The Translation The Translation SyllabusSyllabus

Ian MasonIan Mason

Heriot Watt UniversityHeriot Watt University

Surveys of course design in Surveys of course design in European UniversitiesEuropean Universities

Under-researchedUnder-researched Variety of practiceVariety of practice Underlying principles?Underlying principles?

Question for discussionQuestion for discussion

Given a course lasting 20 weeks, one Given a course lasting 20 weeks, one session per week,session per week,

How could we structure the syllabus?How could we structure the syllabus? What are the different kinds of What are the different kinds of

themes, topics, etc. we could try to themes, topics, etc. we could try to cover?cover?

Selection, grading, presentation of Selection, grading, presentation of materials?materials?

for example…for example…

The Grammatical ModelThe Grammatical Model

Translating noun phrasesTranslating noun phrases Translating verbs and tenseTranslating verbs and tense Translating questionsTranslating questions Translating conditional sentencesTranslating conditional sentences Etc.Etc.

The Cultural ModelThe Cultural Model EcologyEcology

Flora, fauna, topography, climate, etc.Flora, fauna, topography, climate, etc. Material cultureMaterial culture

Food, clothes, buildings, transport, etc.Food, clothes, buildings, transport, etc. Social cultureSocial culture

Professions, trades, social behaviour, etc.Professions, trades, social behaviour, etc. Social organisationSocial organisation

Political, administrative, religious, historyPolitical, administrative, religious, history CustomCustom

Gesture, habit, folk beliefs, etc.Gesture, habit, folk beliefs, etc.(adapted from (adapted from

Newmark 1988)Newmark 1988)

The Interpretive ModelThe Interpretive Model

Text analysisText analysis– Translating Translating cohesioncohesion– Translating Translating coherencecoherence– Translating Translating registerregister (field, mode, tenor) (field, mode, tenor)– Translating author’s Translating author’s perspectiveperspective– Etc.Etc.

Topic as an organising principleTopic as an organising principle

Social servicesSocial services EducationEducation Government and politicsGovernment and politics LawLaw Science and technologyScience and technology Art and cultureArt and culture

Genre as an organising principleGenre as an organising principle

Patents, contracts, legislationPatents, contracts, legislation AbstractsAbstracts ReportsReports

BusinessBusiness NewsNews

Critical reviewsCritical reviews AdvertisingAdvertising

SlogansSlogans Promotional literaturePromotional literature

Creative literatureCreative literature etc.etc.

Text type as an organising principleText type as an organising principle

Rhetorical functionRhetorical function– To narrate, to describe, to argue…To narrate, to describe, to argue…

Texts are hybridTexts are hybrid Dominant rhetorical functionDominant rhetorical function

– Plans towards goalsPlans towards goals Text-type focus determines structureText-type focus determines structure Structure organises textureStructure organises texture These socio-textual practices are culturalThese socio-textual practices are cultural

Text Type versus GenreText Type versus Genre

Same text type found across a Same text type found across a variety of genresvariety of genres– e.g. argument in editorials, academic e.g. argument in editorials, academic

articles, advertising, etc.articles, advertising, etc. Certain genres attract certain text Certain genres attract certain text

typestypes– e.g. instruction in legal contractse.g. instruction in legal contracts

So, text type and genre can be So, text type and genre can be combined in the syllabuscombined in the syllabus

Text typesText types

Dominant rhetorical focusDominant rhetorical focus– NarrationNarration (focus on organisation of (focus on organisation of

events in time)events in time)– DescriptionDescription (focus on organisation of (focus on organisation of

objects in space)objects in space)– ExpositionExposition (analysis and synthesis of (analysis and synthesis of

concepts)concepts)– ArgumentationArgumentation (focus on evaluation) (focus on evaluation) – InstructionInstruction (focus on future behaviour) (focus on future behaviour)

A Text Typology A Text Typology (Hatim & Mason 1990)(Hatim & Mason 1990)

Exposition

Narration Description Conceptual exposition

A Text Typology A Text Typology (Hatim & Mason 1990)(Hatim & Mason 1990)

Argumentation

Through-argument Counter-argument

A Text Typology A Text Typology (Hatim & Mason 1990)(Hatim & Mason 1990)

Instruction

With option Without option

Rationale for a text-type syllabusRationale for a text-type syllabus

Different text types place different Different text types place different demands on the translator.demands on the translator.

Main distinguishing features = Main distinguishing features = degree of degree of evaluativeness.evaluativeness.

Ability to perceive Ability to perceive dominant dominant rhetorical focusrhetorical focus assists translator in assists translator in decision making at lower levels.decision making at lower levels.

English-Arabic/Arabic-English English-Arabic/Arabic-English Translation. A Practical GuideTranslation. A Practical Guide

B.Hatim (1997)B.Hatim (1997) Translating legal textsTranslating legal texts

– The Preamble, The Legal Article, etc.The Preamble, The Legal Article, etc. Translating detached expositionTranslating detached exposition

– The Summary, The Abstract, The Report The Summary, The Abstract, The Report (detached), The News Report (less detached).(detached), The News Report (less detached).

