MA/Diploma in Translation Studies

Translation Studies is a discipline which has witnessed unparalleled growth over the course of the last ten years. One reason for this is the fact that the world market in translation, already thought to be worth in excess of 10 billion pounds a year, barely satisfies a fraction of the demand created by a global economy. Another equally valid reason is that Translation Studies has pioneered a number of key ideas and concepts which have proved themselves invaluable with regard to the study of cultural exchange in areas as diverse as literature, poetry and drama, history, media, law, comparative religion, philosophy, and the social sciences.

The MA/Diploma programme at Hull is intended to open new avenues of thought while providing a firm foundation in the discipline of Translation Studies. With its equal emphasis on the practical aspects of the translation process and the underlying theoretical issues involved, the programme will be of interest to all graduate linguists whatever their future career route: commercial or technical translation; literary or stage translation; research, teaching or management.

This is a one-year, full-time programme (or two years, part-time). Students pursue four core (compulsory) modules and two optional modules over the course of two semesters (September-January; February-May). This is followed by a period of work on your dissertation (or equivalent annotated translation), which you can submit in September.

In the first semester, the core modules are:

• An Introduction to Linguistics for Translators, which helps students understand how texts actually work. Among the subjects explored are how writers use lexis and grammar to create certain effects, how texts are organised, and the features which distinguish one variety of written text from another.

• An Introduction to New Technologies, which introduces students to the various advances which have been made in software design in recent years with regard to automatic and semi-automatic translation programmes, explores the advantages and shortcomings of specific packages, and examines the application of other electronic and online resources from information retrieval to desktop publishing. This module also enables students to develop the practical skills required of a translator with regard to producing finished texts: copy-editing, revision, and self-revision.

In the second semester, the core modules are as follows:

• Practical Translation Skills provides students with extensive hands-on experience of translation practices with reference to a wide variety of texts ranging from poetry, prose fiction, and subtitling to technical reports, journalism, and advertising. The emphasis throughout this module will be on finding the necessary balance between the scientific study of language and the inherent creativity of translation process itself.

• Issues in Translation Studies examines the different theories which have been put forward to account for not only how we translate but what we translate. In both cases, translation will be seen as the product of massive, and sometimes contradictory, cultural, social and political forces. Among the issues studied will be gender and translation, translation and post-colonialism, translation and power, and translation and the media.

• Options. Students will be counselled with regard to their choice of options from a wide selection of postgraduate modules available in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. For those seeking a professional career route into technical, commercial or scientific translation, for example, it will be possible to enhance your linguistic skills in a second or third language. The languages currently offered by the Faculty include French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Danish, and Swedish.

• Dissertation. Given the nature of the translation process and the way in which research is conducted, written examinations are by no means an ideal way of assessing progress. Indeed, most assessment is conducted throughout the programme by means of written assignments and short specialised translation projects. This research-based activity continues as you prepare your dissertation (or an equivalent annotated translation) in close consultation with your supervisor. This is your opportunity to develop your knowledge in any area of Translation Studies, including interpreting and subtitling; literary and stage translation (we can offer specialist supervision in virtually every area and period from Greek and Roman classical theatre and Medieval Vernacular Languages through to contemporary Dutch detective fiction and translating/adapting for television, film or radio); comparative cultural studies; scientific, commercial, legal, or technical translation; project management; or the application of new technologies to the translation process.

If you would like more information on the MA/Diploma in Translation Studies, please contact

Dr Terry Hale
Programme Director, MA in Translation Studies
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,
University of Hull,
Hull HU6 7RX, UK
Tel. +44(0)1482 465615
Fax. +44(0)1482 466210
Email t.j.hale@hull.ac.uk

MPhil/PhD in Translation Studies