Yearbooks

Programme: BAHons Translation and Professional Writing

Kindly take note of the disclaimer regarding qualifications and degree names.
Code Faculty
01242118 Faculty of Humanities
Credits Duration
Duration of study: 1 year Total credits: 120
Contact:
Mrs R Marais
[email protected]
+27 (0)124204592

Admission requirements

  • An approved three-year bachelor's degree (or other comparable tertiary qualification – with the approval of Senate) worth 360   credits, with a minimum of 94 credits in languages, linguistics or a language-related discipline.
  • At least 30 credits at third-year level in one language, and at least 24 credits at first-year level in a second language.
  • An average of at least 65% in each of the two languages.
  • An average of at least 65% in the admissions test (for more information, see the UP website).
  • The chosen language pair must include either English or Afrikaans (it may include both).
  • The choice of the other language is dependent on whether it can be accommodated in a specific year.

 

Additional requirements

  • The chosen language pair must include either English or Afrikaans (it may include both).
  • The choice of the other language is dependent on whether it can be accommodated in a specific year.

 

Other programme-specific information

Core modules

Apart from TRL 710 and TRL 711, students must also take one editing module, choosing between AFR 767, AFT 758, ENG 777, DTS 751 and FRN 762.

Elective modules

Please note: Students may take either AFR 711 or ENG 780, but not both.

Minimum credits: 120

Core modules

In addition to the core modules, One of the following is also compulsory. Please choose according to your language combination:

AFR 767     Redaksionele versorging                          [20]

AFT 758     Advanced editing: African languages      [20]

DTS 751     German stylistics                                        [20]

ENG 777    Editing                                                         [15]

FRN 762    Principles and practice of professional     

translation (French)                                                      [24]

Elective modules

Select two modules

Note:

*Students may take either AFR 711 or ENG 780, but not both.

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Only for students who have not done any translation modules at undergraduate level.
    Basic translation skills, such as source text analysis, translation methods and translation aids. Translation in a multilingual and multicultural speech community such as South Africa. Equivalence at word level  and above word level. Problems of equivalence in a variety of texts. Translation and language varieties such as dialects, code-switching, sociolects, etc. Translation of culture-bound texts. Practical translations of a limited variety of different text types in any two languages offered by the Language Departments, provided that the particular language combination can be accommodated during any given year.

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  • Module content:

    This module focuses on the use and application of HLT (human language technology) in translation practice. Issues covered are: Localisation, internationalisation and globalisation. Translation and language technology. Introduction to the use of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools – translation memory (TM) and terminology management. Machine translation (MT). The use of electronic text corpora as translation resource, translator's aid and translators' tools, with specific reference to technical translation, mining for translation equivalents, and obtaining translation equivalents for terms that do not exist in the target language by utilising all electronic resources, but also term formation strategies, consultation with experts, using the Internet as "consulting experts", etc. Practical translations of a further variety of different text types in any two languages offered by the  Language Departments, provided that the particular language combination can be accommodated during any given year.

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  • Module content:

    Research in the field of translation and interpreting studies, topics, research frameworks, methodologies. Writing and submitting a research essay on an approved topic.

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Elective modules

  • Module content:

    Afrikaanse skeppende skryfwerk
    Die vermoë om bellettristiese tekste (prosa en/of poësie) te kan skryf word ontwikkel deur die bestudering en toepassing van verskillende skryftegnieke en -strategieë in werkswinkelverband; vertaling van tekste; kritiese analise van gevestigde skrywers se werk mbt teks- en genrekenmerke en skryftegnieke; die skryf, herskryf en afronding van eie tekste; kritiese en kreatiewe beoordeling van eie en medestudente se tekste; bestudering van teorieë en opvattings oor kreatiwiteit en die skryfproses; kennis van die keurings- en publikasieproses en manuskripvoorbereiding.

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  • Module content:

    Taal-, teks- en manuskripversorging in Afrikaans, met spesifieke aandag aan korrekte taal- en leestekengebruik; teksstruktuur en argumentasie; beoordeling van feitelike korrektheid en gepastheid van inligting en taalregister; skryf vir verskillende teikengroepe; bibliografiese versorging; redaksionele vaardighede (gebruik van stylblad, toepas van weergawebestuur, skakeling met skrywers); bepaling van status van bronne; proefleeswerk; vertaling; beoordeling van teksekwivalensie.

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  • Module content:

    Advanced copy-editing with specialisation in an African language – isiNdebele, isiZulu, Sepedi or Setswana. The module develops and refines language-editing skills further, using a variety of literary and other texts. Students are further familiarised with the grammar rules and current spelling rules of the four African languages concerned, namely isiZulu/isiNdebele/Sepedi or Setswana respectively, and are given ample opportunity to hone their editing skills by applying these rules to unedited texts in these languages.

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  • Module content:

    Principles of practical stylistics. Written and spoken registers: theory and application; tendencies in contemporary German.

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  • Module content:

    The module develops language-editing skills, using a variety of texts from different fields and of varying levels of complexity. Students edit texts to produce grammatical, idiomatic and logical English texts, taking into account peculiarities of South African English and local needs. They adjust work to meet the needs of a specified target audience. The principles of plain language editing are applied, in addition to strategies to overcome textual complexities for given target audiences, ranging from academics to neo-literates. A special focus is the editing of translations in the SA context.

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  • Module content:

    This module caters for students who have an interest in writing and who wish to produce original, creative work of their own. It is practical in orientation, and the aim is to guide and assist students in producing a portfolio of creative work of a high standard.

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  • Module content:

    French texts are interpreted from and into French giving particular consideration to semantics and context to convey the true meaning, regardless of the form of the original text.

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  • Module content:

    Translation of technical, medical and legal texts from and into French.

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  • Module content:

    Introduction to the process and practice of copywriting with application to the printed media, television and the internet, experimental /activation /alternative media.

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  • Module content:

    *Students who have passed a BA degree with any language offered at UP as a major may take TRL 712. Admission for other students who hold an equivalent degree is subject to an oral examination. Students with any other language not offered at UP at honours level will also be taken into consideration.
    This module aims at familiarising students with the theoretical aspects and basic skills involved in oral translation which will be consolidated at MA level. Lectures will focus on the theory and practice of various interpretation techniques including memory exercises, oral summaries, sight translations and reformulations of oral texts and speeches and the practice of liaison interpreting. Students will also be expected to split up in groups according to the working languages of their choice which, besides English, may be any language(s) offered at BAHons level. Students will be subject to an oral exam after completion of the module to test their mastery of these techniques.

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  • Module content:

    The theory and practice of audiovisual translation (screen translation), with particular focus on subtitling. Audiovisual translation and subtitling in South Africa. Hands-on training in the use of a professional subtitling software package. The completion of a number of subtitling projects using the students’ own language combinations.

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  • Module content:

    An introduction to foundational theories of literary translation: (comparative) study of published translations (source text in relation to target text, as well as multiple translations of the same source text); strategies for literary translation; source-text analysis; aspects of register and culture; practical tanslation (shorter prose, as well as a selection of children's literature).

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  • Module content:

    Introduction to basic terminological concepts; terminology and related disciplines; three dimensions of terminological theory; term formation: theory and practice; guidelines for the creation of terms; term excerption; the functional efficacy of terms; standardisation; terminology and coprora; compilation of a term list.

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The information published here is subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information. The General Regulations (G Regulations) apply to all faculties of the University of Pretoria. It is expected of students to familiarise themselves well with these regulations as well as with the information contained in the General Rules section. Ignorance concerning these regulations and rules will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression.

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