ARA 303 General Translation
This course introduces students to translation methodology and the profession of translation, with a particular emphasis on the development of Arabic to English translation techniques and the acquisition of related knowledge above and beyond language skills. Through teamwork and group editing sessions, students apply the translation methods in their Arabic to English translation. Some of the translation concerns that students study during the course are text analysis, context, sentence, structural relations, and metaphor. They explore a variety of text types from different Arabic-speaking countries and learn to produce quality, professional translations by applying effective strategies to deal with the challenges of fully preserving the meaning of the source text (ST) in the target language (TT) while conveying the appropriate tone, style, register, and paying attention to grammar, mechanics, and audience-specific needs.
Learning Outcomes
Critically analyze and translate various types of documents (i.e., technical, legal, political, literary, etc.) into Arabic, preserving the essence and integrity of the words in the original language and communicating them effectively in written and oral forms.
Exhibit sufficient knowledge of the concepts and applications of the translation methods.
Evaluate and apply linguistic theories and translation methods to their translations with a minimum of loss in the original’s meaning and verify the validity and applicability of theoretical paradigms through an analysis of their own and existing translations.
Produce and evaluate translation of complex structures from English into Arabic and vice versa, and assess the quality of translated texts.
Examine and assess the notion of lexical, grammatical, textual, and pragmatic equivalence.
Demonstrate an understanding of different translation theories that have arisen over history and how they affect translations, and identify differences in literary traditions through linguistic and literary analysis of original and translated texts.
Distinguish and evaluate stylistic differences between texts of various genres: media, literature, informative, instructional, etc.
Critically assess their and others’ translations in light of studied theories by taking a self-directed approach to identify their learning needs.
Create, manage, and produce an individual situated or in vivo translation project in a specialized subfield by negotiating with proofreaders, translators, and other actors and agents.
Demonstrate professionalism with respect to ethical principles, ethical sensitivity, reflexive moral judgment, and academic integrity.