| PDTI501 |
Principles, Theory and Practice of Translation, Interpreting and Editing |
This module aims to equip language graduates with the broad range of theoretical and practical approaches, techniques and skills associated with the practice of translation, interpreting and editing. This should provide students necessary grounding required for an academic and professional appreciation of the three disciplines and for further specialization in one or both of them. The module covers the three components, translation, editing and interpreting separately, although students will be expected to be cognizant and aware of the commonalities and differences between them. Units to be covered within this module include translation/interpreting/editing theories; common translation, editing and interpreting problems and strategies; translation, editing and interpreting ethics; translation and technology; and cross-cultural/linguistic communication in relation to translation, editing and interpreting. To allow for a practical application of theoretical aspects learnt, students will undertake translation, editing and interpreting practicum intended to expose them to as wide a range as possible of journalistic, medical, legal, advertising, and technical texts and scenarios. Seminar presentations, class discussions and peer evaluations will allow for a more interactive and student-centred approach to teaching. |
| PDTI502 |
Sociolinguistics of Development |
This module is designed to produce graduates who are able to offer language-inspired developmental solutions. It fosters the development of an understanding of the intricate relationship between language and development, particularly inclusive sustainable human development. The module stimulates an awareness of the role of language in development from the viewpoint of language use in education, health, economy and governance, among other sectors. It enable students to have a greater appreciation of how language and language services impact on social, economic, educational, and political development, amongst others. The module will cover a broad range of issues, which include definition of key terms; language as a social institution; language, ethics and culture; language in interpersonal and international relations; language as a means of inter- and cross-cultural communication; language and (under)development. |
| PDTI503 |
Specialist Translation with Interpreting |
This module aims to equip language mediation graduates with the broad range of practical approaches, techniques and skills associated with the practice of interpreting in specialised fields such as conference interpreting and community interpreting, amongst others. This, in order to provide the necessary grounding required for an academic and professional appreciation in these specialized areas and for further studies in one or more of them. Units to be covered within this module include theories associated with interpreting in specialized areas; common interpreting problems and strategies, the use of technology as well as ethical and professional issues specific to these areas; and cross-cultural/linguistic communication in relation to interpreting in these areas. To allow for a practical application of theoretical aspects learnt, students will undertake interpreting practicum intended to expose them to as wide a range as possible of scenarios in these specialized areas. |
| PDTI504 |
Translation and Interpreting Research Methods and Analysis |
The purpose of this module is to equip students with the skills necessary to produce well-researched and well-written course work assignments, presentations and research proposals with a view to ultimately producing successful and worthwhile dissertations at the end of the programme. The module therefore provides theoretical and practical guidance as to how to conduct research in terms of choosing and formulating a suitable and viable topic; proposal writing; undertaking a literature review; data collection, analysis, discussion and presentation; research methodologies specific to the fields of Translation Studies and Interpreting Studies; ethical considerations; and referencing. Focus will also be placed on the actual process of dissertation, especially issues of structure and content, as well as clarity, cohesion and concision. To allow for a practical application of theoretical aspects learnt, students will be exposed to as wide a range as possible of texts and practical examples in the areas covered. |
| PDTI505 |
Practical Translation and Editing |
This module equips students with the requisite skills for translation and editing of different types of text. Ongoing assessments of individual and group translation projects will be carried out to continually evaluate students’ competencies and encourage them to reach the next higher level. Students will also be trained to analyse both the text requiring translation and editing and texts that have been translated by themselves and others. A variety of translated material will be edited and nalysed using different parameters, including back-translation, editing, piloting, and linguistic profiling based on etymological, diachronic and synchronic considerations of stylistic and grammatical usage, cultural contexts, hermeneutics, among others. These materials will be carefully chosen from old and new texts of local, national and international relevance, e.g. translated versions of religious scriptures, national constitutions, UN agencies documents, baseline survey instruments, literary texts, etc. Blog spots will be formed that will enable students to engage with other translation students, lecturers, authors and other relevant practitioners across the globe on pertinent issues and conduct useful dialogues on methods and interpretation of findings |
| PDTI506 |
Interpreting Practicum |
The practicum provides students with supervised hands-on practical experience in interpreting. The module introduces students to a number of interpreting activities and processes regarding interpreting texts from a number of domains, namely legal, health, education, commerce, politics, governance, religion to name a few. This module is designed to integrate and consolidate the skills and procedural awareness that students have acquired. This involves the practical execution of the modes of interpreting; such as consecutive, simultaneous and sight translation as practiced in different settings. It also seeks to offer more targeted interpreting practice for students so that they can prepare better for the national, regional and international interpreters’ accrediting bodies’ interpreting examinations. |
| PDTI570 |
Dissertation |
A student will be required to either write a dissertation on an approved topic addressing certain pertinent issues in the translation/interpreting discipline and/or industry, which may be related to any of the modules studied, or to carry out an independent project that is aimed to give solutions to a certain identified problem(s). This may entail developing a model to be used in the teaching/learning of translation or interpreting, developing a software/system/policy to be used by a specific company/organisation to improve efficiency in the management of translation/interpreting projects. Where applicable, such projects may be conducted in partnership with selected organisations, and they will be tested for effectiveness, accordingly. Meriting projects will be patented and commercialized as may be necessary. While dissertations will be an individual effort, projects may be carried out in teams of approved partnerships from the same programmes or drawing participants from other specialties, e.g. Computer Science, Engineering, approved companies, etc. |
