Translation and Localisation Studies MA

This module will help you understand the key differences between traditional translation and localisation. We'll introduce you to localisation tools and their use in a variety of contexts, such as academic, practical and business.

In this module you will participate in real-life localisation projects, to learn advanced IT skills, translation technology, marketing strategies, business execution and language service administration.

The Targeted Translation Project is the culmination of your MA studies, allowing you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you've gained, students usually find this piece of work hugely rewarding.

For this project you will select, research and write up a topic of your choice from the field of translation studies. Your course director and other members of the teaching staff will be on hand to help you choose your subject and provide advice where needed.

It's usually between 12,000-15,000 words and the format can be any of the following:

• an extended translation (3,000 words) presented with a commentary (6,000-7,000 words)
• a comparison of existing translations (12,000-15,000 words)
• an analysis of the role of translation in a particular culture/country (12,000-15,000 words)
• a research project (12-15000 words).

Computer-assisted translation is an area of extreme growth and it’s vital that translators and interpreters have a good understanding of the tools available to them. This module will introduce you to the key concepts, terms and components, such as, term base, translation memory and translation editor in practice-based workshops.

Discover accessibility practices in the field of audiovisual translation, with a particular focus on audio description (AD). You'll focus on the theory and practice(s) of different aspects of AD. The linguistic, technical, and cultural specificities of AD will be examined in detail. You'll become familiar with professional tools, workflows and standards.

Because the module focusses on AD produced for members of the audience on the blindness spectrum, part of the module is also dedicated to helping you understand blindness, visual impairments, and the needs of members of the audience on the blindness spectrum. The working language will be English, and whilst you will be given the opportunity to work between languages, it should be noted that for practical purposes, the focus of the module will be largely intralingual.

Accessibility is an important consideration in audiovisual translation and this module will introduce you to the key practices involved. You’ll focus on the theory and practice(s) of different aspects of audiovisual translation, with the main focus being on subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and audio description.

You will also examine linguistic, technical, and cultural specificities of audiovisual translation in detail. The module will be delivered in a series of weekly two-hour seminars.

Further develop your English language skills focussing on areas which are important for language professionals:

• lexis, structure and functions
• receptive and productive skills
• textual aspects
• situational constraints, pragmatics and register
• relevant cultural background
• sources of information and guidance for the solution of difficulties related to applied concerns

Further develop your English language skills focussing on aspects related to the English language in semi-specialised contexts:

• lexis, structure and functions
• receptive and productive skills
• textual aspects
• situational constraints, pragmatics and register
• relevant cultural background
• sources of information and guidance for the solution of difficulties related to applied concerns

This module will enable you to combine translation theory and practice through workshops to maximise skills development. Workshops are based on translation of different text types where relevant critical and genre-specific approaches are introduced. This module will prepare you for life as a language professional and/or translation practitioner.

Gain a grounding in subtitling for D/deaf members of the audience. You'll get to grips with professional tools and professional conventions (for spotting, splitting, presentation, reading speed etc.) with a view to open up professional avenues.

This module will introduce you to the translation practices for three of the most common types of text: informative (such as news reports), expressive (such as poetry/drama) and operative (such adverts). You will build on the translation theories explored within other modules and have the opportunity to apply them within your own practice.

You’ll learn through lectures and language-specific workshops. Lectures will present various approaches to translation and within the workshops you’ll put your learning into practice by translating texts and discussing why you’ve chosen a particular method.

All our workshop leaders are specialists in their languages(s) and most have experience of working as a translator.

You will be assessed through one piece of summative coursework where you’ll translate three texts, each with an accompanying commentary.