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PL50585: Understanding the commercial translation industry

[Page last updated: 02 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework 1 (CW 25%)
  • Coursework 2 (CW 25%)
  • Coursework 3 (CW 25%)
  • Coursework 4 (CW 25%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: After completing the unit, students should be able to demonstrate qualities of the kind needed for employment in this specialised sector, e.g. the ability to plan and undertake tasks to a professional standard, and to make independent decisions in a range of complex situations.

In particular, they should be able to approach with confidence the practical professional tasks of managing a translation project and coordinating the work of freelance translators.

They should also have acquired a critical awareness of the context in which these operations are carried out, and of the differing demands of clients, translation businesses and the translators themselves.

Aims: This unit is designed to give students an understanding of the commercial translation industry: the role of translation companies and how they interact with freelance linguists. The aim is to equip students with the skills required for a variety of linguistic and administrative roles in the translation industry.

Skills:
* This unit gives students knowledge and understanding of the processes involved in the largest single sub-sector of the translation industry.
* It enables them to make the kind of linguistic and administrative judgements that will result in the production of the best possible translation for the client.
* Students will enhance their interpersonal and communication skills by learning how to liaise with both corporate and individual clients, and how to obtain the best results from subcontracted freelance translators, by working with them as a team where necessary.
* After completing the unit, students will have the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring: the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility, decision-making in complex situations and independent learning ability.

Content:
* Students will learn about the role of freelance translators within the translation industry and how those translators interact with translation companies. They will then learn about how the companies themselves operate, with particular focus on the role of the project manager.
* Particular attention will be given to the issue of quality control at the different stages of the translation process, and the implications for all the parties concerned.
* Students will learn about the range of non-translation services offered by translation companies, the most significant vertical markets within the commercial translation industry and the role of technology within the industry.
* Throughout the module, the tutors will draw on their own experience to provide insight into the industry and foster debate on the main themes brought up.

Programme availability:

PL50585 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (German)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Italian)

PL50585 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French & German)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French & Italian)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French & Russian)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (French & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (German & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Italian & German)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Italian & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Russian)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Russian & German)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Russian & Italian)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Russian & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM10 : MA Translation and Professional Language Skills (Spanish)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.