Translator Training at
University of Ottawa
Programs
• a BA Honours in Translation since 1971
• (translation into English and translation into French :
both as A languages);
• a specialized 2 year BA in Translation since 1980s (2
years intensive training after an earlier degree in some
other subject);
• an MA in Translation Studies since 1980s;
• a Masters in Conference Interpreting since 1980s;
• a PhD in Translation Studies since 1997.
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Location
• Translator training in Canada: in bilingual communities
• - students are available and interested
• - specialized teachers are available
• - jobs and on-the-job training are available
• Some programs train in only one A language: Montreal,
Quebec, Saint Boniface
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Structure of the BA Program:
Ottawa
• Structure of the BA (Honours) in Translation:
• 120 credits (40 courses) in 4 years = 10 courses per
year (five in each of two semesters)
• 60 of those credits (20 courses) are Translation courses
• 48 credits (16 courses) are optional courses
• 12 credits (4 courses) are requirements of the Faculty
of Arts
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Candidates for BA in Translation
• Selection of Students:
• General eligibility for university admission
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Special admissions exam for Translation, which tests
- Reading comprehension of B language
- Writing competence in A language
- Grammar of A language
- Vocabulary in A language
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Basic Principles for Translator
Training 1 : Languages
• An “A” language and a “B” (or “C”) language:
- the A language is the language of primary and secondary
education, and the language that we perfect;
- the B language is the language we comprehend, and
from which we translate into the A language.
• Training translators does not meaning teaching
language; it means refining and honing and perfecting
language skills to produce flawless texts in the A
language.
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Basic Principles 2: Training
• Many practical courses – in general translation,
specialized translation and in technical translation; in
grammar, advanced writing techniques, technical
writing and editing, and translation technologies and
terminology studies;
• A practicum or internship: 5-week practicum or “on the
job training in the ‘real’ world.”
• Theoretical courses: comparative stylistics (how
language pairs compare with each other), in translation
theories (how traditions, cultures, discourses and
linguistics affect texts and their production).
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Basic Principles 3: Teachers
• Teachers:
• Professors: who train students to translate into their
own A language and are often practising translators;
• Part-time teachers: who are working or recently retired
translators, and who also work into the own A
language;
• Practicum supervisors, revisors: who train students on
the job.
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Curriculum: over four years
• First Year: general courses and 4 required courses of
Faculty of Arts (Philosophy, and English or French);
• Second Year: 8 Translation Courses and 2 options
• Third Year: 7 Translation Courses and 3 options
• Fourth Year: 5 Translation Courses and 5 options
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Second Year
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General Translation into English 1
General Translation into English 2
English Grammar/Writing 1
English Grammar/Writing 2
Translation into B language
B-language grammar/reading comprehension 1
B-language grammar/reading comprehension 2
Documentation and lexicology
• + 2 optional courses
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Third Year
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Specialized Translation into English
General Translation into English
Technical Translation into English
Introduction to Terminology and Terminotics
Comparative Stylistics
Writing Techniques for Translators and Professional
Writers
• Translation Technologies
• + 3 optional courses
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Fourth Year
• Specialized Translation
• Technical Translation
• Writing Techniques for Translators and Professional
Writers 2
• Introduction to Translation Theories
• Practicum: 5 or 6 weeks, supervised, in a translation
agency, government ministry, etc. (With analytical
report from student at end.)
• + 5 optional courses
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“C” Language: (Spanish)
• Admission test for limited competency
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General Translation 1 (from C language)
General Translation 2 (from C language
Specialized Translation (from C language)
General Translation (into C language)
Composition in C language
• These courses can be part of the ‘optional credits.’
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Optional Courses
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Translation and Literature
Translation and Culture
Subtitling
Literary Translation
Adaptation/Audiovisual Translation
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Applied Translation Technologies and Localization
Technical Writing and Postediting
Paralegal Translation
Informatics and Translation
Terminology and Lexicology
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Course Outlines
• Available in hard or softcopy.
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