Introduction to Translation

King Abdulaziz University

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Department of European Languages and Literature

Course Syllabus

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

[This is a three hour credit course that introduces students to the fundamentals of English-Arabic and

Arabic-English translation.   The course provides linguistic and conceptual skills specific to

interpreting   and   translating   activities   and   contexts.   It offers an  understanding   of   analytica,linguistic and cross-cultural factors affecting interpreting and translating from English to Arabic and

vice versa. It deals with questions such as: What makes one translation better than another? Are all

things  translatable?  Why  are  some  texts  more  difficult  to  translate  than  others?  This  course  

alsontroduces  students  to  a  few  gadgets  and  software  products  that  can  helpwith  the translation       

process.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

· Students will be introduced to the principles and methods of translation before they start

translating.

· Students will be familiarized with problems and difficulties that are likely to arise during

translation.

· Students will be familiar with the various approaches and solutions to translation problems.

· The students are introduced to the rules of informative, communicative and accurate

translation.

· Training the students to deal with different texts.

· Illustrate linguistics and conceptual skills specific to interpretation and translation

· Attain writing proficiency in both Arabic and English

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

• 1. Preliminaries to translocation as a process
• 2. Preliminaries to translocation as a product
• 3. Cultural Transportation
• 4. Compensation
• 5. Denotative meaning and translation issues
• 6. Connotative meaning and translation issues
• 7. Phonic/graphic and prosodic issues in translation
• 8. Grammatical issues in translation
• 9. Sentential issues in translation (If time helps)

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:

       Dickens, J., Sándor, H., & Higgins, I. (2002). Thinking Arabic translation: A course in translation

         method: Arabic to English. London: Routledge.

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTBOOKS:

       Ghazala, H. (2008).  Translation as problems and solutions. Beirut: Dar El-ilm Lilmalayin.

With additional resources.

COURSE ASSESSMENT:

Quizzes 20%

Midterm 20%

Class work and home assignments 20%

Final Exam 40%

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

• Students are expected to be punctual and attend all classes.

• Being absent for more than 25% of allocated course time means that the student will receive a DN (denied from final exam).

• Instructor doesn’t allow make-up quizzes or extensions to assignments. She does, however, give students a possibility of raising their scores by offering an extra quiz and an extra translation assignment at the end of the semester. These grades can be used to replace a low mark or a mark of 0 because of an absence.

GENERAL POLICIES:

In this class, the instructor and students work together. You are expected to participate in class and to respect others; this includes not disrupting others by using cell phones, eating, or drinking.

Everyone in the class is allowed to voice her opinion. If you do not agree with something, it is your right to RESPECTFULLY bring that to the attention of the class in a polite manner. Suggestions for improvement are welcomed. In return, you should expect that the instructor come to class prepared and ready to teach.

Course Calendar ^*

^* Course calendar is subject to change.