OVERVIEW

TERMINOLOGY AND SPECIAL LANGUAGES

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course seeks to provide students with specialist knowledge and skills in German linguistics and translation and to delve into individual aspects, including languages for special purposes, such as economics and business. It provides for the support of courses, held by professional translators, interpreters and language assistants, native speakers of German and Italian, aimed at practical learning of the language and of interlinguistic mediation at the specialist level, and of an interpreting module in which basic techniques of dialogic interpretation are applied.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The students will be familiarized with the particular characteristics of various technical and scientific languages for special purposes

Aim of the class is to enable students to have profound competences

- in translation of tecnical and scientific texts from German into Italian language and from Italian into German language.

- in interpreting of various text types with special regard on tecnical and scientific texts

- in consecutive and simultaneous interpreting

- in techniques oft ext revision and text editing and ist application for translating into German and into Italian language.

- in theory of terminology and the creation of terminological enties in German language

- in the theory of technical and scientific translation and in techniques of documentation for tecnical and scientific translation

- in text analysis and translatological analysis of technical, journalistic, scientific and popular scientific texts.

Course attendance is not mandatory, but higly recommended.

PREREQUISITES

Students must demonstrate a C1 level of language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

TEACHING METHODS

The theory lectures (30 lessons, 1st semester) will be accompanied during the whole academic year by practical language exercises.

- theory class: 30 lessons (I term)

- interpreting II year: 40 lessons (20 lessons I term + 20 lessons II term);

- technical and scientific translation German-Italian (20 lessons, II term);

- technical and translation Italian-German (20 lessons, I term);

- techniques of text revision and editing German-Italian (20 lessons, I term);

- techniques of text revision and editing Italian-German (20 lessons, II term).

The language classes begin in September 2025; time schedules, programs, instructors and auditoriums will be published in Aulaweb and on the websites of the single instructors until the end of September 2025. The language exercises include yearlong grammar lessons for beginners and advanced learners.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The class will introduce students to technical, journalistic, scientific and popular scientific languages for special purposes and make students familiar with technical and scientific translation as well as consecutive and simultaneous interpreting of technical and scientific issues, text revision and editing and translation theory and theory of terminology. During the class various texts from technical, humanistic and scientific fields will be analyzed metalinguistically and translatologically and translated.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Adamzik, Kirsten: Fachsprachen: Die Konstruktion von Welten (2018), Tübingen/Basel: UTB
• Arntz, R. / Picht, H., / Mayer, F. (2004): Einführung in die Terminologiearbeit, Olms, Hildesheim. (CSB)
• Baur, Wolfram / Eichner, Brigitte / Kalina, Sylvia / Mayer, Felix (Hg.) (2012): Übersetzen in die Zukunft. Dolmetscher und Übersetzer: Experten für die Fachkommunikation, Berlin: BDÜ Fachverlag.
• Fluck, H.-R. (1996): Fachsprachen, Francke/UTB, Tübingen-Basel.
• Roelcke, T. (1999): Fachsprachen, Schmidt, Berlin.
• Schreiber, Michael: Grundlagen der Übersetzungswissenschaft,  Berlin-New York: De Gruyter, 2006.

Further teaching materials will be communicated at the beginning of the semester by the lecturers and in Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Theory Module (Gerdes)
October 2025

Applied Modules
October 2025, date e orari da definire

Class schedule

GERMAN LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION II

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The theory lessons will be concluded by an oral exam in which the arguments treated during the class will be asked about. The languages classes will be completed by written exams (translation classes, text revision) and an oral exam (interpreting). During the oral exam at the end of the theory class the students have to provide evidence of their profound knowledge of the arguments dealt with during the lessons, the designed texts and the materials published in Aulaweb.

Inscription for the exam of the theory class on the homepage of the University of Genoa (www.unige.it) at the link „servizi online per gli studenti“ and for the exams of the applied modules in Aulaweb.

The program of the course is valid until February 2027 in accordance to the departmental regulation.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Theory class (25% of final vote): oral exam

Language exercises (75% of final vote):

written exams (specialized translation, text revision)

oral exam (interpreting)

FURTHER INFORMATION

Target group: Mandatory modules for second year students of Translation and Interpreting (LM 94) who have German as a main subject.

Credit Points: The entire course (theory class + translation and interpreting)  is credited with 12 credit points (CP / ECTS).

Language: Lessons will be held in German.

Students with certified special educational needs (DSA)

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.