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Text and Context in Translation (French-Catalan)

Code: 108375
Credits: 3
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Translation and Interpreting OB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Juan-Francisco Silvente Muñoz
Email :
juanfrancisco.silvente@uab.cat

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Objectives

The overall objective of this course, which is a continuation of Translation Methodology, is for students to:

  • Be aware of the importance of context in translation;
  • Be able to resolve contrastive issues between the two working languages.

Students will learn to apply the linguistic knowledge and skills acquired by translating non-specialist texts of all kinds into standard language (travel guides, journalistic articles, reports, etc.).

The following will be covered:

  • Contextual aspects of translator equivalence;
  • Identification of basic translation problems, as well as the errors that arise from them, both in the comprehension phase and those affecting the expression in the target language;
  • Different translation techniques and the importance of the translation review and verification processes will be emphasised, in order to produce a finished product, including basic digital editing;
  • Documentation resources particularly useful for translation from the source language, and the use of parallel texts to resolve basic translation problems.

Learning outcomes

  • CM12 (Translate different types of non-specialised texts by applying linguistic, encyclopaedic, cultural and instrumental knowledge and justifying the criteria and decisions adopted.) Translate different types of non-specialised texts by applying linguistic, encyclopaedic, cultural and instrumental knowledge and justifying the criteria and decisions adopted.
  • KM18 (Identify and contrast the basic components of the structures and discursive mechanisms of the working languages.) Identify and contrast the basic components of the structures and discursive mechanisms of the working languages.
  • KM20 (Identify elements and characteristics of a text that may pose translation problems.) Identify elements and characteristics of a text that may pose translation problems.
  • KM22 (Identify the ethical implications of the profession of translation.) Identify the ethical implications of the profession of translation.
  • SM23 (Solve translation problems by applying the methods, strategies and techniques specific to the field of study.) Solve translation problems by applying the methods, strategies and techniques specific to the field of study.
  • SM24 (Analyse translation problems present in different types of non-specialised texts using the appropriate metalanguage.) Analyse translation problems present in different types of non-specialised texts using the appropriate metalanguage.

Contents

  • Context in translation (of the source text and the translation brief); the textual and contextual nature of translator equivalence and how translation is conditioned by context.
  • Identification of contrastive difficulties and linguistic interferences: differences in writing conventions (orthotypographical, lexical, morphosyntactic and textual). Problems of linguistic calque, false friends and literalism.
  • The comprehension phase. Textual analysis (author, structure, register, tone, text type, semantic field, etc.).
  • The re-expression phase. Translation techniques and their application to solving basic translation problems.
  • Basic bibliographic resources for the translation of non-specialist texts in standard language: monolingual and bilingual dictionaries of different types, grammars, style guides, general search engines.
  • Basic technological resources for optimising the editing and proofreading of texts.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Preparation, supervision and edition of written exercises 12.5 0.5 KM18, KM20, KM22, SM23
Reading the bibliography and broadening expanding knowledge 33 1.32 KM18, KM20, KM22, SM24
Performing translation work 25 1 CM12, KM18, KM20, KM22, SM23, SM24

Competences in the French language will be broadened and deepened, and the specific skills required for translation will be developed.The framework will be diasystemic in nature; that is, it will include different varieties considered from various comparative perspectives: diachronic, synchronic, situational, dialectological, registral and age-based (chronolect).

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
Text analysis and proposed translation techniques 30% 1.5 0.06 SM24
Translation test of a contemporary text 40% 1.5 0.06 CM12, KM18, KM20, KM22, SM23
Translation test of a text with diasystemic features 30% 1.5 0.06 CM12, KM18, KM20, KM22, SM23

Continuous Assessment

Assessment is continuous throughout the subject. Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing various tasks and tests. Tasks and tests deadlines will be indicated in the course schedule on the first day of class. The information on assessment activities and their weighting is a guide. The subject's lecturer will provide full information when teaching begins.

Review

When publishing final marks prior to recording them on students' transcripts, the lecturer will provide written notification of a date and time for reviewing assessment activities. Students must arrange reviews in agreement with the lecturer.

Missed/failed assessment activities

Students may retake assessment activities they have failed or compensate for any they have missed, provided that those they have actually performed account for a minimum of 66.6% (two thirds) of the subject's final grade and that they have a weighted average grade of at least 3.5.

