TRANSLATION, TOURISM, ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION (CHINESE)

The course falls within the basic curriculum of the MA degree in Translation and Interpreting (TI) and aims to provide students with a theoretical basis and to improve their skills in translation with an eye to linguistic, cultural, and sensory accessibility and inclusion.
The course aims to develop the knowledge of the criteria and principles of tourism, promotional and museum translation, audio description, and subtitling, as well as of their practical applications.

By attending and taking part in the activities of the course, the students will be able to achieve the following results:

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1. Knowing the basic theoretical principles of accessibility-oriented translation (tourism, promotional and museum translation, audio description, and subtitling)
1.2 Knowing the specific terminology

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
2.1 Being able to correctly apply the theoretical principles of accessibility-oriented translation (tourism, promotional and museum translation, audio description, and subtitling) to a translation project according to its specific features
2.2 Being able to correctly use the specific terminology in all the processes of application and communication of the knowledge acquired

3. Making judgements
3.1 Being able to formulate and justify hypotheses in Chinese-Italian translation, developing a critical approach to the assessment of alternative hypotheses
3.2 Being able to critically comment on the translation strategies adopted in a specific translation project

4. Communication skills
4.1 Being able to effectively complete a Chinese-Italian translation project according to the specific features of the texts and its recipients

5. Learning skills
5.1 Being able to critically use the recommended reference works and their bibliography

Knowledge of the Chinese language (vocabulary, syntactic structures, and communication norms) acquired in the language courses attended as part of the first year of the MA degree programme in Translation and Interpreting. Students are expected to demonstrate an upper-intermediate to advanced competence in the practice of specialized translation, excellent written Italian skills, a solid command of the basic theoretical foundations of translation, and familiarity with the fundamental principles of writing a translation commentary.

During classes, the theoretical and critical reflection on the features of accessibility-oriented translation will be combined with translation practice, stimulating discussion on the translation problems encountered in texts, as well as on the most effective strategies adopted to solve them. To do so, examples of existing translations may be the object of critical analysis from a comparative perspective. Special attention will be placed on the translation of tourism, promotional and museum texts, on the drafting of audio description scripts, and on subtitling.

The following texts are an essential reading on the themes, approaches, and techniques discussed during classes:

DÍAZ CINTAS Jorge; REMAEL Aline, Subtitling. Concepts and Practices, New York & London, Routledge, 2020.

PEREGO Elisa, Audio Description for the Arts, New York & London, Routledge, 2023.

PÉREZ-GONZÁLEZ Luis, Audiovisual Translation. Theories, Methods and Issues, New York & London, Routledge, 2014.

PESARO Nicoletta (a cura di), La traduzione del cinese. Riflessioni, strategie e tipologie testuali, Milan, Hoepli, 2023 (esp. chapter 8).

TAYLOR Christopher; PEREGO Elisa (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Audio Description, New York & London, Routledge, 2022.

ZAIN SULAIMAN Mohamed; WILSON Rita, Translation and Tourism. Strategies for Effective Cross-Cultural Promotion, Singapore, Springer, 2019.

Further recommended works and teaching materials will be provided in due time.

In order to take the final exam, students will be required to submit to the teacher the translations of all texts discussed during classes, including a short translation commentary for each translated text, around 15 days prior to the exam date. The final exam consists of 1) the Chinese-Italian translation of a text similar to those discussed during classes in terms of text type and content, and 2) a short translation commentary.
The assessment of the final assignment will take into account the quality of the translation itself—in terms of accuracy in understanding the source text, formal, typographical and stylistic accuracy, and the ability to conform to the conventions of tourist-museum communication or of scriptwriting for audio description or subtitles (10 points out of a total of 30)—as well as the quality of the translation commentary, in terms of completeness, strength of argumentation, relevance of the reflection, and formal, typographical and stylistic accuracy (20 points out of a total of 30).

written

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Poor
≤17 - Inadequate, fragmentary and deficient knowledge of content, which is not understood or is understood and elaborated only partially. Inadequate reflective and expository skills.

Passing
18 - Very uncertain knowledge of content, which is to be consolidated, and is understood and elaborated in a very uncertain manner. Barely sufficient reflective and expository skills.
19 - Uncertain knowledge of content, which appears to be to be consolidated, and which is understood and elaborated in an uncertain manner. Sufficient reflective and expository skills.
20 - Sufficient knowledge of content, which is still partly to be consolidated, and is understood and elaborated in an uncertain manner. Sufficient reflective and expository skills.

Fair
21 - More than sufficient knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated with some uncertainty.
Fair reflective and expository skills.
22 - Fair knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated with some uncertainty. Fair reflective and expository skills.
23 - More than fair knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated with some uncertainty. Fair reflective and expository skills.

Good
24 - Correct knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated some uncertainty. Good reflective and expository skills.
25 - Correct knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated in a fairly secure manner. Good reflective and expository skills.
26 - Complete knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated in a fairly secure manner. Good reflective and expository skills.

Very good
27 - Complete knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated confidently. Very good reflective and expository skills.
28 - Complete and thorough knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated confidently. Very good reflective and expository skills.

Very good plus
29 - Broad and thorough knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated confidently with full autonomy and personal insights. Excellent reflective and expository skills, albeit with minor imperfections.
30 - Broad and thorough knowledge of content, which is understood and elaborated confidently with full autonomy and personal insights. Excellent reflective and expository skills.

Excellent
30 cum laude - Very thorough and cross-cutting knowledge of content, which is understood and eelaborated independently and with personal insights, with full command of language and excellent ability to make interdisciplinary connections. Outstanding reflective and expository skills.

The course is taught by lectures, classroom work, and homework. Active participation in the classroom and consistent home preparation between sessions are required.