Interpretation Theory and Practice 1: Translation (INTR 2140)

This course provides opportunities to practically apply a cognitive model of interpreting in which the interpreter actively constructs meaning based on cues provided by others. Students will develop skills in analyzing and translating ASL and English texts, exploring multiple parameters of discourse and message analysis. These may include speaker/signer intent, implied and explicit content, emotional affect, culturally-bound elements, and the impact of contextual factors.
Course code: INTR 2140
Credits: 3.0
Length: 60.0 hours
Course outline: view https://www.vcc.ca/vccphp/courseoutline?subject=INTR&number=2140
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Additional Information

  • Key linguistic differences between English and ASL:
    - Use of face and space;
    - Common sentence types, syntactical structures and discourse markers;
    - Time/tense markers;
    - Pronominalization;
    - Prepositional and adverbial information;
    - Pluralization;
    - Contextualization and topicalization
  • Analysis parameters in English and ASL texts:
    - Variables of the cultural, situational, relational, psychological context(s);
    - Implied and explicit propositions, main points and supporting details;
    - Culturally-linked elements;
    - Linguistic register;
    - Speaker/signer characteristics and goals;
    - Emotional affect and tone;
    - Metanotative qualities/style of the speaker/signer;
    - Contextual force relative to target audience characteristics and goals
  • Power and responsibility inherent in the tasks of translation/interpretation:
    - Meaning-making as a shared process of co-construction;
    - Linguistic and cultural mediation;
    - Awareness of positionality and bias;
    - Challenges in aiming for dynamic equivalence and impartiality
  • Steps and sub-processes in translation/interpretation:
    - Predicting what to expect from the discourse;
    - Concentrating and attending to source message;
    - Representing meaning, dropping source language form;
    - Preparing to express meaning using target language form;
    - Producing target message;
    - Monitoring and critiquing one’s own process and results

This course is offered as part of a VCC program only.

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