OVERVIEW

Lingua e traduzione inglese II is made up of four parts:

- a theoretical module (30 contact hours) held in the second semester;

- a practical part  on technical and scientific translation (40 contact hours) held in the first semester;

- a practical part on juridical translation (40 contact hours) held in the first and second semesters;

- a practical part on interpreting (40 contact hours) held in the first and second semesters.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course aims at providing students with specialised competence in English linguistics and ranslation, both in terms of tools for linguistic analysis and translation theory, and in terms of in-depth analysis of specific thematic areas such as specialised languages and the media. Modules held by professional translators and English mother tongue collaboratros contribute to the advancement of language competence and cross-linguistic mediation skills and the interpretation modules looks at consecutive interpreting techniques.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The theory part aims to support students in developing:

- an understanding of the main theoretical and analytical frameworks of critical discourse analysis and critical stylistics; 

- their critical and thinking skills;

- their analytical skills as well as the ability to perform critical analyses of texts independently;

The practice part aims to bring students to the C1.2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

PREREQUISITES

Basic linguistic knowledge of the syntax and pragmatics of the English Language, as well as a C1.1 level of English in the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) according the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

TEACHING METHODS

The theoretical module is made up of 30 hours (3 hours over 10 weeks) of lectures, during the second semester.

The Tech-Sci Translation module, the Juridical Translation module and the Interpretation module are made up of 40 hours each, during both the first and the second semester. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

This course is divided into two parts: a one-semester linguistics module ("modulo teorico"), which is held in the second semester and a two-semester practical module ("modulo pratico" or "esercitazioni"). 

Each component ("modulo pratico" and "modulo teorico") is assessed separately. The practical module is assessed at the end of the second semester through a written exam paper (use of English, reading and comprehension, text and translation analysis) and an oral exam. The linguistics module is assessed through an oral presentation towards the end of the course and a computer-based test at the end of the second semester. 

The linguistics module ("modulo teorico") focuses on Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Stylistics. Classes will focus on the main theories and methodologies within these approaches, on mono- and multimodal text and discourse analysis pertaining to the ecological, political, gender discourse and translation in the media.

The practical language module aims to bring students to the C1.2 level (higher end of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages C1 level). More information about the practical component is available on Aulaweb. 

In particular, the Tech-Sci Translation module deals with exercises in translating a wide range of scientific texts with specialized vocabulary and usages. The biweekly lessons are structured with a peer-editing exercise on day 1 in which each student reads and critiques another’s translation (thus getting the benefit of seeing another approach to the translation exercise and giving the author feedback) followed by a large group discussion in which the esercitatrice asks them how they went about finding technical terms and particularly challenging structures. On day 2, students come together after each one has edited his/her translation, go over points of debate from the previous lesson and get feedback about terms and usages from the esercitatrice.

The Juridical Translation module seeks to offer students the necessary skills for translating legal texts from English into Italian. Accepting that 'Law is language’, the course examines the Common Law (English) and codified Civil Law (Italian) legal systems. As regards source-text type, a distinction is made between legal texts that make law (eg statute law, contracts) and texts that talk about law (eg legal opinions, academic papers). Who is the translation for? The needs of the target-text user are assessed as these will inevitably influence translation choices in the production of the target text. This module also explores the possible support of machine translation tools such as Google Translate, DeepL, Systran Translate. The topic areas covered are contract law, company law, shipping and marine insurance.

The Interpretation module takes place in the language lab and/or in a simultaneous interpreting booth. This allows all students to interpret the speaker at the same time, by watching videos of real conferences or interviews or through a simulated contribution by the trainer. Interpreting is mainly simultaneous with introductory exercises in consecutive interpreting. In the second year, greater speed and resilience are required in both simultaneous and consecutive interpreting. Even now that training is once again in the classroom, some lessons are still held remotely. Remote interpreting offers students the opportunity to learn how to use the new platforms for simultaneous interpreting, that are widely used in conference settings, but also allows students to practice dummy boothing (with the microphone off) while a live conference is taking place.

The final mark is calculated as follows:

50% (of the overall mark) is the practical part (equally divided among the three practical modules),
50% (of the overall mark) is the theory part (30% of which is the oral the oral presentation at the end of the course and 70% of which is the computer-based test at the end of the course).

Those students who cannot attend classes will not be required to integrate the syllabus in any way: they will need to study the same syllabus as the students who can attend. 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Modulo Teorico:

Fonti primarie:

Machin, D. & A. Mayr, 2023, How to Do Critical Discourse Analysis. A Multimodal Introduction, SAGE Publications.

Jeffries L., 2010, Critical stylistics. The Power of English. Palgrave Macmillan.

Fonti secondarie:

Simpson P. , A. Mayr, & S. Statham, 2019, Language and Power. A Resource Book for Students, Routledge.

Stibbe A., The Stories We Live By. A free online course in ecolinguistics: https://www.storiescourse.org/thecourse

Bortoluzzi M. & E. Zurru (eds.), 2024, Ecological Communication and Ecoliteracy: Discourses of Awareness and Action for the Lifescape, Bloomsbury Academics.

https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph?docid=b-9781350335851  

Wodak R., 2005, "Gender Mainstreaming and the European Union: Interdisciplinarity, Gender Studies and CDA", in Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis. Gender, Power and Ideology in Discourse, Palgrave Macmillan, 90-113.

Leap W. L., 2015, "Queer Linguistics as Critical Discourse Analysis", in The Handbook of Discourse Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, 661-680.

Kalantari E. & C. Gagnon, 2021, "Media translation and politics in multilingual contexts", in The Routledge Handbook of Translation and Media, Routledge, 41-55.

Boase-Beier J., 2004, "Translation and style: a brief introduction", Language and Literature 13(1), 9-11.

Boase-Beier J., 2004, "Knowing and not knowing: style, intention and the translation of a Holocaust poem", Language and Literature 13(1), 25-35.

Malmkjær K., 2004, "Translational stylistics: Dulcken’s translations of Hans Christian Andersen", Language and Literature 13(1), 13-24.

Practical modules: materials available on the relevant Aulaweb pages.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ELISABETTA ZURRU (President)

LAURA SANTINI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Practical modules (esercitazioni): 29.09.2025

Theoretical module: 23.02.2026

Class schedule

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION II

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Theoretical module: oral presentation during the course + final computer-based test. 

Tech-Sci Translation: written exam lasting 120 minutes.

Juridical Translation: written exam lasting 120 minutes.

Interpretazione: oral exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The theoretical module exam is assessed through an oral presentation, carried out in English, during the course and a final computer-based exam. In the oral presentation, students will be required to perfom and present and original analysis of a text, based on the theories and methodologies acquired during the course. In the computer-based exam, students will be required to reply, in English, to a range of theoretical and analytical questions based on the syllabus. 

The theoretical module mark is worth 50% of the Lingua e traduzione inglese II (12 CFU) final mark. The marks from the Tech-Sci and Juridical Translation and Interpretation exams equally concur to the remaining 50%.

The written exams for Tech-Sci and Juridical Translation and the oral exam for Interpretation check that what is learnt during practical sessions (esercitazioni) is appropriately applied to real texts.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

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.