Course description
This course is in the process of validation and is recruiting for an October 2008 start.
The course is aimed at students who wish to develop their English technical writing skills as well as their translation skills to a professional level. At the same time, the course provides knowledge and skills in relation to a range of technologies which underpin modern communication.
The expert writer is an individual who is able to produce high-quality documentation to meet the needs and expectations of different audiences. To achieve this aim, writers use a document production process which attaches as much importance to the preliminary stage of research, including audience analysis, as it does to the production and review stages. This approach to writing underpins the writing modules of the course.
These modules are complemented by modules with a technological focus. Course modules embrace the use of file formats, such as PDF, HTML and XML, softwares for electronic publishing and multimedia communication, in which text, graphics and sound are combined, as well as computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, such as machine translation and translation memory.
The course culminates in a project, undertaken through a placement with a major regional company. The project provides students with useful real-world experience on the one hand, and an opportunity to shape their studies according to their own career aspirations on the other.
The course is structured on the basis of study modules or units, each of which has a credit rating of 15 credits. The Project is worth 60 credits. It is possible to exit the course at three different levels:
-MA in Translation and Technical Communication: (Students take six core units and choose one optional unit; they also take the research or project management unit and the Project unit) 180 credits
-Postgraduate Diploma in Translation and Technical Communication: 120 credits (Students complete the taught part of the course only; they do not take the research or project management unit and the Project units.)
-Postgraduate Certificate in Translation and Technical Communication: 60 credits (Students take four units; two units must be core units.)
The modules or study units which comprise the course are described briefly below.
Core Units
-Technical Discourse
-Specialised Translation 1
-Electronic Publishing
-Theory and Practice of Translation
-Specialised Translation 2
-Multimedia Communication
-Research Management or Managing the Project
-Dissertation or Project
Optional Units
-Computer and the Translator
-Theory and Practice of Subtitling
-Communicating with Different Audiences
-Writing to Inform
-Writing to Persuade
-Work-based Learning
Core Unit Descriptions
-Technical Discourse
The unit is designed to ensure that you will develop a thorough understanding of the distinguishing characteristics of technical discourse, which includes both writing and speech. This will be achieved through the analysis of existing texts, the regular production of different text types and their evaluation, using relevant concepts from linguistic and communication theory.
Specialised translation workshop 1
The purpose of the workshop is to provide you with opportunities to develop your practical translation skills. In each semester, an understanding of the challenges to the translator provided by three domains, e.g. economics, business/commerce, legal contracts, is developed through the regular production and discussion of texts. At the same time, you will be encouraged to develop your reflective skills through translation commentary writing. There is a separate workshop for each language.
Electronic publishing
This unit will introduce you to the most significant technologies involved in the production and publishing of electronic texts. You will develop skills and understanding of the underlying principles of the appropriate software and of the legal and economic issues involved in electronic publishing.
Translation theory and practice
The unit takes a global approach to translation models, looking at text, context and culture. Part of the semester is dedicated to genre theory as a model for textual analysis, which can help us to understand how different text types work within our source and target languages. The unit further addresses the skills that translators need to manipulate language flexibly and effectively.
Specialised translation workshop 2
In workshop 2 a further three domains, such as technology, science and information technology, form the focus of translation activity. Assessment includes the translation project, designed to encourage you to explore a particular domain in your area of interest. Activities may include revision, pre-editing, post-editing and other translation-related tasks.
Multimedia communication
In this unit you will explore current multimedia software authoring tools in order to produce effective communication artefacts and understand the theory that informs their production. The syllabus includes: fundamentals of digital multimedia; multimedia authoring; multimedia design and planning; journaling and reflective writing.
Research management
The research management unit is designed to help you prepare for the dissertation by acquainting you with a variety of research skills and models. The RMU has three foci: the dissertation proposal, exploiting the internet for research purposes and research models.
OR
Managing the project
The unit will prepare you for the Project. Using materials prepared by a professional communicator, the unit will take you through the various stages of a technical documentation project, from initial information-gathering to project evaluation, with particular reference to planning and creating content, editing and reviewing. The unit includes time and budget management and document control procedures.
Dissertation
The dissertation theme is chosen by you and supported by a dissertation tutor or tutors according to the topic area. We will encourage you to start thinking early about possible dissertation topics (initial dissertation proposal) so that when the time comes to focus on the selected topic, you are in a position to take forward the dissertation dynamically (dissertation proposal and dissertation).
OR
The Project
The Project involves both theory and practice. Its starting-point is a technical documentation project, negotiated with a local/regional company, which you will carry through to completion. The Project will be evaluated against the theoretical knowledge that you will have acquired during the course. It is designed to provide you with real-world experience of translation/technical communication.
Optional Unit Descriptions
Computer and the translator
Technology plays an increasingly significant part in the life of the modern professional translator. As a consequence, the unit introduces students to key technologies, such as concordance software, dictionary generation software (TRADOS) and translation memory software (DEJA VU). Familiarisation with these technologies is promoted by means of two projects in which (a) students produce and evaluate their own glossary and (b) produce and evaluate the outputs of translation memory.
Theory and practice of subtitling
This unit introduces students to the practice and theory of subtitling within the context of AVT (audio-visual translation). The unit covers the linguistic, cultural and technical challenges associated with this very constrained form of translation. Participants gain practical subtitling experience using the dedicated facilities in the School of Languages and Area Studies. Classes follow a workshop model.
Communicating with different audiences
This course unit will examine the needs of different audiences focusing on non-technical, mixed and international audiences, and on visual communication. You will also explore the theory of sign systems (semiotics) and multi-modal discourse, which provides the theoretical underpinning of the interface between text and graphics.
Writing to Inform
The Writing to Inform unit is designed to provide students with knowledge and experience of particular aspects of technical communication; it is delivered by professional technical communicators and academics from the Technology Faculty and the Portsmouth Business School. Writing to Inform focuses on the design of electronic information, e.g. the use of XML in structured information, the integration of Help Files into an application.
Writing to persuade
The Writing to Persuade unit is also designed to provide students with knowledge and experience of particular aspects of technical communication; it is also delivered by professional technical communicators and academics from the Technology Faculty and the Portsmouth Business School. Writing to Persuade focuses on the design of documents with a primarily persuasive function, e.g. business documents, such as bid proposals and press releases.
Work-based learning
This unit is designed for flexibility. On the one hand, it allows part-time students to develop a project based on their current employment, provided it is situated broadly within a technical communication environment. On the other hand, full-time students may identify a unit of study from a relevant Faculty, such as the Faculty of Technology or the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries, and develop a suitable project based on that.
