sight translation, consecutive interpretation and simultaneous
interpretation (skills needed and strategies used).
To help students understand the translation and interpreting professions and their
various aspects (culture, communication, tools, challenges)
To expose students to basic translation exercises on a variety of text/discourse.
To provide students with text analysis techniques as a valuable tool for an accurate
rendition of the source text into the target language.
To help students develop problem solving strategies for problems created by different
text genre.
To help students develop sensitivity to register and maintain accuracy in a translation
and interpreting.
To help students understand, and be able to explain, critical issues in Spanish.
To expose students to different varieties of Spanish spoken through the Spanish
speaking world.
Course Organization
This course is not a language or grammar course. It is required that students taking
this course have as pre-requisites Sp. 350 or equivalent and the University Upper
Division Writing requirement.
Students are responsible for preparing the readings for every class (see Calendario).
The text: Mona Baker. “In other words” can be purchased at the bookstore.
Other selected Readings are available on ECR/Blackboard. .
Different chapters of the book and articles will be discussed in class.
Translation exercises will be done in class and as homework to illustrate topics
discussed in class.
Assignments
I- There will be one final exam consisting of a translation into English, a translation
into Spanish and questions on the content of the readings (Mona Baker and selected
readings)
II- There will be one [group] presentation of a translation project
During the semester, the students will be working on the translation of a text of
around 1000 words [into English or Spanish] in small groups (3-4 students per
group). They can select any topic [ex: agriculture/rice production, food prices].
A week before the scheduled date for the oral presentation of the translation project:
1) they will hand over to the professor a portfolio consisting of the original text, the
group translation, and 20 reference texts [10 texts in both English and Spanish].
2) the group will distribute to the class and the professor a glossary on the selected
topic [around 100 terms- left column English/ right column Spanish] as well as a
segment [200 words] from the selected text. This constitutes the weekly assignment
for the class.
Students are responsible for scheduling meetings with the professor for questions and
advice on their work. The following deadline should be observed:
- Sep 22, 2014: students will submit a proposal of the group presentation
stating group name, group members, topic of the presentation, amount of time
needed, and responsibilities of each member and source text selected for
translation project.
III- Regular translations during the semester into English and Spanish
Course Evaluation
The course will be based on the following:
In-class participation
25%
Translation Exercises
25%
Group presentation
20%
Final Exam
30%
A 100-93
C 76-73
A- 92-90
C- 72-70
B+ 89-87
D+ 69-67
B 86-83
D 66-63
B- 82-80
D- 62-60
C+ 79-77
F 59 and below
Students with disability
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this
class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473.
To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student
Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not
retroactive, and that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have
received an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is
appreciated.
Guidelines for the assignments
* Oral Presentations:
Your grade for the oral presentation will be based upon a number of factors:
1- Clarity of expression
2- Organization: (Remember a presentation in Spanish does not necessarily include the
same elements as a presentation in English: humor, explanation of outline, etc.). The
time limit during presentations must be observed.
3- Public-speaking skills: Eye contact, rhythm, intonation, pronunciation.
4- Quality of hand-outs and visual aids. (See Written Assignment #4 above). Students
will receive an individual grade for the individual presentation and a group grade for the
group presentation.
RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies - Routledge - New York
Introducción a la Traductología - Vázquez Ayora, G. - Georgetown University
School of Languages and Linguistics - Washington, DC 1977.
Translation Studies - Basnett-McGuire, S. - New Accents - New York - 1988.
Translation Studies: An Integrated Approach - Snell-Hornby, M. - John Benjamins Philadelphia - 1987
Composición. Proceso y síntesis - Valdés;Dvorak;Hannum - Segunda edición Random House - New York - 1989.
Investigación de Gramática Vining Lunn, DeCesaris Heinle & Heinle Publishers Boston, MA -1992
Translation and Interpreting journals such as:
- ATA Chronicle, a publication of the American Translators Association
- META, (Canadian Journal on Translation, University of Montreal)
- Bridging the gap: empirical research in interpretation (John Benjamins)