48
German Language and Translation
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students will be able to understand and manipulate a German-language text for specific purposes. In particular, a methodology will be developed to enable learners to identify, comprehend, and appropriately translate various types of specialized texts. The topic will be explored both from a theoretical perspective, through appropriate bibliographic references, and from a practical perspective through translation activities.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and methodological tools necessary for the following activities in the field of specialized translation: reading, understanding, translating, and reworking a text, with application to practical examples.
Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge and application of the various phases of the translation process, familiarity with the methods and tools of specialized translation, as well as an understanding of the challenges involved in translating specialized texts from German into Italian.
Additional Expected Learning Outcomes
Independent judgment:
Students will be expected to retrieve or integrate relevant information for the translation of various types of non-literary texts; they should be able to provide effective solutions during the translation process and demonstrate the ability to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the translated text.
Communication skills:
Students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to present the characteristics of specific languages for special purposes, particularly in relation to the selected specialized text. They will thus develop lexical and textual skills to distinguish between different text types and will be able to explain their differences.
Learning skills:
Students will learn to independently analyze a text in order to translate it into Italian. Therefore, competence in Italian for specific purposes will also be required.
Course Prerequisites
Prerequisites
An advanced B2/C1 level of German language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required. Non-attending students are strongly advised to take the Specialized Translation and Technologies (ex Specialized Translation I) exam in order to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for independent study.
Course prerequisites: None.
Teaching Methods
The course includes lectures aimed at developing the theoretical knowledge necessary for a solid command of the subject, as well as practical activities designed to build applied skills in the comprehension and translation of specialized texts. Students will be expected to acquire specific knowledge of various specialized languages and will be assigned translation tasks to be carried out and discussed collectively. Teaching activities will alternate between lectures (12 hours) and hands-on translation exercises (16 hours) including group corrections (8 hours). Further activities are planned, such as group work (8 hours) and self-assessment tests in progress (4 hours). Due to the nature of the course, regular attendance is strongly recommended.
Assessment Methods
The exam consists of a final written test involving an annotated translation and an oral exam, which includes a discussion of the translation and of the topics covered during the semester-long course. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the exam is conducted in Italian.
The evaluation will take into account the following criteria: ability to summarize, completeness of information, methodological competence, command of terminology, and translation skills from German into Italian. The translation portfolio completed during the course will also be considered in the final assessment.
Texts
Bibliography for attending and non-attending students:
P. Diadori (2012), Teoria e tecnica della traduzione. Strategie, testi e contesti, Firenze: Le Monnier università-Mondadori education.
Additional materials, useful for exercises and further study, will be made available to students during the course.
Additional Texts:
S. Bosco Coletsos / M. Costa (2013), Italiano e tedesco. Questioni di linguistica contrastiva, Alessandria: Edizioni dell’Orso, Parte II.
F. Scarpa (2008), La traduzione specializzata,, Milano: Hoepli (Chapters 4 and 5).
R. Raus et al. (eds.) (2023), Multilinguisme et variétés linguistiques en Europe à l’aune de l’intelligence
artificielle/Multilinguismo e variazioni linguistiche in Europa nell’era dell’intelligenza artificiale/Multilingualism and Language Varieties in Europe in
the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Milano: Ledizioni.
Contents
Topics
1. The Role of the Translator nowadays
2. Contrastive Linguistics and Translation
3. Specialized Languages (Fachsprachen in German)
4. Language for Specific Purposes and Specialized Translation
5. The German Lexicon
6. Linguistic Variation, Lexis, and Translation
7. Translating the Linguistic Landscape
8. DWDS and Other Lexicographic Resources
9. Translation of Texts from Various Domains
10. Specialized Translation and Artificial Intelligence
Practical Sessions
Hands-on workshops on specialized translation
Course Language
Italian and German
More information
During the course, attending students will compile a portfolio of their translations, which will be taken into account in the final exam evaluation.