CHIN 5009 - Advanced Translation: English to Chinese

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018

This course aims to develop students' skills in translation from English into Chinese as well as a solid understanding of theories underpinning translation practice. The course integrates theoretical concepts with practice. It introduces different approaches to help students become aware of their own perceptions of translation, translation processes and translation difficulties. It takes an inter-disciplinary approach and utilises contrastive linguistic and cultural analyses to expose students to the features and requirements of text production in both Chinese and English as well as for different genres and purposes. Translation practice covers a variety of text types including certificates, news reports, public speeches, company descriptions, websites, policies and legal documents etc., a professional would commonly be called upon to translate. The course also provides students with opportunities to participate in group work and utilise computer-based translation technology. For students enrolled in the Master of Arts (Translation and Transcultural Communication) or Graduate Diploma in Translation and Transcultural Communication, the final exam result of the course will be used as evidence for determining eligibility for recommendation for NAATI Accreditation.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CHIN 5009
    Course Advanced Translation: English to Chinese
    Coordinating Unit Asian Studies
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge Fluency in both Chinese and English
    Restrictions Students who are enrolled in a postgraduate program
    Course Description This course aims to develop students' skills in translation from English into Chinese as well as a solid understanding of theories underpinning translation practice. The course integrates theoretical concepts with practice. It introduces different approaches to help students become aware of their own perceptions of translation, translation processes and translation difficulties. It takes an inter-disciplinary approach and utilises contrastive linguistic and cultural analyses to expose students to the features and requirements of text production in both Chinese and English as well as for different genres and purposes. Translation practice covers a variety of text types including certificates, news reports, public speeches, company descriptions, websites, policies and legal documents etc., a professional would commonly be called upon to translate. The course also provides students with opportunities to participate in group work and utilise computer-based translation technology. For students enrolled in the Master of Arts (Translation and Transcultural Communication) or Graduate Diploma in Translation and Transcultural Communication, the final exam result of the course will be used as evidence for determining eligibility for recommendation for NAATI Accreditation.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Emeritus Professor Purnendra Jain

    Lecturer & Course coordinator
    Dr. Baohui Xie
    643a Wills Building
    North Tce Campus
    Adelaide, SA5000
    Ph: (08) 8313 4282
    Fx: (08) 8313 4388
    Email: baohui.xie@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.


    Advanced Translation: From English to Chinese
    (Semester 1, 2016)

