Florida International University

Department of Modern Languages

PRT 3810

Introduction to Portuguese Translation and Interpretation

Dr. John B. Jensen

DM 470, (305) 348-2854, jensenj@fiu.edu

Office Hours:

Presentation

PRT 3810 is the first offering in what is projected to be a new series of courses leading to a Certificate in Portuguese Translation and Interpretation. University Authorization of the Certificate will depend on our being able to offer and support–with enrollments–enough courses, at least five specific ones in T/I, plus other related offerings. FIU has recently authorized Certificates in Brazilian Studies and in Portuguese for Business. This course, PRT 3810, counts toward either of these Certificates, as well as toward the Major and Minor in Portuguese. For many years FIU has offered Certificates in Spanish Translation and Spanish Interpretation.

The intent of this course, PRT 3810, BY ITSELF, IS NOT TO CREATE COMPETENT TRANSLATORS OR INTERPRETERS. Rather, its purpose is to introduce interested bilingual individuals to the fields of T and I and to give an overview of what is involved in the work and what kinds of work translators and interpreters do every day. It also will give students the opportunity to try translating and interpreting in all common modalities to help them see if they have talent and interest in pursuing their studies. Future courses, already planned for the Spring, 2000 semester at FIU, will allow more intensive development of the specific skills of translating and interpreting.

Students enrolled who already have professional experience in T and I are expected to participate by sharing their knowledge and experiences and to seek ways to complement and enhance their present knowledge through class and out-of-class activities. (See project description below)

Requirements

Attendance: You must plan to attend EVERY CLASS. Because the classes are long, each one represents an entire week of work, and twice during the semester one class actually represents two weeks. Also, because of the nature of the subject matter, it is not possible to completely make up a missed class by doing the reading and completing written papers. Of course, we all have unexpected events and situations come up, so that you may be excused from ONE CLASS without grade penalty. By missing two or more classes, your grade will be lowered. If you have a major illness or other acute emergency, see the professor about some special way to try to make up the work. In making your family or work plans, try to take advantage of the two Saturdays, October 2 and November 11, as well as Thanksgiving Saturday (November 27) when class will not be held.

Readings: Reading and practice materials will be distributed to you in class, for lack of an existing textbook on the subject. The Department of Modern Languages cannot pay for the copies, so that you will be asked to provide an initial deposit of $25.00 to cover copying. If that is used up, you will be asked for more. It if is not used, you will receive a refund.

Activities: Because it is expected that the class will be fairly small, all students can become involved in T/I demonstration and practice activities. You will take turns doing interpretation in class, and we will take some class time to do short translations, which will then be analyzed in class. Practice work will be assigned every week as homework. We will also make use of the language laboratory during class hours to practice simultaneous interpretation. The lab will be available for additional practice outside of class hours.

Examinations: There will be two examination, a one-hour mid-term and a two-hour final. The mid-term will cover the topics presented in class and in readings up to the date of the exam, and may involve a short translation passage. The final examination will be more practical, and will have a substantial portion dedicated to translation and interpretation work, although at an elementary level.

Course language: The official languages of PRT 3810 are English and Portuguese. You may use either to participate in class; the professor intends to use his native language, English, as the primary medium of instruction, partially because virtually all reading and reference materials available are in English. Even if you are more comfortable in a third language, we would ask that you make every effort to communicate with the class only in Portuguese or English.

Project: The course does not require a research or term paper; however, students must prepare a short project at the end of the course. This project can take many different forms, for example: A translation–not done for pay–of some special text that interests you; a study of some aspect of translation theory; a specialized annotated bibliography of materials on translation/ interpretation; a film- or TV-dubbing, etc. Experienced students may prefer to make a class presentation during the semester in lieu of a written project.

Glossary: Because every translator or interpreter is constantly building vocabulary, it is essential to learn to prepare glossaries of specific fields, bringing together the specialized vocabulary used in a particular industry or even a single company or government entity (e.g., World Bank, FBI, Welfare Department). Part of the course work will be to prepare such a glossary. More details will be provided.

Syllabus

August 28

A: Introduction to Course: Definitions and concepts; course goals

B: Attend FLATA Seminar on Literary Translation

Exercise: General text

Sept. 4

A: Overview of field : History and theory; T/I as professional and academic discipline

B: Basic linguistic theory and relationship to process of translation

Exercise: More challenging general text

Sept. 11

A: T/I as a business and its ethics; Organizations, certifications.

B: Phonology of English and Portuguese

Exercise: Economic, commercial text

Sept. 18

A: Resources: dictionaries, glossaries, web resources; glossary building

B: Accent reduction: recordings, testing, exercises

Exercise: General legal text

Sept. 25

A: Computers in translation; spell checkers and other aids; machine translation.

B: Syntax: The Noun Phrase

Exercise: Specialized legal or diplomatic text

Oct. 2

Travel day, no class

Oct. 9

DOUBLE CLASS (until 2:30 PM)

A: Translation: General, commercial, diplomatic, legal; undercover tapes; film subtitling

B: Syntax: The Noun Phrase (contd.); The Verb Phrase

Exercise: Undercover tape (transcription and translation)

Oct. 16

MIDTERM EXAMINATION (one hour)

A: Interpretation: Consecutive, memory techniques, note taking

B: Syntax: Verb tenses

Exercise: Technical text

Oct. 23

A: Interpretation: Consecutive Practice–depositions, speeches, courtroom

B: Syntax: Verb tenses contd.

Exercise: Legal consecutive tape

Oct 30

A: Interpretation: Simultaneous–conference, courtroom, whisper

B: Syntax: Verb and sentence complements

Exercise: Simple simultaneous tape

Nov. 6

A: Interpretation: Simultaneous–equipment, demonstrations and practice

B: Language variations: styles, accents, registers

Exercise: Advanced simultaneous tape

Nov. 13

Travel day, no class; work on projects and glossaries

Nov. 20

DOUBLE CLASS (until 2:30 PM)

A: Simultaneous: conference simulation; course summary

B: Lexicon: word building

Glossaries due.

Nov. 27:

Thanksgiving weekend, no class

Dec. 4:

FINAL EXAMINATION

Projects due