The module aims to give a survey of the main theoretical approaches to translation and the influential concepts that have been used to reflect on translation practice. You will learn about historical figures who pioneered the Western reflection on translation and often played a pivotal role in the cultural, intellectual and political events of their time, as well as key thinkers who developed contemporary translation theory, drawing on several academic disciplines. Following the ideas of the key thinkers, you will explore translation from a linguistic, philosophical, cultural and ideological perspective.

1. Explain use of theory for translation;
2. Describe and differentiate between the main theoretical approaches to translation;
3. Show an ability to analyse the nature and relevance of various theoretical arguments with regard to translation practice.
4. Identify, find, evaluate, and accurately reference sources of information.

The module will be delivered through a range of interactive teaching sessions supplemented by online teaching and learning activities and materials – and may include, where relevant, asynchronous materials such as lecture recordings. Full details on the delivery mode of this module will be available on Learning Central at the start of the academic year – and may be, in part, determined by Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidance.  

There will be an essay writing class and a revision/exam strategy session to prepare you for the assessment. There will also be online revision consultation sessions at the end of the module in which members of the teaching team will be available remotely.

• ​Lectures will develop your capacity to absorb information and apply relevant concepts to analyse language and translation-related problems.
• Seminars will develop the capacity to read critically and present your views to a group or class.
• Through independent learning, essay and exam preparation you will practise and develop research skills and the capacity to deploy information in well-constructed arguments.
• The essay coursework will also enable you to practise and develop written presentation and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) skills.

The method(s) of assessing the learning outcomes for this module are set out in the Assessment Table, which also contains the weightings of each assessment component.

Reassessment

You may be required to resit one or more of the assessments in this module if you fail the module. The Examination Board will advise you which assessments you need to resit during the August resit period. Resit assessments that are not supported by extenuating circumstances will be capped at the pass mark applicable to your programme.

Mapping of Assessments to Intended Learning Outcomes:

The Information literacy assignment assesses ILO 4

The essay and the open book assessment assess ILOs 1-4

Students will attend a series of live online lectures and seminars on the following topics:

• History
• The Linguistic Turn
• Translation and Society
• The Functionalists
• The Cultural Turn.

We will also offer an online Essay Writing class.