LA052-5-AU-CO:
Grammar and Pragmatics for Translation
2024/25
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Future
15
20 March 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(LA043 or LA140 or LA240 or LA340 or LA440 or LA640) and (LA053 or LA150 or LA250 or LA350 or LA450 or LA650)
(none)
(none)
BA Q911 Modern Languages Translation, Interpreting and Cultural Mediation,
BA Q912 Modern Languages Translation, Interpreting and Cultural Mediation (Including Foundation Year)
In this module students will be introduced to key concepts of grammar and pragmatics and how they relate to the translation processes, particularly to making appropriate language choices. They will learn to analyse grammatical and pragmatic features of source texts in English, identify translation challenges (e.g., lack of grammatical equivalence) and select the strategies and techniques most suitable to overcome these difficulties.
As this is a module designed for all students on the degree, irrespective of their target language, students will concentrate on grammatical and pragmatic features in English and contrast them with features of their target languages.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide students with an awareness of the grammatical and pragmatic dimensions of translation.
- To provide a foundational knowledge of key theoretical and practical issues in pragmatics in translation.
- To consolidate knowledge of grammar and develop awareness of pragmatics; refine and deepen understanding of both the English and target languages and cultures.
- To help students build confidence in manipulating grammatical forms and selecting appropriate language.
- To enable students to identify translation difficulties and make decisions to resolve them based on grammatical and socio-pragmatic knowledge.
- More generally, to help students develop analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of grammatical features of English.
- Demonstrate knowledge of concepts related to the field of pragmatics, such as direct or indirect speech acts, intended meaning, shared knowledge, etc.
- Exhibit an understanding of the grammatical and pragmatic dimensions of translation.
- Identify grammatical and pragmatic aspects features characteristics of texts.
- More generally, demonstrate a sensitivity to language structure, language function and intercultural communication.
Syllabus Information
- Grammar and translation: grammatical vs. lexical means to convey meaning; grammar and varieties of language; interdependency between grammar and other ‘levels’ of language.
- Pragmatics and translation.
- Introduction to grammatical categories; number and gender.
- Person + avoiding gender bias + expressing (in)formality.
- Tense and aspect.
- Voice and word order.
- Cooperation and implicature in translation.
- Speech acts in translation.
- Politeness and interaction in translation.
- Discourse and translation.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 1-hour interactive lecture per week introducing one or more aspects of grammar or pragmatics for translation (see above);
- One 1-hour seminar per week practising sentence/text analysis and translation through a variety of exercises.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Yes
Yes
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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