Welcome to the Master of Arts in Translation
A programme offered by Betwixt and Between, the Queen’s University Research
Forum in Translation and Cultural Encounter (a partnership between the School of
Languages, Literatures and Performing Arts, the School of English, the Seamus
Heaney Centre for Poetry, and the Language Centre)
1
1
Core Objectives
•To enable students to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the
prevailing theories and practices of translation through intellectual and interactive
enquiry
•To provide a grounding in the field of Translation Studies, defined as theory and
practice, that will enable students both to undertake independent research and/or
to work as professional translators
•To encourage sophisticated intellectual enquiry and debate with fellow students,
academics and professional practitioners, drawn from a range of relevant
backgrounds, through interrogation of theoretical models and analysis of
practice-based work
•To encourage students to develop professional translation skills and to theorise
within the context of the discipline and their own practice
•To provide students with a professional knowledge of the translation market
place
•To foster a dynamic and innovative approach to translation as a mode for
understanding the socio-political and cultural complexities posed by the
movement of peoples and the demands of multi-ethnic organisation
•To enable students to develop effective writing skills, and to develop as
independent translators and self-reflective lifelong learners
2
Delivery
The MA will be delivered through a combination of seminars, workshops, guided
private study, programme of visiting speakers, and appropriate professional
practice. The programme of visiting speakers and practitioners will normally take
place on each Monday evening of the two teaching semesters, and will be
followed by a wine reception. The programme is visiting speakers is designed to
be an integral part of the course. Seminars are attended by colleagues from
across the Faculty as well as local practitioners who are members of PROZ.
There will also be an ancillary programme of value-added activities, listed below.
Students may avail of these activities free of charge.
2
3
National and International Links
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
As a programme that has linguistic transfer and intercultural understanding at its
heart, the MA in Translation is concerned to offer its students a range of
opportunities to visit and study in high-level institutions in the UK and abroad.
British partners, with whom we enjoy strong research links (see
www.outofthewings.org) include King’s College, London and the University of
Oxford.
Among our international partners, with whom we have both Erasmus links and
Memoranda of Understanding, are the Autonomous University of Barcelona
(which specialises in audio-visual and media-based translation), the University of
Alicante (which specialises in legal, medical and business translation), the
University of São Paulo, the Pontificial University of Rio de Janeiro, and the
University of Santa Catarina, Brazil – these universities have a range of literary
specialisms. Additionally, there is a student exchange programme in place with
Soka Univrersity, in Tokyo.
A limited number of bursaries (about 6-8 every year) are available to enable
students to visit and study in any of these partner institutions. It is also possible
3
for our students to visit these institutions at their own expense, and we will be
happy to organise such visits.
We are currently in the process of establishing partnerships with universities in
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Poland and the United Arab Emirates.
4
Programme
Semester One
Students must take the equivalent of two modules:
Module 1:
MML7015: Research Skills and Methods: Principles of Translation
This module deals with the tools and techniques of research, both for the
academic and the professional translator. It also introduces students to
the major issues in translation in the twenty-first century.
To be taken by all students.
David Johnston, Piotr Blumczynski
Half-Module 2: MML7016: The Business of Translation
Introduces students to the world of the professional translator.
To be taken by all students. Includes the optional Certificate in
Entrepreneurial Studies and the Certificate in Translation Technologies
(see below under Value-Added Activities).
Mayella Almazán
Half-Module 3: MML7018: Advanced Translation 1: Text and Research
Workshops dealing with translation issues arising from working with
legal, scientific and medical texts
David Johnston
Half-Module 5; MML7017: The Identity of the Translator: Who Translates:
Half-module that looks at issues of ethics in translation, and the
relationship between ethics and the personal choices translators make. It
also examines translation as a series of interpretive acts.
Stephen Kelly
Semester Two
Students must take the equivalent of two modules:
Module 6:
MML7021: Principles of Community Interpreting
Delivered in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic
Minorities (NICEM). Successful completion of this module will also lead to
the award of the National Open College Network certificate in Community
Interpreting at Level Four.
NICEM and Piotr Blumczynski
4
Half-Module 7:MML7019: Translating for Stage and Screen
This half-module looks at the issues of translating for performance –
theatre, subtitles and dubbing, and audio-description
David Johnston and Daniel Martin
Half-Module 8:MML7023: Translation and Public Policy
In a world characterised by the movement of peoples, what models of
social organisation – integrationist, multicultural, intercultural – should we
be developing? What is the ideological and political impact of translation?
