Introduction to Translation: Culture, Vocabulary and Process

OBJECTIVES
This course aims to present the basic principles of translation between English and Spanish, for
which a number of basic concepts will be explained to understand the process of translation.
The process will be done in a practical way in order that the student acquires an understanding
of the phases, and the practical tools currently used by translators. Two key concepts will be explained
through translation: linguistic competence and cultural competence.
This course seeks to make the student aware of the importance of good writing and the precise
use of language.

METHODOLOGY
Class sessions will be mostly practical. The student will be asked to produce translations, to
investigate the meaning of texts and to propose translation relationships for certain cultural and
linguistic segments. Therefore, the student will be asked to participate as follows:
-Translating texts.
-Doing exercises about dictionaries and other reference sources.
-Translating concrete language aspects (like proverbs, semantic fields, specialized languages...), as well
as elaborating translation data cards.
-Explaining in writing and/or orally how he/she has reached his/her translation conclusions.

SYLLABUS
The topics of the course will develop around the texts to be translated. They include the
following:
-The concept of Competence.
-Literal Translation.
-Oblique Translation.
-Translation Techniques.
-Assisted Translation and Machine Translation.
-The Translator's Workbench.
-Orthotypography of English and Spanish.