Translation Practice in Science and Technology (English-Portuguese)
Code
711121059
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Línguas, Culturas e Literaturas Modernas, Secção de Estudos Ingleses e Norte-Americanos
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Rogério Puga
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
At the end of the semester students should be able to:
1) identify the specific formal and stylistic features of a range of technical and scientific texts;
2) make use of the most appropriate databases, dictionaries and glossaries in their terminological research;
3) be acquainted with EU and Portuguese legislation, norms and guidelines regarding the translation of technical texts;
4) master the basic terminology used in technical documents and in scientific texts from the domains of physics, chemistry, medicine and biology;
5) select the most appropriate translation strategies when rendering a technical or scientific document in Portuguese;
6) locate suitable parallel texts that might be of assistance in the process of translation;
7) translate the range of documents specified in the syllabus in an accurate manner, both in lexical, stylistic and formal terms;
8) provide appropriate justifications for their translation choices based on their reading assignments and classroom practice.
Prerequisites
English language competence corresponding to level B2.2.
Subject matter
1. Distinction between technical, scientific and specialized translation.
2. Technical and scientific translation: terminological databases and other sources for research and documentation.
3. Technical and scientific text types.
4. EU and national legislation regulating the production and translation of technical texts.
5. Features of technical documentation: text structure and format, syntax, terminology (e.g. acronyms).
6. Strategies used in the translation of technical texts such as instructions manuals, expert technical reports, technical data sheets (TDS) and package inserts.
7. Features of different types of scientific texts: reports of clinical trials, patents, scientific journal papers and popular science from the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine and biology.
8. Strategies used in the translation of scientific texts: specialized terminology (including latinisms and acronyms), formulas, graphics and charts, scientific notations, equations and units of measure.
Bibliography
1. Byrne, Jody (2006). Technical Translation: Usability Strategies for Translating Technical Documentation. The Netherlands: Springer.
2. Byrne, Jody (2012). Scientific and Technical Translation Explained: a Nuts and Bolts Guide for Beginners. Manchester, UK & Northampton, MA: St. Jerome.
3. Wright, Sue Ellen and Leland D. Wright Jr. (1993). Scientific and Technical Translation. Amsterdam/ Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
4. Cavaco-Cruz, Luís (2012). Manual prático e fundamental de tradução técnica. Independence: Arkonte.
5. Hargis, Gretchen (1998). Developing Quality Technical Information: A Handbook for Writers and Editors. New Jersey: Prentice Hall PTR.
6. Chabner, Davi-Ellen (2011). The Language of Medicine. 9th edition. Saint-Louis, Missouri: Saunders/Elsevier.
7. Dawkins, Richard (2009). The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Teaching method
The methodology will be predominantly learner-centred and activity oriented since the main expected outcomes are of a practical nature. The acquisition of skills in these areas of translation will be based on four strategies: the presentation of text samples whose analysis will lead students to make inferences, discuss hypotheses and reach conclusions regarding the features of each text type; the promotion of peer discussion regarding translation choices and strategies; the assignment of translation tasks to be carried out either individually or in pairs; and finally the discussion of the results of each student´s/pair´s work. Lecture will be a strategy used only to convey information or explain terms or concepts that the students cannot understand through experiential learning and reading assignments.
Evaluation method
Students will be evaluated on the basis of their oral participation in classroom activities (10%), weekly or bimonthly writing assignments (30%) and 2 written classroom tests (50%).