Piotr Blumczynski and Roslyn Davidson
Half-Module 9:MML7024: Advanced Translation 2: Texts and Contexts
Workshops that offer practice in the tools and techniques of literary
translation and persuasive discourse.
David Johnston
Half-Module 10:MML7025: Advanced Translation 3: The Knowledges of the
Translator
Workshops that offer practice in the tools and techniques of journalistic
texts
Sarah Maitland
Half-Module 11:ENG7192: The Poetics of Translation
Introduction to the translation of poetry
Ciaran Carson
Half-Module 12:MML7027: Translation and Linguistics
This half- module introduces students to the linguistic methods and tools
that are of greatest use to the translator – principally, discourse
analysis, pragmatics, semantic and syntactical analysis.
Piotr Blumczynski
Half-Module 13:MML7028: The Translation of Sacred Texts
This half-module focuses on fundamental issues involved in the
translation of sacred texts. It is designed to give students a thorough
understanding of the various aspects of translating sacred texts -- in
particular its formative and ideological dimensions -- as well as signal
broader translation-related phenomena, including patronage, power,
manipulation and negotiation.
Piotr Blumczynski
Half-Module 14:MML7029: The Translation of Song
Looking at several instances of the translation/ adaptation of songs within
and across national borders and over different periods. Analysing issues
such as the shaping of cultural memory and identity. One particular case
study will be provided by Robert Burn’s ‘ A Man’s a Man for a’ that’ which
was translated in the nineteenth century into several European
languages including German, French and Spanish, and was revived as a
popular political song in the folk revivals from the 1960s onwards.
David Robb
5
Dissertation: MML7026
The dissertation counts for two modules, and must be taken by all
students who wish to graduate with an MA. Failure to successfully
complete MML7026 will lead to the award of a Diploma.
Students may write the equivalent of an extended essay (15000
words), or undertake an annotated translation project, or undertake
a practice-based project.
a) The dissertation should be around 15000 words in length (excluding bibliography and
footnotes). If it is an extended essay, that is unproblematic. If it is an annotated
translation, the ratio of comment to translation should be roughly 5:1 – in other
words, the translation should be around 2500 words. If it is a portfolio of
professionally commissioned translations, the ratio of comment to translation should
be roughly 8:1. You should note, however, that these ratios are provided only as
guidelines. In the final analysis, you should decide on the ratio that best suits your
particular translation project.
b) Ensure that you follow a single set of stylistic conventions governing:
References
Inclusion of quotations in text
Indented quotations
Position of punctuation
Use of capitals in titles
Bibliography
The MHRA styleguide can be downloaded free of charge at:
www.mhra.org.uk/Publications/Books/StyleGuide/download.shtml
A guide to Harvard (also known as author-date) referencing can be
found at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6986188/Guidelines-Harvard-ReferencingGuide
You should also ensure that your presentation is as uniform as
possible. Use a single font (no smaller than 11 point), make sure your
paragraphs are properly indented, double-space, check punctuation
etc. A brief guide to punctuation in English can be found at:
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-English-Punctuation-Correctly
c) If you are writing an extended essay, you would normally structure the dissertation
as follows:
Introduction
2 or 3 Chapters (a chapter should normally be between 3500 and
6000 words)
Conclusion
Bibliography
6
If you are writing an annotated translation, you might choose to
structure your dissertation round the following parts:
Introduction to Text and Author (including importance of text and /or
real-world purpose of the exercise)
Part One: Strategic Intention of Translation
Part Two: Principal Issues and Solutions
Part Three: Text (accompanied by footnotes dealing with tactics of
translations)
Bibliography (of sources and any theoretical material)
If you are presenting a portfolio of translations, you can use this
structure for each translation (scaling appropriately)
d) You will be allocated a supervisor who will work closely with you on the design,
research for and writing of the dissertation. It is possible to do this section of the MA
at a distance, but generally speaking we recommend fortnightly meetings between
you and your supervisor.
5
Value-added activities
a) Certificate in Translation Technologies
The Certificate in Translation Technologies is offered free of charge to all
students registered on the MA in Translation. It is highly vocationally-oriented
and provides training in the following translation-memory platforms: SDL Trados,
StarTransit and SDL Passolo. It will also introduce students to subtitling software,
to HTMIL for website construction, and how to use the principal features of the
Apple Mac.
