HMLA202 course overview

1. Sight translation
Master I LEA
HMLA202
Shona Whyte
January 2015

2. Translation, interpreting, and sight
translation
We usually think of translation as
transforming a written text in one
language into another, while
interpreting involves oral language.

3. Translation, interpreting, and sight
translation
Interpreting can be consecutive, when the interpreter
presents a speech in another language immediately
following the original presentation, or simultaneous,
when translation occurs at the same time as the original
speech, often using headphones. A third form of
interpreting is called liaison interpreting and is used in
meetings and discussions conducted in two languages
with an interpreter translating in both directions.

4. Sight translation
Somewhere between translation and
interpreting we have sight translation,
which involves the oral translation of a
written text.

5. Sight interpretation
"Interpreters have to listen, translate and read at the
same time, using two input channels. At the extreme,
the interpreters may even be provided with a previously
prepared translation to read from, yet they still have to
listen to the speakers in order to synchronise with
them. It's called sight interpretation (by analogy with
sight translation […]). In addition, there's the matter of
all the background documentation that interpreters
should skim through in preparation for a meeting.

6. Sight translation
Sight translation: translating a written text
orally. So it's a hybrid of written translation and
interpreting. Faster and more economical than
writing the translation. It's more widespread than
people realise, much of it in the form of dictated
translation, in which a Professional Translator
dictates into a recorder for transcription by a
secretary or, nowadays, into a computer equipped
with speech recognition software.
http://www.capitatranslationinterpreting.com/interpreting/sight-translation/

7. Class schedule
Friday, room 229
Friday 9-10h, 10-11h
12 class sessions, 30 January – 23 April

8. Objectives
1. oral translation: improve fluency and accuracy of
oral translation into English
2. translation analysis : analyze oral translations to
develop translation technique
3. learner autonomy: develop skills for independent
translation

9. Translation topics and
texts
The LEA programme is oriented towards
the use of language in international and
business contexts. Translation topics
therefore involve international current
affairs, recent social, political or cultural
issues in English-speaking countries, and
business and finance.

10. Activities
1. current affairs translation
2. group dictation activity
3. class oral translation
4. transcription and analysis of recording

11. 1. Current affairs
translation
Find three news stories in French: 2
headlines stories and one fun item
Read them out at the start of class for
students to translate
Be ready to correct where necessary.

12. 2. Group dictation
Work in groups of three: two students
take turns to translate French text into
English aloud, while the third writes it
down.
When you have finished, note
alternatives, corrections, to turn in with
your translation

13. 3. Class oral translation
Each student translates one sentence into
the recorder until the full text has been
translated
The teacher puts the recording on Jalon
for students to download and transcribe.

14. 4. Translation report
Students write a translation analysis of the class oral
translation, including
•the original French text
•the spoken English translation,
•their own comments, alternative solutions and
improvements, with justifications
Upload text to Jalon BEFORE the following week’s class.

15. Evaluation
Two translation reports
• download and transcribe class
translation
• analyse the translation
• upload to Jalon BEFORE the following
class

16. Online materials:
HMLA202
http://jalon.unice.fr
http://efl.unice.fr
Shona Whyte
whyte@unice.fr