ObjectivesThe course aims to develop the techniques required for translation and interpreting in an increasingly competitive and computer-oriented professional environment, and to help students to reflect on their own practice. Students on this programme work into and out of English and one or two of the following languages: -French -German -Spanish. During the summer vacation following the completion of the taught courses, students wishing to be awarded the MA prepare a dissertation to be submitted in September
Entry requirementsEntry Requirements Candidates should normally possess, or expect to obtain, an appropriate honours degree or equivalent qualification. Those without these qualifications may be required to take a preparatory course of study before being admitted to their chosen programme.
Academic titleMA/PgDip in Interpreting and Translating
Course descriptionOverview
This modular interpreting and translation taught course has attracted postgraduate students from both the UK and abroad for over twenty years. Students may opt to study full-time or part-time (over two years).
Course Strengths
-Staff with both professional expertise and top rated research.
-Emphasis on advanced ICT training,including use of terminology-management and machine-assisted translation software.
-State-of-the-art Language Resource Centre including Conference Interpreting booths, satellite television and Multimedia equipment.
-Regular professional contributors, and opportunities for translation/interpreting placements.
-Excellent graduate employment record, and close links with professional organisations.
-Salford is a member of PLUG (Professional Languages at Universities Group) and recognised as a provider of interpreters and translators by the European Commission Interpreting Service (SCIC) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
-Students will benefit from the School of Languages’ Centre for Translation and Interpreting which brings together expertise in teaching, research and consultancy in Translation and Interpreting within the School.
-Small class sizes in conference interpreting modules allow students to benefit from detailed individual feedback.
-Opportunity to enhance employability through the study of a second language in translation as an optional module. Languages offered are: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Turkish.
-The opportunity to continue on from MA study to doctoral study at Salford, where students receive dedicated support from the School to ensure a smooth transition from masters level to doctoral level.
MA/PgDip in Interpreting and Translating
Modules
Translation A into English
This course aims to give students an insight into how to approach the translation into English of semi-specialised texts, both short and extended, with special emphasis on terminological and stylistic difficulties. Summarizing is also included.
Translation A from English
The aims and objectives are the same as for translation into English and the course follows a similar pattern.
Lexicography and Terminology
This course provides both a practical and a theoretical framework to the study of lexicography and collection of terminology, an essential adjunct to the work of both the translator and the interpreter.
Principles of Translation
This course aims to provide a methodological background to the practice of translation and to analyse the process and problems of translation. It is expected that awareness and knowledge of translation acquired through this module will be reflected in the translations projects and assignments submitted by the students.
Information Technology and Professional Skills for Translators
This module introduces students to the use of computers and on-line resources in translation, and to the principles of Machine/Computer-Assisted Translation. It enables students to develop an advanced degree of proficiency in the use of IT for translation purposes and provides preparation for the complexities of managing real translation projects.
Business Interpreting
The aim of this module is to equip students for work as bilateral interpreters in the business context, and to develop bilingual communicative and linguistic skills in order to enable students to absorb and render the contents of business negotiations. Students will be able to note down and render orally delivered information, and to manage the parties to a linguistic exchange in order to ensure maximum efficiency in interpreting. The course involves both summarising and dialogue interpreting.
Keynote Lectures
The lectures are given by experts in their field and topics relate to the various fields likely to be covered in professional translation and interpreting such as economics, transport, telecommunications, medicine, international organisations, etc.
pecialised Translation Seminars
Classes are given by Visiting Professional Translators. Documents treated will normally be of a highly specialised nature, eg. contracts, agreements, specifications.
Business Practice Seminars
These seminars are held by practising translators and interpreters and aim to give an insight into the requirements of the professions such as codes of practice and how to set up as a freelance translator or interpreter.
Consecutive Interpreting
The objective of the course is to enable students to analyse the ideas conveyed in speeches, so that they are able to transfer those ideas from one language to another with ease. Note-taking techniques are developed and the speeches are graded so that students are accustomed throughout the course to dealing with material of increasing complexity and length. In addition to actual practice, which is based as far as possible on real-life situations, many exercises are used, such as on-sight translation and word substitution.
Simultaneous Interpreting
The aim of this course is to train students to interpret simultaneously between English and their other working languages for a period of some minutes with a high degree of sustained concentration. As an introduction, exercises are used to accustom students to listening and speaking at the same time. Preliminary exercises include a) reading aloud of written text by the student while a short speech of quite different content is delivered through headphones, b) verbatim repetition of an orally delivered speech with the students lagging deliberately a sentence or so behind the speaker, c)spontaneous rewording of a speech while rendering its content. Finally the stage is reached where the student can spontaneously interpret progressively longer and more difficult speeches into and out of English.
Mock Conferences
This provides the students with the opportunity to put their developing skills into practice in a realistic situation. Students take turns to act as delegates, chairman and interpreters and themselves prepare the scenario for the conference. The Mock Conference is normally attended by a Visiting Professional Interpreter, either freelance or employed by an international organisatio