Mass Media Translation (6 credits)
This course introduces students to the nature and practice of mass media translation, discussing a variety of texts including news and magazine articles, press releases, political speeches, gazette notices, and advertisements. It also covers the translation of subtitles of films and TV programmes. The uniqueness of the nature of mass media translation as well as the commonalities it shares with other kinds of translation will be addressed. The translation techniques of mass media texts are discussed under different themes, mainly concerning the skills to deal with genre-specific stylistic features. In addition to learning the approaches of translating mass media texts, students should be able to discern how mass media translation aligns with the traditional conception of translation as a matter of faithful transference of meaning; at the same time, they should also notice how mass media translation deviates from such traditional conception with elements of rewriting and manipulation on the part of the translator, reflecting perspectives and ideologies different from those of the source culture.
Assessment: 100% coursework