Aims:
• familiarize the students with the theoretical background of translation and interpretation;
• equip students with strategies and techniques of accurate translation, teach the students means of avoiding common translation errors;
• provide training in translation of various text types;

Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this course of study students should be able to:

• demonstrate a grasp of characteristics of various types of translation and interpretation;
• display sufficient knowledge of translation strategies employed at various stages of translation;
• apply different techniques in translating various types of texts;
• take into cosideration for social, historical and cultural factors of the tranlation;
• identify and avoid common translation errors.

CONTENT

Theoretical concepts of translation. Translation studies as a branch of applied linguistics. Meaning of ‘translation’. Translation as an activity, social influence. Mediated communication.

Major stages in the history of translation. Key figures in translation practice and their influence. Bible translations. Translation theory and practice in Russia.

Modern theories of translation. Literary, science, and specialits translation. Machine translation. Computer-aided translation.

Linguistic theories of translation. Structural linguistics. Generative grammar. Componental analysis. Semantic and contextual models.

Modelling translation. Units of translation. Text as a unit of translation. Literal translation. Transformations by translation.

Classification of types and forms of translation. Register, stye. Written translation. Simultaneous, consequitve oral translations. Audiovisual translation. Characteristics and peculiarities of each type and sub-type.

Translation as a text. Equivalence, adequacy, translatability. Semantic and structural equivalence of source and target texts. Language norm and use. Translation errors related to language norms, use and meaning.

Meaning and translation. Defining meaning of the text. Denotative and connotative meanings. Relations between language units in original and translation languages. Translation errors and false friends. Polysemy. Geographical names. Means of avoiding ‘lexical traps’.

Translation strategy and techniques. Translation transformations – forms, justification. Transposition, compensation, shifts, addition, omission. Translating non-equivalent grammatical forms. Translation accuracy. Stylistic aspects of translation. Cultural reference. Adequate translation techniques. Interpretation. Translation competence.