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PL50837: Using technology in the 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 2
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework 1 (CW 20%)
  • Coursework 2 (CW 80%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: After completing this unit, students will be able to demonstrate an appropriate knowledge and understanding of these tools as well as have a greater understanding of how these tools are used by freelancers and translation companies. Students will also have acquired hands on experience with several pieces of software in regular use by freelance translators and interpreters. They will have gained clear knowledge of the industry requirements in terms of use of technology. They will also have gained an understanding of commercial use of technology packages such as Translation Memory software (Déjà Vu X and others), OCR software and Voice Recognition software. In addition, they will have gained an understanding of how technology is used by self-employed translators and interpreters.

Aims: This unit is designed to provide students with a systematic understanding of technology tools used in the translation industry. Students will develop the independent learning ability to enable them to employ technologies utilized by freelancers and companies in the industry. Students will also gain hands on experience with Computer Aided Translation (CAT) tools as well as other software programmes in use in the industry.

Skills: The students will gain skills in the use of translation memory software, as well as an understanding of how other software tools can be used by translators and interpreters. Students will also learn basic software skills that can be transferred to other translation memory packages. In addition students will learn how to market their skills in these technologies and how use of these technologies can improve their success rate in with both direct clients and other work-providers.

Content: 10 x 2 hour sessions each consisting of a 1 hour lecture on using the main features included in the software, followed by 1 hour of hands-on practice. The aim is to get students using the software as soon as possible and to evaluate different brands of software in mainstream use. Students will be asked to evaluate how these tools can aid the translation process in theory and in practice. There will also be mention of voice recognition and OCR software packages.
Students will also engage in self-study with these tools, which will be available via the University of Bath Intranet.
Additional resources will included software manuals and video tutorials provided by the software manufacturer.

Programme availability:

PL50837 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)
  • THPL-AFM26 : MA Translation with Business Interpreting (Chinese)

PL50837 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - French & German)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - French & Italian)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - French & Russian)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - French & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - German & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - Italian & German)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - Italian & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - Russian & German)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - Russian & Italian)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 1 - Russian & Spanish)
  • THPL-AFM31 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 2 - Chinese)
  • THPL-AFM05 : MA Interpreting and Translating (Path 2 - Russian)
  • 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.