The Translation

Syllabus
Ian Mason
Heriot Watt University

Surveys of course design in

European Universities
Under-researched
Variety

of practice
Underlying principles?

Question for discussion

Given

a course lasting 20 weeks, one

session per week,
How could we structure the syllabus?
What are the different kinds of
themes, topics, etc. we could try to
cover?
Selection, grading, presentation of
materials?
for example

The Grammatical Model

Translating
Translating
Translating
Translating
Etc.

noun phrases
verbs and tense
questions
conditional sentences

The Cultural Model

Ecology
Flora,

Material
Food,

Social

fauna, topography, climate, etc.

culture
clothes, buildings, transport, etc.

culture

Professions,

Social

trades, social behaviour, etc.

organisation

Political,

administrative, religious, history

Custom
Gesture,

habit, folk beliefs, etc.

(adapted from Newmark 1988)

The Interpretive Model

Text

analysis

Translating
Translating
Translating
Translating
Etc.

cohesion
coherence
register (field, mode, tenor)
authors perspective

Topic as an organising principle

Social

services
Education
Government and politics
Law
Science and technology
Art and culture

Genre as an organising principle

Patents, contracts, legislation
Abstracts
Reports

Business
News

Critical reviews
Advertising

Slogans
Promotional

literature

Creative literature

etc.

Text type as an organising principle

Rhetorical function
To narrate, to describe, to argue

Texts are hybrid

Dominant rhetorical function

Plans towards goals

Text-type focus determines structure

Structure organises texture
These socio-textual practices are cultural

Text Type versus Genre

Same

text type found across a

variety of genres
e.g. argument in editorials, academic
articles, advertising, etc.

Certain

types

genres attract certain text

e.g. instruction in legal contracts

So,

text type and genre can be

combined in the syllabus

Text types
Dominant

rhetorical focus

Narration (focus on organisation of

events in time)
Description (focus on organisation of
objects in space)
Exposition (analysis and synthesis of
concepts)
Argumentation (focus on evaluation)
Instruction (focus on future behaviour)

A Text Typology (Hatim & Mason 1990)

Exposition

Narration

Description

Conceptual exposition

A Text Typology (Hatim & Mason 1990)

Argumentation

Through-argument

Counter-argument

A Text Typology (Hatim & Mason 1990)

Instruction

With option

Without option

Rationale for a text-type syllabus

Different

text types place different

demands on the translator.
Main distinguishing features =
degree of evaluativeness.
Ability to perceive dominant
rhetorical focus assists translator in
decision making at lower levels.

English-Arabic/Arabic-English
Translation. A Practical Guide
B.Hatim (1997)

Translating legal texts

The Preamble, The Legal Article, etc.

Translating detached exposition

The Summary, The Abstract, The Report
(detached), The News Report (less detached).

Translating argumentation
Through-argument, Counter-argument, The
suppressed counter-argument.

Illustrations
Instruction

without option

Regulation: shall/will
Scope: any; pursuant to; specified
in; subject to; in the event of;
except for; provided that
Specification: inherent in political and
constitutional, inclusive of and;
including; general or particular;
contained in or endorsed on; by
payment or.. by reinstatement or repair

Instruction with option

Purpose:

to prevent make sure;

to prevent store; To store
cover; To make melt; To
make stir; To serve, carve
Order: Before read; Handle
until; Cook until; then; and;
Next.
Advice: can be used; would go
well; is recommended.

Argumentation
The

counter-argument

(Tone- setter) The countrys troubles

Thesis cited (to be opposed) Algerias
strengths
(Substantiation) children, investment,
etc.
Opposition These strengths are being
wasted
(Substantiation) jobs currency
(Conclusion)

Argumentation
Highly

evaluative argument =
maximum translator intervention,
e.g.
Promotional text for a restaurant:

ST:

Lovers of the flavours and

colours of the South will adore.
TT If you like the flavours and
colours of the South, its just the
place for you.

Translator mediation: register

adjustment
Promotional

text for Champagne

Personalisation: you
Word order: When you are choosing
Lexical choice: idem > the same
thing; carbonic gas > bottle
fermentation
Syntax, nouns to verbs: the mode of
cooking > the way the dish is
prepared; spontaneity > make a
spontaneous choice

The Interpreting Syllabus

Some

general principles

Processing focus
SIMULTANEOUS
Limited

access to context and structure

Focus on texture
CONSECUTIVE
Note-taking
Focus

on structure

LIAISON

(DIALOGUE)

Face-to-face
Focus

on context

Dialogue Interpreting
Spontaneous

speech
Dominant text type focus does not
apply.
Progression by type of event

Progression from to + Evaluative

The

Question- and-Answer Session

Police

The

interrogation; courtroom examination

Interview

Media

interviews; press conference; cultural

events, etc.

The

Debate

Exchange

The

of views; argument

Negotiation

Business

meetings; diplomacy