KHAZAR UNIVERSITY
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
DEPARTMENT
COURSE SYLLABUS
INTERPRETING
SPRING 2013
Course Information
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Title: Interpreting

Number (code):

Credit hours: 3

Semester/term : Spring
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Prerequisites: Introduction to translation
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Meeting time (days and hours):

Location of classroom:
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Instructor Information
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Full name:SevindgeGafarova
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Title: MA
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Office location(optional): English Language and Literature Department
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Office phone number(optional)
99 440 417-91-32
Email address:sevainyaz@rambler.ru
Course Description:
These studies’ purpose is to investigate, discuss and develop translation quality assessment
models that take text, rather than a sentence as the ultimate aim of analysis. The study will also
attempt to explore the theoretical and practical implications of the model to be developed for the
framing of interpreter.
Course Objectives:
1. To make the students familiar with the basic concepts relating to the theory andpractice of
translation.
2. To sensitize the students to the linguistic structures of the source and the targetlanguage.
3. To enable the students to translate literary/non-literary texts from English to
Azerbaijani/Foreign Language and vice versa OR Azerbaijani/ to Foreign Language and vice
versa
4. To train the students in cognitive processes and language skills to facilitate consecutive and
simultaneous interpretation.
5. To create an awareness of the challenges and opportunities presented by linguistic and cultural
differences in the context of globalization and the dynamics of the multilingualism of Azerbaijan
society.
Materials and handouts: All the lectures, power point presentations and supplementary
materials will be provided.
Expected Learning Outcomes:
1. Graduates of the Interpreting Studies will demonstrate an understanding of multi-cultural
approaches to the work of interpretation, and are able to demonstrate effective bi-lingual and
bi-cultural practice within their work.
2. Graduates of the Interpreting Studies assess and analyze their own competencies for
interpreting in relation to a variety of interpreting settings and in relation to a variety of
participants in interpreted interactions.
3. Graduates will effectively interpret face-to-face encounters in dialogic/one-on-one and small
group settings with a variety of participants.
4. Students will acquire the necessary skills in translation and interpreting to enable them totake
up careers in government, industry, media, tourism, public relations, etc.
Evaluationof student’s will be on the following basis:
Midterm exam- 30%
Final exam- 30%
Presentations – 20
Participation and attendance – 10%
Activity -10
Total – 100%
Recommended literature:
James Nolan: Interpretation
Newmark, Peter. A Textbook of Translation.Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication
Data, 1995.
Robinson, Douglas and Doug Robinson. Becoming a Translator, 2008
Samuelsson-Brown, Geoffrey. A Practical Guide for Translators.Multilingual Matters, 1998.
Sofer, Morry. The Translator’s Handbook. Schreiber Publications, 2002
Catford, J. C. A Linguistic Theory of Translation. 1965.
Frishberg, Nancy J. Interpreting: An Introduction. Registry of Interpreters, 1990.
Extra reading and interpreting materials; internet materials; audio and visual aids
Weekly Schedule
Weeks
Topics
Theory:
1
Unit 1: Nature of Translation and
interpretation.
2
Unit 2: Selection, comprehension
and Analysis of the Original Text
3
Unit 3: Transformation in the
Translation Process:a) Transference, Trans-creation,
Transliteration.
b) Equivalence – Textual,
Linguistic and Cultural.
c) Language Varieties and
Language Distance.
d) Historical and Stylistic
Transformations.
e) Machine Translation – Scope and
Limitations
Unit 4: Types of Translation –
literal and free; total and restricted.
4
5
6
7
Unit 5: Translation and
Comparative Literature:a) The translated text as a medium
of inter-literary contact.
b) The translated text versus the
original text.
c) The issue of copyright.
d) The translated text in the culture
of the receiving literature:
i) The translated text as a vehicle of
generic contact/literary influence.
ii) Convergent and divergent
reception of the translated text.
iii) The translated text as an agent
Resource materials
P. Newmark
James Nolan: Interpretation
P. Newmark , James Nolan: Interpretation
Robinson, Douglas and Doug Robinson. Becoming a
Translator
P. Newmark
P. Newmark , James Nolan: Interpretation
P. Newmark , James Nolan: Interpretation
P. Newmark , James Nolan: Interpretation
of regeneration or a source of new
creative
currents.
8
9
10
Midterm Exam
Practice:1. Translating texts from
English to Azebaijani/Foreign
Language and vice versa OR
Azerbaijani/to Foreign Language
and vice versa.
2. Examining texts in translation
(including multiple translations of
the same text) and comparing and
contrasting them and suggesting
improvements.
11
3. Simultaneous and consecutive
oral translation.
Robinson, Douglas and Doug Robinson. Becoming a
Translator
12
4. Conference note-taking, liaison
and ad-hoc interpreting.
Robinson, Douglas and Doug Robinson. Becoming a
Translator
13
5. Using reference materials such as
dictionaries, encyclopedias,
thesauruses, glossaries,translation
software, etc.
Robinson, Douglas and Doug Robinson. Becoming a
Translator
14
6. Using modern technology for
translation and interpreting.
Internet resources
15
7. Doing projects on annotated
translations, text preparation,
summary writing, etc.
Evaluation
Revision
16
17
FINAL Examination