TRANSLATION METHODS AND TEXT TYPOLOGIES FOR CHINESE TRANSLATION

"Translation methods and text typologies for Chinese translation", is one of the courses characterizing the master’s Degree Program in "Translation and Interpreting". It aims to provide students with basic methodological tools for translation. The course, in particular, aims to develop students’ ability in analysing texts (both on a linguistic and a translation level) of different typologies and in understanding their cultural specificities. These abilities will be trained through the translation activity carried out along the whole course, and will be further developed in the translation courses of the second year.

The course aims to :
• lead students to a deeper understanding of the Chinese written language, as it is used in different types of texts
• strengthen students’ ability in analyzing texts on different levels (linguistic, textual, and in view of a translation)
• introduce students to Chinese-Italian translation.

Students will need an intermediate/advanced knowledge of the Chinese language and of the Italian language.

The course includes:
• understanding and translating advanced level texts in written Chinese, belonging to different textual typologies, on which reading, linguistic analysis and translation work will be carried out. Considerable attention will be paid to the linguistic, syntactic and textual characteristics of the written Chinese language.
• The theoretical foundations will also be laid for accurate translation work of sectoral texts into Chinese.
During classes, students will be invited to actively reflect and discuss on the texts and their proposed translations.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Osimo B., Il manuale del traduttore, Milano, Hoepli, 2011.
• Serianni L., Italiani scritti, Mulino, Bologna, 2007.
• Pesaro N. (ed.), La traduzione del cinese. Riflessioni, strategie e tipologie testuali, Hoepli, 2023.
• Siri Nergaard (ed.), Teorie contemporanee della traduzione, Bompiani, Milano, 1995 (in particular the chapters in Part I)
• Dongfeng Wong e Dan Shen, «Factors Influencing the Process of Translating», META, XLIV, 1, 1999, pp. 78-100

DICTIONARIES
Casacchia G. e Bai Yukun, "Grande dizionario cinese-italiano", Venezia, Libreria editrice cafoscarina, 2013.

SUGGESTED READING
Jhumpa Lahiri, In altre parole, Guanda, 2015

SUGGESTED SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Yip Po-ching and Don Rimmington, A Comprehensive Grammar (2004) (colloc.biblioteca DSAAM: H 311)
Yu Feng, A Learners' Handbook of Modern Chinese Written Expressions, Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 2000
Baker M., In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation, Routledge, London & New York, 1992.
Bassnett, La Traduzione. Teoria e pratica, Bompiani, Milano, 1993.
Delisle J., Lee-Jahnke H. e Cormier M. C., Terminologia della traduzione, Hoepli, Milano, 2002.
Scarpa F., La traduzione specializzata, Hoepli, Milano, 2002.
Newmark P., A Textbook of Translation, Prentice Hall, London, 1988.

Popovič A., La scienza della traduzione, Hoepli, Milano, 2006.

Venuti L. (a cura di), The Translation Studies Reader (2° ed.), Routledge, New York & London, 2004.

The final exam (duration: 3 hours) is a written translation of a text from Chinese into Italian; answers to theoretical questions on translation are also required.

written

Scores 27-30: very good to excellent ability to understand an advanced level written Chinese text, identifying its grammatical and syntactic structures and rhetorical aspects; very good to excellent ability to choose the most appropriate translation strategy to render the text into Italian; very good to excellent ability to render the text into Italian, making full use of the expressive capabilities of the Italian language; very good to excellent ability to reflect consciously on one's work. Honors will be awarded if, in addition to correct understanding and rendering in Italian, particular creativity and originality in the use of the translator's tools and strategies are demonstrated.
Scores 23-26: adequate to good ability to understand an advanced level written Chinese text, identifying its grammatical and syntactic structures and rhetorical aspects; adequate to good ability to choose the most appropriate translation strategy to render the text into Italian; adequate to good ability to render the text into Italian, making full use of the expressive capabilities of the Italian language; adequate to good ability to reflect consciously on one's own work.
Scores 18-22: sufficient to more than sufficient ability to understand an advanced level written Chinese text, identifying its grammatical and syntactic structures and rhetorical aspects; sufficient to more than sufficient ability to choose the most appropriate translation strategy to render the text into Italian; sufficient to more than sufficient ability to render the text into Italian, making full use of the expressive capabilities of the Italian language; sufficient to more than sufficient ability to reflect consciously on one's own work.

Lessons with active participation by students. All texts to be translated will be available on the Moodle platform. Students are required to translate the assigned text before each class, and to present their translation in class, in order to stimulate discussion on text interpretation and translation. Group activities will be also organized.

Classes will be in Italian.

In order to be able to take the exam, the students are required to deliver all the translations made during the course (together with translation comments and terminological glossaries). The assignment should be delivered at least one week before the exam. In case of serious shortcomings, the student will be required to revise it before the exam. Should the final work not meet the requirements, penalties will be applied to the final grade calculation (up to two points). If the assignment is deemed insufficient and requires extensive revision and rewriting, the student will be allowed to take the exam only at the next exam session.