Module Code: LN230
Module Name: Translation in the Digital Age
Module Coordinator: Dr Sijing Lu (2024/25)
Term 1
Module Credits: 15

Module Description

This module will introduce students to key concepts and practices in translation as influenced by technology. Language technologies are evolving at a rapid pace, and they constantly modify the nature of translation practices. As a result, the language industry requires translators who can quickly adapt to new environments, assess the needs and requirements of translation projects, and rely on efficient problem-solving abilities.
This module will expose students to different forms of translation that are mediated, enhanced, and required by technology and that are deeply embedded in the language industries. It will introduce computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools (such as translation memories, machine translation and corpus resources) and equip students with the skills to critically assess and implement these tools in complex translation processes.
Through a series of lectures, language-specific seminars and practical workshops, students will be introduced to multifaceted practices in the language industry (web translation, post-editing, subtitling) and an overview of the translation profession (translation competences, project workflows). In the second half of the module, students will work in teams to complete a collaborative project to translate a website into multiple languages (depending on their own language knowledge). In the project, students will review the source materials, set up a workflow model, assign roles and tasks, complete the project and deliver a fully functional multilingual website.

Module Aims

• Enriching the students’ understanding of the position of translation in the language industry and the importance of technology
• Introducing students to a range of computer-assisted translation software and allowing them to assess its functionality and usability
• Enabling students to critically evaluate the needs of a translation project and devise a realistic workflow
• Providing students with the knowledge and skills to plan, implement and develop a collaborative translation project
• Raising students' awareness about the translation industry, the different roles involved and the opportunities for language professionals

Outline Syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

• Week 1: Translation competences, translators and technology-related skills
• Week 2: Introduction to translation memories and website translation
• Week 3: Project workflows and the translation industry
• Week 4: Collaborative translation and project meeting
• Week 5: Post-editing
• Week 6: Reading week
• Week 7: Subtitling and pivot translation
• Week 8: Collaborative translation and project meeting
  • Website localisation
  • Formative assessment (group presentations)
• Week 9: Ethics, AI and sustainability
• Week 10: Collaborative translation and project meeting

Assessment Method

Group translation project (30%)

Working in teams, students will complete a collaborative project to translate a website into multiple languages. The website will be proposed by the tutor and will include text and video content. The language combinations will be decided by the students (any languages taught in SMLC).

The submission will include a translation brief, source text analysis, project workflow, translation memories, target texts, multilingual glossary. The discussions leading to group submissions will take place during classes in Weeks 3, 4, 8 and 10 and the work carried out by the different groups will be closely monitored by the lecturers teaching this module. In this way, potential absences and lack of input from some members of the teams will be immediately identified.

Personal reflective report (70%)

2500-word report. In this reflective report, students will explain the collaborative translation experience, address the benefits and challenges of technology, and evaluate the decisions made to complete the project.

Requirements

• Students will need to bring their own laptops to the class.