Course detail

Translation Seminar

FEKT-BPC-TRSAcad. year: 2021/2022

The seminar is supposed to offer a basic orientation in the most topical issues regarding the theory of translation. But the main emphasis lies with the in-course exercises which should help the students to practise the translation of technical English texts to Czech and vice cersa, with a special attention paid to potentially problematic areas, be they found in grammar, vocabulary or being style specific.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The students get to know the specifics of different genres in technical English.
They develop their compositional skills in English and in Czech as well.
They improve English text understanding.
They get more confidence in choosing translation equivalents regarding grammar, vocabulary and style specific language features.

Prerequisites

Secondary school level knowledge iand a lower intermediate knowledge of English required.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in Article 7 of BUT for Studies and Examinations.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

75% attendance, active participation in seminars, doing homeworks, course test, exam

Course curriculum

What is translation: words meaning; the meaning of sentences; pragmatics; cultural differences in translation. Word-for-word translation; "free" translation; translating with the help of a third language; when and how to use a dictionary. Some topical issues in translation theory.How to deal with potential problems: polysemic words and expressions; how to use the context of a sentence or text; the passive in English; expressing case in English; technical terminology. Modality of utterances and its possible translation; dealing with complicated English sentences - understanding and simplifying them.
Composition exercise; does it sound English / Czech and how do I get to know? Phraseology of technical texts and the differences between Czech and English. Terminology: using existing translation solutions, imtroducing new ones. Summary: creating English summary of a Czech text. A report; a newspaper article. Instructions, a manual. Informational article in technical English. A professional study in technical English. An essay, the style of literary work of art. Texts in technical English combining different disciplines. A comparison and criticism of existing translations.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The course will teach students basic practical tools to be used in translating from English to Czech and vice versa. It will hint at how to deal with the most common issues that can arise during the translation process. It will improve students' knowledge of grammar and spelling in both languages, together with improving their abilities in understanding complex English texts.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

HOFSTADTER, Douglas R. a Clément MAROT. Le ton beau de Marot: in praise of the music of language. New York: Basic Books, c1997. ISBN 0465086438.
BASSNETT, Susan. Translation Studies. Third edition. London: Routledge, 2014. ISBN 9780415506700.
Preklad odborného textu: práce 1. celoštátnej konferencie o preklade odborného textu na pedagogickej fakulte v Nitre v septembri 1972. (ed. A. Popovič). Bratislava: Slovenské pedagogické nakladateľstvo, 1977.
LEVÝ, Jiří. Umění překladu. 4., upr. vyd. Praha: Apostrof, 2012. ISBN 978-80-87561-15-7.
KNITTLOVÁ, Dagmar, Bronislava GRYGOVÁ a Jitka ZEHNALOVÁ. Překlad a překládání. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Filozofická fakulta, 2010. ISBN 978-80-244-2428-6.

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme AJEI-H Bachelor's

    branch H-AEI , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Seminar

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer