Advanced level of English language proficiency (CEFR C1). Advanced level of Italian language proficiency. Good translation skills (English>>Italian). Ability to use word processors and to navigate the web using search engines

The course provides students with a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the role played by technology in the work of professional translators and interpreters. The course presents a range of computerised tools and online resources, in order to enable the students to analyse and reflect on their main functions, strengths, and limits so as to take advantage of them with increased awareness in professional contexts. In addition, the students will become aware of the most common methodologies and the main tools available to manage, measure and assure the quality of translated texts.

In this course unit, the critical reflection on the role played by information technology in the work of professional translators focuses on its advantages and potential problems, laying constant emphasis on the issues surrounding the quality of the translated product:

1) an introductory overview of the milestones of the history of information technology in the work of professional translators presents the main architectures of the relevant systems, including the traditional rule-based ones, the more recent statistical approaches, which use parallel corpora, as well as the last generation of developments based on neural networks and artificial intelligence;

2) thanks to a deeper understanding of the various linguistic and translation-related phenomena that are particularly challenging for translation systems, the students are encouraged to evaluate critically and with increased awareness both the potential and the limitations of these tools;

3) a range of techniques used to successfully adopt machine translation in industrial and institutional contexts are explored, especially post-editing, pre-editing, the sublanguage approach and controlled language also in the audiovisual translation industry.

4) the course also presents a range of specialised technologies available to assist translating practice in different fields; their main functions, strengths, and limits will be discussed and analysed through practical examples, in order to reflect on the potential impact of the technology on the translating practice of professional translators.

All the topics presented are accompanied by reflections on the issues related to translation quality and to the methodologies and tools available to manage, measure and assure the quality of written/spoken translated texts.

(A); Somers, H.; Computers and Translation: a Translator's Guide; John Benjamin; 2003; Chapters: 1-2-3-4-7-8-9-11-14-15; 9789027216403.

(C); Austermühl, F.; Electronic Tools for Translators; St. Jerome Publishing; 2001; Chapters: 1-2-3-4-5-7-8-10; 9781315760353.

(C); Quah, C.K.; Translation and Technology; Palgrave MacMillan; 2006; Chapters: 1-3-4-5; 9780230287105.

(C); O'Hagan, M.; The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Technology; London: Routledge; 2020; Chapters: 1-2-4-5-7-10-19-22; 9781138232846.

Lectures include a significant practical component based on case studies, group activities and role play methods. Simulation of projects (individual or to be completed in small groups) based on real professional situations that require the use of language and translation technologies and the adoption of the techniques and of the tools presented in the course.

Teaching is conducted at least 70% in a foreign language (English).

• In addition to theoretical explanations, the lectures include a significant practical component with the students’ active participation. The theoretical notions are presented during the lectures by the tutor and then further explored autonomously by the students through readings and guided exercises, that are then discussed and corrected together.

• The assessment will be in the form of an oral test in English comprising theoretical and practical components, covering the theoretical notions presented in the lectures and their practical applications, with a critical analysis of their implementation techniques and actual potential.

  
  

  Evaluation and percentages:

  • relevance of the answers (20%);
  • ability to demonstrate the correct understanding of theoretical principles (20%);
  • awareness of theoretical principles in their valid concrete application (20%);
  • critical ability to deal with the topics under consideration (evaluation of pros and cons of specific operational choices, advantages and disadvantages, potential and problems) (20%);
  • clarity, technical correctness and completeness of the answers (20%).

English and Italian

English