CHIN 7004 - Advanced Translation: English to Chinese

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2019

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 7004
    Course Advanced Translation: English to Chinese
    Coordinating Unit Asian Studies
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible CHIN 5001, CHIN 5009
    Assumed Knowledge Fluency in both Chinese and English
    Restrictions Available to MA (InterpTrnsltnTrnscultComm), GDipInterpTrnsltnTrnscultComm students only
    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: Dr Baohui Xie



    Dr Baohui Xie                                                            

    Room 639a Kenneth Wills Building                                        

    Email: baohui.xie@adelaide.edu.au                                      

    Tel: 8313 4282           

    Fax: 8313 4388          
    Course Timetable

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

  • 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's certified translator test in the direction 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


    Depraetere, I. (2011) Perspectives on Translation Quality. Berlin, De Gruyter.
    Gutt, E. (1992) Relevance Theory: A Guide to Successful Communication in Translation. Dallas, Summer Institute of Linguistics
    Gutt, E. (2014) Translation and Relevance: Cognition and Context. New York, Routledge
    Newmark, P. (1981) Approaches to Translation, Oxford, Pergamon Press
    Pellatt, V. and Liu, E. (2010) Thinking Chinese Translation, London and New York,  Routledge.


    Recommended Resources

    Antoinette, F. et al (2010) Translation. London, Continuum International Publishing.
    Australian Government Information Management Office (2002) Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers (6th Ed),
    John Wiley and Sons.
    Baker, M. and Saldanha, G. (Ed) (2009) Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies (2nd Ed), London, Routledge.
    Boase-Beier, J. (2006) Stylistic Approaches to Translation, Manchester and Kinderhook, St. Jerome Pub.
    Bogucki, L. (2013) Areas and Methods of Audiovisual Translation Research. Frankfurt, Peter Lang GmbH.
    Chan, L. T. (2004) Twentieth-century Chinese Translation Theory: Modes, Issues and Debates. Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publishing Company.
    Duff, A. (1981) The Third Language: Recurrent Problems of the Translation into English, Oxford, Pergamon Press.
    Gambier, Y. and Doorslaer, L. (Ed) (2010) Handbook of Translation Studies, Amsterdam/Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publishing Company.
    Gideon, T. (1995) Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond. Amsterdam, Benjamins.
    Gideon, T. et al (2008) Beyond Descriptive Translation Studies. Amsterdam, Benjamins.
    Giuseppe, P. (2009) Key Terms in Translation Studies. London, Continuum Publishing.

    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. The students are encouraged to leave questions and comments on MyUni/ Canvas.
  • 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 two contact hours per week: Critical analysis on homework and assignments will be conducted in lectures.
    Students are encouraged to group up and spend at least one hour per week on SGDE group assignments and discussions.


    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 two-hour in-class contact hours, and one hour for unsupervised SGDE activities, students are expected to spend at least 10 hours out of class each week on average.  These include five hours on self-guided practice, three hours reading and research, and two hours assignment preparation.

    Learning Activities Summary
    Week                                  Lecture Description

    1            Introduction to the course and NAATI certification

    2            Approaches to translation: Review of the assignments of the previous week

    3            Accuracy, equivalence and expression: Review of the assignments of the previous week

    4            Grammar and Functions: Review of the assignments of the previous week

    5            Genre, domains, register and style: Review of the assignments of the previous week

    6            Mock Test 1

    7            Idioms and idiomatic expressions: Review of Mock Test 1
    8            Translating a figure of speech and metaphors: Review of the assignments of the previous week

    9            Translating long and complex sentences: Review of the assignments of the previous week

    10          Context, cognition and optimal choice: Review of the assignments of the previous week

    11          Mock Test 2

    12          Review of Mock Test 2, Revision and Conclusion


    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Students are encouraged to group up as soon as the semester begins. Usually there are 3-4 people in each group.
    Students are expected to meet as a group for at least one hour per week for SGDE activities including, but not limited to the following:
    1. Discussing on lecture content
    2. Completing SGDE translation and revision tasks (not graded)
    3. Reflecting and improving on SGDE translation and revision tasks
    4. Working on SGDE translation project (graded)
    5. Preparing for SGDE tranlstion project presentation (graded)
    SGDE activities are not supervised.
  • 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

    Weekly assignments             45%                       Weekly

    Mock-up tests                        20%                      Week 6, 11

    Translation Project                 15%                      14th June, 2019

    Written Exam                         20%                      10:10am – 1:40 pm Monday 3rd June 2019
                                                                                venue: Napier 107





    Assessment Related Requirements
    Extensions
    Extensions can only be sought under the provisions of the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy or the Reasonable Adjustments for Teaching and Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy.