    Tuesday
    Workshop
    2 hours 3:10-5.00pm,
    Lower Napier LG11

    Wednesday
    Workshop
    2 hours
    12:10 – 2:00pm,
    Lower Napier LG18
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Integrate theoretical knowledge of translation with practical skills
    2. Apply contrastive linguistic analysis to translation practice
    3. Develop strategies to deal with textual complexity at lexical, syntactic, grammatical and conceptual levels
    4. Negotiate differences in cross-cultural thought forms through translation practice
    5. Enhance insights into effective translation
    6. Develop competence in critical textual and contextual analysis
    7. Reflect on and communicate one’s own translation processes, challenges and problem-solving strategies
    8. Engage in collaborative work and use the Internet to solve problems encountered in translation
    9. Communicate effectively in bilingual and cross-cultural settings
    10. Consolidate ethical awareness as a professional translator and prepare students for NAATI accreditation at Professional level in translation from English to Chinese
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 3, 5, 10
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    4, 7, 8, 9
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    5, 6, 9, 10
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    4, 9, 10
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    4, 7, 9
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    1. Depraetere, I. (2011) Perspectives on Translation Quality. Berlin, De Gruyter.
    2. Newmark, P. (1981) Approaches to Translation, Oxford, Pergamon Press
    3. Pellatt, V. and Liu, E. (2010) Thinking Chinese Translation, London and New York, Routledge.
    Recommended Resources
    Books
    1. Antoinette, F. et al (2010) Translation. London, Continuum International Publishing.
    2. Australian Government Information Management Office (2002) Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers (6th Ed), John Wiley and Sons.
    3. Baker, M. and Saldanha, G. (Ed) (2009) Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies (2nd Ed), London, Routledge.
    4. Boase-Beier, J. (2006) Stylistic Approaches to Translation, Manchester and Kinderhook, St. Jerome Pub.
    5. Bogucki, L. (2013) Areas and Methods of Audiovisual Translation Research. Frankfurt, Peter Lang GmbH.
    6. Chan, L. T. (2004) Twentieth-century Chinese Translation Theory: Modes, Issues and Debates. Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publishing Company.
    7. Duff, A. (1981) The Third Language: Recurrent Problems of the Translation into English, Oxford, Pergamon Press.
    8. Gambier, Y. and Doorslaer, L. (Ed) (2010) Handbook of Translation Studies, Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publishing Company.
    9. Gideon, T. (1995) Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond. Amsterdam, Benjamins.
    10. Gideon, T. et al (2008) Beyond Descriptive Translation Studies. Amsterdam, Benjamins.
    11. Giuseppe, P. (2009) Key Terms in Translation Studies. London, Continuum Publishing.
    12. Gouadec, D. (2007) Translation as a Profession. Amsterdam, Benjamins.
    13. Kirkpatrick A. and Xu, Z. (2012) Chinese Rhetoric and Writing. Fort Collins, The WAC Clearinghouse; Anderson, Parlor Press.
    14. Meng, J. (2011) Phraseology in Corpus-Based Translation Studies. Oxford, Lang, Peter, AG.
    15. Munday, J. (2008) Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications (2nd Ed), London, Routledge.
    16. Newmark, P. (1981) A Textbook of Translation, London, Prentice Hall International.
    17. Nord, C. (1997) Translating as Purposeful Activity: Functionalist Approaches Explained, Manchester Uk, St Jerome.
    18. Snell-Hornby, M. (2006) The Turns of Translation Studies. Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publishing Company.
    19. Snell-Hornby, M. et al (1994) Translation Studies: An Interdiscipline, Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publishing Company.
    20. Wolf, M. and Fukari, A. (Ed) (2007) Constructing a Sociology of Translation. Amsterdam, Benjamins.

    Journals:
    1. Babel: International Journal of Translation ISSN 0521-9744, E-ISSN 1569-9668
    2. Chinese Translators Journal (China) ISSN 1000-873X
    3. International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies ISSN 2308-5460
    4. Meta: Translators’ Journal ISSN 1492-1421 (digital) 0026-0452 (print)
    5. Target: International Journal of Translation Studies
    6. ISSN 0924-1884, Online ISSN: 1569-9986
    7. Translation ISSN 2169-0731 (Online)
    8. Translation Journal ISSN 1536-7207
    9. Translation Review ISSN 0737-4836 (Print), 2164-0564 (Online)
    10. Translation Watch Quarterly, ISSN 1832-6951

    Dictionaries:

    It is essential that students have a Chinese-English and English-Chinese Dictionary. The following dictionaries are recommended for the course:
    陆谷孙,《英汉大词典》(第2版),上海译文出版社
    吴光华,《汉英大辞典》(第3版),上海交通大学出版社
    Online Learning
    The MyUni site will be used to announce upcoming curricular and extra-curricular events and host supplementary material. The site will help students and lecturers to communicate outside of class and help students prepare for lectures. Learning materials will be uploaded on regular basis. Feedback will be given on MyUni Grade Centre.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Translation skills at professional level will be developed through a task-oriented, skill-based approach. Students will be encouraged to participate actively at every stage of learning.

    There are four contact hours per week divided into two 2-hour sessions: Critical analysis on homework and assignments will be conducted in Tuesday’s workshops. In-class practice and mock-up tests will be held in Wednesday’s workshops.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The total workload is 156 hours at minimum per semester, or 13 hours each week for 12 weeks. In addition to the four class contact hours, students are expected to spend at least nine hours out of class each week on average. These include five hours on self-guided practice, two hours reading and research, and two hours assignment preparation.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The weekly in-class learning activities are scheduled as follows:


    Week                                              Workshop Description
       1           Tuesday           Introduction to the course and NAATI accreditation
                    Wednesday      In-class practice & review
       2           Tuesday            Review of the assignments of the previous week
                    Wednesday      In-class practice & review
       3           Tuesday            Review of the assignments of the previous week
                    Wednesday      Mock-up test 1
       4            Tuesday           Review of mock-up test 1 and the assignments of the previous week
                     Wednesday      In-class practice & review
       5            Tuesday           Review of the assignments of the previous week
                     Wednesday      In-class practice & review
       6            Tuesday            Review of the assignments of the previous week
                     Wednesday       Mock-up test 2

