FutureLearn

Working with Translation: Theory and Practice (FutureLearn)

Offered by Cardiff University,

Explore what it means to communicate in multiple languages in a variety of contexts, and discover your inner translator. Translation is one of the most fundamental of human activities, allowing us to interact with one another within and across cultures. Drawing on the research and expertise of specialists at Cardiff University and the University of Namibia, on this course, you will discover a wealth of practical tips and knowledge about the nature of translation in an increasingly multilingual world.

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You will explore translation in a global context, and observe translation in healthcare and the justice system as well as in music, manga, video games and historical romances. You may even discover your own ‘inner translator’ in the process!

What topics will you cover?

Definitions and metaphors of translation
Varieties of translation, for example: phonetic, interlingual and cultural translation
Translators in history
The role of translators
Professional ethics and codes of conduct
Where translation takes place
Writing a successful translation commission
The nature of quality in translation

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Explore the variety of definitions of translation and their implications, as well as common misconceptions
Collaborate with other learners to share examples of translation and interpreting drawn from daily life, and put them into context
Describe the diverse roles of translators, interpreters and localisers
Reflect on the spaces in which translation takes place and their bearing on practice
Design a commission or briefing for a translator/interpreter, ensuring that all the necessary components are in place
Evaluate differing conceptions of "quality" in translation

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