XENX1004 Translation as Cultural Mediation (3 op)

Course description

The course is open to both local and international students who are interested in languages, cultures, and translation, regardless of their degree programme or prior knowledge and experience in translation. It approaches translation not only as a linguistic and cognitive activity but also as a professional and nonprofessional sociocultural practice, which can be examined through theoretical and critical lenses.

Drawing on a wide range of examples, real-world cases, readings, and multimodal materials, the course explores linguistic and cultural aspects of translation, key concepts and theories, as well as broader social, ideological, and ethical issues.

With English as the shared language, the course aims to create meaningful learning opportunities through critical thinking, self-reflection, and interaction among students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Participants are encouraged to exchange perspectives, share personal experiences and stories, collaborate in teams, and work with authentic texts from their own culture(s).

Main content

• Approaches to culture in intercultural communication and translations studies
• The complexity of meaning: sociocultural and affective layers of meaning; extra- and intralinguistic cultural references: conceptualisations, taxonomies, and transfer strategies

• Media localization modes (dubbing, subtitling, and voiceover), benefits, challenges, and limitations; AI in audiovisual translation: voice conversion and voice cloning; latest research trends in audiovisual translation
• Translation studies as an independent discipline, main approaches, major turning points, recent trends and developments; academic journals publishing translation-related articles; resources and tools for translators
• Translation as a profession, translation norms; translators’ identity, (in)visibility, agency, and roles; translation as a complex real-world phenomenon: professional and nonprofessional translation; the notion of translation and mediation

• Translation ability; translation competence models, the development of translation competence; translation competence and generic competences
• The pedagogical value of translation and mediation in language education; culturally responsive and multilingual pedagogies

On completion of the course, the student is expected to…

• develop a nuanced understanding of translation as a linguistic, cognitive, and sociocultural practice.
• adopt a functional approach to translation that takes into account the translation situation, including context, audience, and communicative goals.
• critically reflect on how complex meanings, representation, and ideology shape translation, and evaluate the social, ethical, and ideological implications of translation decisions in various contexts.
• develop their intercultural communication skills through participation in discussions and teamwork in culturally diverse groups.
• reflect on how their own linguistic and cultural identities influence their intercultural communication and translation practices.

Language of teaching: English

Minimum B2-level of English