                          Mid-term Break from 11th to 24th April, 2016

       9            Tuesday            Review of mock-up test 2 and the assignments of the previous week
                     Wednesday       In-class practice & review
       10          Tuesday            Review of the assignments of the previous week
                     Wednesday       In-class practice & review
       11          Tuesday            Review of the assignments of the previous week
                      Wednesday      Mock-up test 3
       12           Tuesday            Review of mock-up test 3 and the assignments of the previous week
                      Wednesday      In-class practice & review
       13           Tuesday            Review of the assignments of the previous week
                      Wednesday       In-class practice & review
       14           Tuesday            Review of the assignments of the previous week
                       Wednesday      In-class practice & review
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    The translation project is a collaborative work that takes small group discovery efforts. Each group of 2-3 students is to translate a text and write a reflection paper of approximately 1,000 words. In addition to individual translation, the team work focuses on translation process, applying theories to practice, identifying problems, as well as producing problem solving strategies and solutions.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment task            Weighting                       Due date                          Intended learning outcomes assessed
    Weekly assignments           45%                          Weekly                                  1-6
    Mock-up tests                      15%                          Week 3, 6, 9                         1-5
    Translation Project               20%                          17th June, 2016                   4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
    Written Exam                       20%                           Exam week                          1-5, 10
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment in this course is criteria-based, i.e. the desired learning outcomes are specified and are designed to indicate progress towards the learning outcomes. The assessment grade is a measure of the extent to which the student has achieved the learning outcomes. The standard of performance required for the award of a particular grade is a judgement based on the professional expertise of the staff who contribute to the assessment process and is informed by experience of accepted standards. There is no predetermined distribution of grades.

    1. Weekly assignments (45%)
    The students are expected to translate 1-2 passages of approximately 250 words each per week. The assignments should be completed in an environment simulating NAATI test for accreditation at professional level. Each passage is expected to be translated within 70 minutes including 10 minutes for reading and taking notes. The assignments must be WRITTEN BY HAND on formatted assignment papers. The assignment paper is available for download on MyUni. Please fill in the paper with all required information including student name, ID, starting and finishing time, etc. Only hardcopy dictionaries are allowed. Students are not allowed to use Internet resources during the translation. The assignments are to be scanned and MUST be submitted in pdf format via e-Assignment on MyUni by the due date.

    2. Mock-up tests (15%)
    There will be three mock-up tests in Wednesday’s workshop in week 3, 6 and 9 respectively. The students are to translate two passages of 250 words each within two hours. Only paper dictionaries are allowed in the tests. The papers will be marked strictly in accordance with NAATI standards.

    3. Translation project (20%, 1,000 characters at minimum)
    The translation project is a collaborative work that takes small group discovery efforts. Each group of 2-3 students is to translate a text and write a reflection paper of approximately 1,000 words. In addition to individual translation, the team work focuses on translation process, applying theories to practice, identifying problems, as well as producing problem solving strategies and solutions. Each student is expected to translate the passage independently, review the works of group members, and brainstorm for an outcome that leads to a refined final edition. Whilst paper dictionaries only are allowed in individual translation, the students may use all available resources including online and offline tools during the group discussion sessions. The project must be finalized on a formatted task paper and submitted via e-Assignment on MyUni. The task paper is available for download on MyUni.



    4. Written Exam (20%)
    There will be a written exam during the exam week of Semester 1. The exam will be a simulation in NAATI Format at the level of professional translators. The students will be required to translate two passages of approximately 250 words each within 140 minutes, including 20 minutes for reading and taking notes. Only paper dictionaries are allowed. The dictionaries must be clean and without notes of any kind. Electronic devices including e-dictionaries are not allowed.
    Submission
    Written assignments are to be submitted electronically to e-Assignment on MyUni before the prescribed deadlines. Submission by other means will not be marked.
    Late submission may be allowed in some circumstances at the discretion of the course co-ordinator. However, a penalty of 1 out of 100 points per day will apply unless otherwise exempted due to medical reasons supported by a doctor’s certificate or in compassionate circumstances approved by the co-ordinator.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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