The lecturer will inform students of the procedure involved, in writing, when publishing final marks prior to recording them on transcripts. The lecturer may set one assignment per failed or missed assessment activity or a single assignment to cover a number of such activities. Under no circumstances may an assessment activity worth 100% of the final grade be retaken or compensated for.

Classification as "not assessable"

In the event of the assessment activities a student has performed accounting for just 25% or less of the subject's final grade, their work will be classified as "not assessable" on their transcript.

Misconduct in assessment activities

Students who engage in misconduct (plagiarism, copying, personation, etc.) in an assessment activity will receive a mark of “0” for the activity in question. In the case of misconduct in more than one assessment activity, the student involved will be given a final mark of “0” for the subject. Assessment activities in which irregularities have occurred (e.g. plagiarism, copying, impersonation) are excluded from recovery.

Use of artificial intelligence

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage of the assessment activities. Any work that includes AI-generated content will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will be graded a 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated.

Single assessment

This subject may be assessed under the single assessment system in accordance with the terms established in the academic regulations of the UAB and the assessment criteria of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting.

Students must make an online request within the period established by the faculty and send a copy to the lecturer responsible for the subject, for the record.

Single assessment will be carried out in person on one day during week 16 or 17 of the semester. The Academic Management Office will publish the exact date and time on the faculty website.

On the day of the single assessment, teaching staff will ask the student for identification, which should be presented as a valid identification document with a recent photograph (student card, DNI/NIE or passport).

Single assessment activities

Single assessment will include the same three tests as the continuous assessment.

Grade revision and retake procedures for the subject are the same as those for continual assessment. See the section above in this Study Guide.

Bibliography

- ACADEMIC WORKS:

Problemes de traducció i competència traductora: bases per a una pedagogia de la traducció. Presas, Marisa - 2009

Traducció francès-català i anàlisi dels problemes de traducció de la revista infantil 'Mes premiers J'aime lire'. Vers Delgado, Aida - 2024

- DICTIONARIES:

-Monolingual French dictionary:

Le petit Robert : dictionnaire alphabétique et analogique de la langue française. París: Le Robert - 2021

-Monolingual Catalan dictionaries:

Diccionari de la llengua catalana. Institut d'Estudis Catalans. Barcelona: Edicions 62: Enciclopèdia Catalana - 2009

Diccionari de sinònims de frases fetes. Espinal, M. Teresa, autor; Orga, Pere - 2018

Diccionari essencial: sinònims i antònims de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Biblograf - 1998

Diccionari de dubtes i dificultats del català. Bruguera, Jordi; Torras i Rodergas, Josep; Fons Badia-Cardús (Biblioteca de Catalunya) - 2000

Diccionari de locucions i frases llatines. Peris i Juan, Antoni - 2001

Diccionari de termes literaris. Aritzeta, M. Barcelona, Edicions 62 - 1996

-Bilingual dictionaries:

Dictionnaire Français-Catalan. Camps, C.; Botet, R. Canet. Editions Trabucaire - 2007

Diccionari de Paranys de Traducció. Francès-Català (faux amis). Castellanos, Carles; Lenoir, Françoise. Barcelona, Enciclopèdia catalana - 2000.

Diccionari Francès-Català. Castellanos, Carles; Castellanos, Rafael. Barcelona, Enciclopèdia catalana - 2003

- MANUALS:

Manual d'estil. La redacció i l'edició de textos. Mestres, J.M. et alt.. Barcelona, EUMO - 2009

La pràctica de la traducció francès-català. Verdegal, Joan. Vic, Eumo Editorial - 2009

- WEBSITES:

-Dictionaries in Catalan:

DIEC2: http://dlc.iec.cat/

Diccionari català-valencià-balear: https://dcvb.iec.cat/

Optimot: http://optimot.gencat.cat

Enciclopèdia catalana: http://www.enciclopedia.cat/

Diccionaris.cat: https://www.diccionari.cat/#

-Dictionaries in French:

TLF: http://atilf.atilf.fr

Portail lexical: https://www.portail-lexical.fr/

Littré: http://littre.reverso.net/dictionnaire-francais/

Académie française: https://www.academie-francaise.fr/

Larousse: https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/


Software

No specific software is used in this course.

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
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 French second semester morning-mixed