Translating argumentationTranslating argumentation– Through-argument, Counter-argument, The Through-argument, Counter-argument, The

suppressed counter-argument.suppressed counter-argument.

IllustrationsIllustrations

Instruction without optionInstruction without option– RegulationRegulation: ‘shall’/’will’: ‘shall’/’will’– ScopeScope: ‘any’; ‘pursuant to’; ‘specified : ‘any’; ‘pursuant to’; ‘specified

in’; ‘subject to’; ‘in the event of’; ‘except in’; ‘subject to’; ‘in the event of’; ‘except for’; ‘provided that’…for’; ‘provided that’…

– SpecificationSpecification: ‘inherent in… political and : ‘inherent in… political and constitutional, inclusive of… and’; constitutional, inclusive of… and’; ‘including…’; ‘general or particular’; ‘including…’; ‘general or particular’; ‘contained in or endorsed on’; ‘by ‘contained in or endorsed on’; ‘by payment or.. by reinstatement or repair’payment or.. by reinstatement or repair’

Instruction with optionInstruction with option

PurposePurpose: ‘to prevent… make sure…’; : ‘to prevent… make sure…’; ‘to prevent… store…’; ‘To store… ‘to prevent… store…’; ‘To store… cover…’; ‘To make… melt…’; ‘To cover…’; ‘To make… melt…’; ‘To make… stir…’; ‘To serve, carve…’make… stir…’; ‘To serve, carve…’

OrderOrder: ‘Before… read’; ‘Handle… : ‘Before… read’; ‘Handle… until’; ‘Cook… until’; ‘then’; ‘and’; until’; ‘Cook… until’; ‘then’; ‘and’; ‘Next’.‘Next’.

AdviceAdvice: ‘can be used’; ‘would go : ‘can be used’; ‘would go well’; ‘is recommended’.well’; ‘is recommended’.

ArgumentationArgumentation

The counter-argumentThe counter-argument– (Tone- setter) (Tone- setter) ‘The country’s troubles…’‘The country’s troubles…’– Thesis cited (to be opposed) ‘Thesis cited (to be opposed) ‘Algeria’s Algeria’s

strengths’strengths’– (Substantiation) (Substantiation) ‘children’, ‘investment’, ‘children’, ‘investment’,

etc.etc.– Opposition Opposition ‘These strengths are being ‘These strengths are being

wasted’wasted’– (Substantiation) (Substantiation) ‘jobs… currency…’‘jobs… currency…’– (Conclusion)(Conclusion)

ArgumentationArgumentation

Highly evaluative argument = Highly evaluative argument = maximum translator intervention, maximum translator intervention, e.g.e.g.– Promotional text for a restaurant:Promotional text for a restaurant:

STST: Lovers of the flavours and colours : Lovers of the flavours and colours of the South will adore.of the South will adore.

TTTT If you like the flavours and colours If you like the flavours and colours of the South, it’s just the place for of the South, it’s just the place for you.you.

Translator mediation: register Translator mediation: register adjustmentadjustment

Promotional text for ChampagnePromotional text for Champagne– PersonalisationPersonalisation: ‘you’: ‘you’– Word orderWord order: ‘When you are choosing’: ‘When you are choosing’– Lexical choiceLexical choice: ‘idem’ > ‘the same : ‘idem’ > ‘the same

thing’; ‘carbonic gas’ > ‘bottle thing’; ‘carbonic gas’ > ‘bottle fermentation’fermentation’

– Syntax, nouns to verbsSyntax, nouns to verbs: ‘the mode of : ‘the mode of cooking’ > ‘the way the dish is cooking’ > ‘the way the dish is prepared’; ‘spontaneity’ > ‘make a prepared’; ‘spontaneity’ > ‘make a spontaneous choice’…spontaneous choice’…

The Interpreting SyllabusThe Interpreting Syllabus

Some general principlesSome general principles

Processing focusProcessing focus

SIMULTANEOUSSIMULTANEOUSLimited access to context and structureLimited access to context and structureFocus on Focus on texturetexture

CONSECUTIVECONSECUTIVENote-takingNote-takingFocus on Focus on structurestructure

LIAISON (DIALOGUE)LIAISON (DIALOGUE)Face-to-faceFace-to-faceFocus on Focus on contextcontext

Dialogue InterpretingDialogue Interpreting

Spontaneous speechSpontaneous speech Dominant text type focus does not Dominant text type focus does not

apply.apply. Progression by Progression by type of eventtype of event

Progression from – to + EvaluativeProgression from – to + Evaluative

The Question- and-Answer SessionThe Question- and-Answer SessionPolice interrogation; courtroom examinationPolice interrogation; courtroom examination

The InterviewThe InterviewMedia interviews; press conference; cultural Media interviews; press conference; cultural

events, etc.events, etc.

The DebateThe DebateExchange of views; argumentExchange of views; argument

The NegotiationThe NegotiationBusiness meetings; diplomacyBusiness meetings; diplomacy