Sight translation Master I LEA

HMLA202Shona Whyte January 2015

Translation, interpreting, and sight translation

We usually think of translation as transforming a written text in one language into another, while interpreting involves oral language.

Translation, interpreting, and sight translation

Interpreting can be consecutive, when the interpreter presents a speech in another language immediately following the original presentation, or simultaneous, when translation occurs at the same time as the original speech, often using headphones. A third form of interpreting is called liaison interpreting and is used in meetings and discussions conducted in two languages with an interpreter translating in both directions.

Sight translation

Somewhere between translation and interpreting we have sight translation, which involves the oral translation of a written text.

Sight interpretation"Interpreters have to listen, translate and read at the same time, using two input channels. At the extreme, the interpreters may even be provided with a previously prepared translation to read from, yet they still have to listen to the speakers in order to synchronise with them. It's called sight interpretation (by analogy with sight translation […]). In addition, there's the matter of all the background documentation that interpreters should skim through in preparation for a meeting.

Sight translationSight translation: translating a written text orally. So it's a hybrid of written translation and interpreting. Faster and more economical than writing the translation. It's more widespread than people realise, much of it in the form of dictated translation, in which a Professional Translator dictates into a recorder for transcription by a secretary or, nowadays, into a computer equipped with speech recognition software.

http://www.capitatranslationinterpreting.com/interpreting/sight-translation/

Class schedule

Friday, room 229 

Friday 9-10h, 10-11h

12 class sessions, 30 January – 23 April

Objectives

1. oral translation: improve fluency and accuracy of oral translation into English

2. translation analysis : analyze oral translations to develop translation technique

3. learner autonomy: develop skills for independent translation

Translation topics and texts

The LEA programme is oriented towards the use of language in international and business contexts. Translation topics therefore involve international current affairs, recent social, political or cultural issues in English-speaking countries, and business and finance.

Activities

1. current affairs translation

2. group dictation activity

3. class oral translation

4. transcription and analysis of recording

1. Current affairs translation

Find three news stories in French: 2 headlines stories and one fun item

Read them out at the start of class for students to translate

Be ready to correct where necessary.

2. Group dictationWork in groups of three: two students take turns to translate French text into English aloud, while the third writes it down.

When you have finished, note alternatives, corrections, to turn in with your translation

3. Class oral translationEach student translates one sentence into the recorder until the full text has been translated

The teacher puts the recording on Jalon for students to download and transcribe.

4. Translation reportStudents write a translation analysis of the class oral translation, including

•the original French text

•the spoken English translation,

•their own comments, alternative solutions and improvements, with justifications

Upload text to Jalon BEFORE the following week’s class.

EvaluationTwo translation reports

• download and transcribe class translation

• analyse the translation

• upload to Jalon BEFORE the following class

Online materials: HMLA202

http://jalon.unice.fr

http://efl.unice.frShona Whyte

whyte@unice.fr