Core modules
Translation across Cultures: Concepts and Theories
The module seeks to familiarise students with key theoretical concepts in contemporary Translation and Transcultural Studies, explored through case studies across a range of text types in translation; it also provides an overview of the development of Translation Studies as a discipline. Students will be given the opportunity to explore how translation theory relates to translation practice and to the study of translation across a range of text types, as well as reflecting on their own positionality as researchers and practitioners in Translation Studies.
Translation Portfolio
This module introduces the principles of translation, with a particular focus on the challenges that translators encounter in their practice. It offers you the opportunity to translate texts in different genres, and to analyse your own translation strategies.
In the general lectures, you will explore the theoretical challenges that different literary and media genres (such as poetry, short stories, children's literature, news, audiovisual and advertising) typically pose to the practice of translation. Crucially, in the language-specific seminars and through independent study, you will engage in the practice of translation and write a commentary analysing your own approach and translation strategies.
Critical Skills for the Translation Profession
This module introduces you to current professional practices in the language industry from a critical perspective. As well as becoming familiar with language industry demands, emerging job profiles, translation competence models, the role of technology, market requirements and the need to specialise, you will develop a reflexive stance towards translators’ position within the current job market. Crucially, you will acquire the necessary analytical skills to assess ethical dilemmas and the challenges and opportunities of translation as a sustainable profession.
Research Skills in Modern Languages
What are the skills needed to be a researcher in your particular branch of Modern Languages? What are the standards and expectations for presenting your research in the field and beyond? How do these research skills reach beyond academic work to equip you for other professional contexts?
This module addresses the basic principles and procedures at the heart of advanced research in all areas of Modern Languages. You will become familiar with key research resources in your field and will learn how to evaluate and apply the materials available to you. You will also learn how to position your own research and writing within a broader scholarly landscape.
Specialised Translation Skills
This module supports students in the development of practical specialised translation skills that are essential for language professionals. Departing from functionalist and text-based methods applied to translation, the module fosters a reflective and critical approach to the analysis of source texts and translation situations that will allow students to design, develop and evaluate specialised translation decisions.
Dissertation
Through a combination of independent research and targeted support and feedback sessions, the final dissertation (15,000 words) will help you produce a coherent and logically argued piece of writing that demonstrates knowledge of and critical ability in a chosen area, commensurate with the accomplishment of an MA degree. You will choose one of three models: (a) extended translation with commentary, (b) comparative analysis of existing translations, or (c) research dissertation on a chosen topic related to your own interests.
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. You will have to do 30 credits of optional modules. Example optional modules may include:
Read more about the optional modules offered on the School of Modern Languages website.Link opens in a new window
You can also choose other optional modules offered in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures and even in the Faculty of Arts and wider University, subject to availability.