    Lateness Penalties
    For work that is late without formal extension, 2 percentage points will be deducted from the mark for every day (or part thereof) the work is late to a maximum of 7 days (including weekends and public holidays).
    For example, an assignment that is 3 days late: raw score of 80% - 6 marks lateness deduction = 74% final mark.For work with a formal extension, these penalties will apply from the extended due date.

    Cut-off date
    There will be a cut-off date for each assignment 7 days (including weekends and public holidays) after the original due date unless otherwise stipulated on MyUni. Work will not be accepted after the cut-off date, and a mark of zero will automatically be awarded for the assignment.

    Variations to the cut-off date
    Applications for variations to the cut-off date can only be made by the Course Coordinator on pedagogical grounds, and must approved by the relevant School Learning and Teaching Committee.
    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.

     Weekly assignments (45%)

    The students are expected to translate one passage and proofread one passage each of approximately 250 words each per week. The assignments should be completed in an environment simulating NAATI test for certified translators (formerly known as professional translators). Each passage is expected to be translated within 70 minutes including 10 minutes for reading and taking notes. The assignments must be typed 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. Both hardcopy and electronic dictionaries are allowed. Smart gadgets such as cell phone or tablets are NOT allowed. While using any electronic device, wi-fi features, if any, should be switched off.
    The assignments are to be submitted electronically via turnitin on MyUni by the due date. Submissions by other means, eg. email, will NOT be accepted or marked. Each assignment should be combined and sent in one file if you have multiple texts.

    Each assignment must be titled in the following format:

    Homework_CHIN7004_Week  _ Student Name

     

    Mock Tests (20%)

    There will be two mock
    tests in in week 6 and 11 respectively. A mock test consists of two parts:

    ·        
    Translation of one 200-word text

    ·        
    Revision of one 200-word translation including providing details of proposed revisions.

    ·        
    Important: The Mock Test will be a computer based exam on MyUni. Please bring a laptop with you. If you do not have a laptop or have difficulty accessing to one, you can use a univeristy computer at the test venue. There will be no other time. If you miss a mock test for legitimate reasons, you must apply for ‘extension of deadline’ through the MACA procedures.

    Both hard copy and electronic dictionaries are allowed in the tests. Using phones and tablets is prohibited. You must not use any online dictionaries or search engines (including Google) when during the exam time. The papers will be marked strictly in accordance with NAATI standards.

     

    Translation project (15%)

    The translation project is a collaborative work that takes joint efforts and offers small group discovery experiences. The project involves both translating and proofreading processes.  The workload is estimated to be 4,000 words in total including a reflection component for 1,000 words at maximum. Each group of 3-4 students is to translate two passages of 250 words each and reflect on
    the translation process. The word count of the reflection is comprised of review and summary of the entire translation process. In addition to the individual translation, the team work focuses on reflecting on theories applied to practice, problems identification, strategies and solutions, as well as producing an optimized final version for the group. Each student is expected to translate the passages independently, review the works of group members, and contribute to an outcome that leads to a refined edition. The project must be finalized on a formatted task paper. The task paper is available for download on MyUni.


    Written Exam (20%)

    There will be a written exam in NAATI Format at the end of the semester. The exam will be conducted in the format of NAATI certification test for certified translators. The entire exam takes 3.5 hours. The students will be required to translate two passages of approximately 250 words and revise a passage of approximately 250 words. Both paper and electronic dictionaries are allowed.
    The dictionaries must be clean and without notes of any kind. Electronic dictionaries must not have wi-fi or WAP features. Other electronic devices are not allowed.
    Submission
    The following assignments must be submitted via turnitin on MyUni. Submissions by email will not be considered.
    1. Weekly translation and revision assignments
    2. Mock Tests
    3. Translation Project
    4. Written Exam
    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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