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Translation

Code: 106319
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
English Studies OP 3
English Studies OP 4
English and Catalan Studies OP 3
English and Catalan Studies OP 4
English and Spanish Studies OP 3
English and Spanish Studies OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Hortènsia Curell Gotor
Email :
hortensia.curell@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Students are expected to have a level of English equivalent to a C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), meaning they should be able to understand complex texts and recognize implicit meaning. They are also expected to be able to express themselves fluently and to use English adequately in diverse social, academic and professional situations.

Students are advised to have already taken the subject Contrastive Linguistics: English-Catalan/Spanish.

 

INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

This subject is NOT available to international students.

Objectives

Students will be faced with a variety of texts in order to ensure that different lexical areas and grammatical problems are covered.

Differences in genres and audiences will also be covered. To this aim, we will analyze several genres that can range from literary translation to audiovisual or technical translation. Classroom methodology will be based on individual and group work and special attention will be placed on the analysis of texts in order to identify problematic areas.

Learning outcomes

  1. Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
  2. Locate specialised and academic information and select this according to its relevance.
  3. Incorporate ideas and concepts from published sources into work, citing and referencing appropriately.
  4. Express oneself orally and in writing in English in a professional register and using appropriate terminology in relation to translation, English for specific purposes and linguistic applications.
  5. Understand specialised academic texts on research in translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  6. Produce written and oral academic texts at higher-proficient-user level (C2) on the concepts and skills relevant to the study of translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  7. Identify and understand the different theories on translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  8. Identify and understand the different methodologies appropriate to the fields of translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  9. Apply the concepts and methods acquired to the analysis and production of oral and written texts automatically (NLP) and/or in a judicial context.
  10. Apply the concepts and methods acquired to the translation of texts of different types and in different formats.
  11. Apply the concepts and methods acquired to the detection of needs specific to each discipline, and to the relevant curricular design.
  12. Express oneself effectively orally and in writing, in an appropriate manner in each professional field.
  13. Understand specialised academic texts (C2) on research in translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.
  14. Produce normatively correct written and oral texts.
  15. Understand specialised academic texts (C2) on research in translation, English for specific purposes and language applications.

Contents

UNIT 1. Introduction to translation

UNIT 2. The translation of specific registers

UNIT 3. The translation of cultural concepts

UNIT 4. The assessment of quality in translation

UNIT 5. The translation of specific linguistic aspects


In this subject, gender perspective will be taken into account in the following aspects:


  1. Including the translation of gender as one of the topics dealt with.
  2. Making students aware of the sexist uses of language, and providing non-sexist alternatives.
  3. Not allowing a sexist use of language in the students' oral and written contributions.
  4. Guaranteeing in the classroom an atmosphere respectful of the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and politics.
  5. Avoiding gender stereotypes in examples.
  6. Writing, in the references, the full names of authors, instead of only the initial.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Oral presentation (preparation) 20 0.8 1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 14
Theoretical classes 30 1.2 7, 8
Readings 30 1.2 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 13, 15
Practical classes 20 0.8 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
Translation activities 25 1 2, 6, 9, 10, 11, 14

The teaching methodology is based on:

  • Directed (33% - 2 cr)
  • Supervised (17% - 1 cr)
  • Autonomous (33% - 2 cr)
  • Assessment (17% - 1 cr)
Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Problem-based assignment 1 20% 5 0.2 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
Problem-based assignment 2 20% 5 0.2 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14
Homework, in-class activities and progression 10% 3 0.12 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15
Oral presentation 30% 7 0.28 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15
Problem-based assignment 3 20% 5 0.2 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14

The final grade will be calculated as follows:

  • Problem-based assignment (translation) 1:20%
  • Problem-based assignment (translation) 2: 20%
  • Problem-based assignment (translation) 3: 20%
  • Oral presentation: 30%
  • Homework, in-class activities and progression: 10%

Problem-based assignments will be submitted every 4 weeks approximately. The oral presentations will take place throughout the semester, starting week 4 or 5, and homework and in-class activities will also be programmed during the whole semester. Exact dates for all evaluation activities will be confirmed at the start of the course through a calendar published on the class Moodle.


Important issues

  1. The minimum grade required to form average is 4.
  2. Students will obtain a “Not assessed/Not submitted” course grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.
  3. The level of English will be taken into account when correcting exams and in the final assessment.
  4. In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In this case, the activity will not have the possibility of reassessment. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
  5. This subject allows the use of AI technologies as an integral part of the submitted work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution from the student in terms of analysis and personal reflection. The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the activity will be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS (ERASMUS, etc.) ON EXAMS AND OTHER ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

Exchange students (Erasmus and other) who request to bring forward an exam or any other type of assessment activity must present the teacher with an official document from their home university justifying their request.


Procedure for Reviewing Grades Awarded

On carrying out each evaluation activity, the lecturer will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.


Reassessment

Reassessment for this subject requires a content-synthesis test (covering reassessable activities, i.e., the three problem-based assignments), for which the following conditions are applicable:

  • The student must previously have obtained an average overall grade equal to or higher than 3.5.
  • The student must have been assessed before in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to at least 2/3 of the total grade.


Evaluation Activities Excluded from Reassessment

The following activities are not eligible for reassessment:

  • Homework and in-class activities
  • Oral presentation
  • Activities in which there has been some irregularity.


SINGLE- ASSESSMENT OPTION

This subject does not incorporate the single-assessment option.

Bibliography

Books about translation

Ainaud, Jordi, Espunya, Anna & Pujol, Didac. 2003. Manual de traducció anglès-català. Eumo Editorial.

Beeby, Allyson. 1996. Teaching Translation from Spanish to English: Worlds beyond Words. Universtiy of Otawa Press.

Haywood, Louise M., Michael Thompson and Sándor Hervey. 2nd edition. 2009. Thinking Spanish Translation. Routledge.


Monolingual English dictionaries

Cambridge English Dictionary

Webster's New English Dictionary

Merriam Webster's Thesaurus


Monolingual Spanish and Catalan dictionaries

Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

Diccionario de la Real Academia Española

Diccionari de la llengua catalana. DIEC 2


Bilingual dictionaries

Collins Dictionary Spanish-English, English-Spanish

Cambridge Dictionary Englih-Spanish

Cambridge Dictionary English-Catalan


Specific references for each unit will be provided throughout the semester.

Software

Not applicable.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 English first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 English first semester morning-mixed