Mayella Almazan and Sarah Maitland
b) Certificate in Entrepreneurial Skills
The Certificate in Entrepreurial Skills is offered free of charge to all students
registered on the MA in Translation. It is highly vocationally oriented and provides
training in business planning and, specifically, how to turn ideas into sound
business practice.
David Gibson
c) Visiting Professor
Lawrence Venuti is the second most-cited translation studies scholar of all time,
His impact on the discipline has been and continues to be of enormous
significance. He is Visiting Professor on the MA in Translation Studies. He will
deliver a two-day intensive monographic course on text analysis, which all
students are welcome to attend. He will also offer one-to-one consultation
sessions throughout the year, in which students may meet with him to discuss
any aspect of their work.
Lawrence Venuti
7
d) Translation Resources Seminar
This intensive interactive seminar will normally be held in the inter-semester
break. It will provide advanced guidance on the full range of translation resources
available on the internet.
David Johnston, Mayella Almazan and Sarah Maitland
e) Programme of Visiting Speakers
There will be a weekly seminar given by a leading academic or practitioner on a
selected topic. These topics are chosen to be fully complementary with the topics
currently being studied as part of the MA programme, and students will have an
opportunity to engage in a question and answer session with the visiting speaker.
This will often be followed by a wine reception to give everyone the chance to
socialise and network.
f) Auditing Classes
The programme offers a wide selection of topics, many of them vocationallyoriented, some of them more theoretical. Students are welcome to audit (sit in
on) classes for which they are not officially enrolled.
g) Language Centre
Queen’s has a state-of-the-art Language Centre (situated on the ground floor of
the McClay Library). The Language Centre offers teaching in about twenty
different languages. All students are strongly encouraged to enrol for a new
language during the course of their postgraduate studies, preferably a language
that is well outside their comfort zone.
The Language Centre is also Northern Ireland’s only legally-certified provider of
translation and interpreting services. All students will be strongly encouraged to
register with the Language Centre and bid for work on a professional basis as it
becomes available.
6
Steering Group
A steering group of local business people advise on the vocational aspects of the
course. Students will get the opportunity to meet and network with members of
the group.
7
Timetable
Classes will normally be held on Monday and Tuesday afternoon and evening
(from 4pm onwards).
8
Library and Other Resources
The newly opened McClay Library (2010) boasts excellent facilities. There are
excellent holdings of books and journals on all aspects of translation. Computers
in the Language Centre have most translation software packages installed and
students may benefit from the extended opening hours to hone their skills on
8
these packages. Students also have access to computers throughout the
University, most specifically in the Postgraduate and International Student
Centre. Queen’s has one of the best ratios of computer work stations to students
in the UK. Additionally laptops may be borrowed within the McClay Library.
9
Assessments
Full-time students are required to submit a portfolio of work by the end of
each semester. All work may be pre-submitted for comment from tutors.
Part-time students will agree their portfolio of assessment depending on
module choices.
By 25 January.
1
A 500 word abstract setting out a research proposal. This will probably be
the topic you will choose for your dissertation (150 marks)
2
This abstract will be accompanied by an evaluative critical bibliography
(150 marks)
3
A 2000 word position paper on a topic of translation theory/practice
covered in MML7015 (300 marks)
4
Three translations into your native language (any text type): Formative
assessment
5
A 3000 word essay on Working with Clients (Business of Translation) (300
marks)
EITHER
6
A 3000 word essay on a topic prescribed in class (300 marks)
OR
7
Two annotated translations, each with Explanatory Text, Think-aloud
protocol, glossary and research bibliography (150 marks each translation set)
Total Marks for Semester:
modules)
1200 (600 to full module, 300 to half-
By 15 June.
8
A 3000 word essay on the role of the translator / interpreter in public life
(300 marks)
EITHER
9
NICEM assessment (300 marks)
OR
10
A 3000 word essay on an aspect of literary translation (300 marks)
11
Two annotated translations, each with Explanatory Text, Think-aloud
protocol, glossary and research bibliography (300 marks each translation set)
9
12
Three translations into your native language (any text type); Formative
assessment
Total Marks for Semester:
half-modules)
1200 (600 to full module; 300 to
Further details:
David Johnston
School of Languages, Literatures and Performing Arts
Queen’s University
Belfast BT7 1NN
d.johnston@qub.ac.uk
www.qub.ac.uk/lla
10