THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : Common Courses (School of Lit, Lang and Cult)

Postgraduate Course: Introduction to Interpreting Studies (CLLC11196)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course will equip students with the foundational knowledge and skills required to pursue as career as an interpreter. It covers the theoretical and practical aspects of interpreting and gives an overview of the discipline of interpreting studies, including its history, concepts, interpreters' roles as well as basic practical skills.
Course description This course covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of interpreting. Students will be provided with a comprehensive overview of the discipline of interpreting studies, including its history, key concepts, interpreters' roles as well as practical skills such as: split attention in simultaneous interpreting; note-taking in the consecutive mode; chuchotage and sight translation in the liaison mode. Students will have opportunities to put the theories learnt into interpreting practice. At the end of the course, students should be able to discuss key concepts in interpreting studies confidently and be able to exercises the basic practical skills in performing interpreting tasks.

The course will cover a range of topics related to the study and practice of interpreting, which may include but not be limited to:
- The history of interpreting
- Key concepts of interpreting
- Liaison interpreting 1 - Public Service Interpreting
- Liaison interpreting 2 - Business Interpreting
- Conference interpreting 1 - Consecutive Interpreting
- Conference Interpreting 2 - Simultaneous Interpreting
- Theories in interpreting research
- Research topics and methods in interpreting studies
- Ethics and the role of the interpreter
- The future of interpreting

This course will be taught through lectures, seminars and tutorials in synchronous and asynchronous individual and group learning activities. Students will be provided opportunities to practice their interpreting skills in different modes of interpreting as well as to learn the relevant theories to explain their interpreting performance and lead their own research. From this learning process, students will be able to understand the necessary skill to perform in an interpreting task, and demonstrate a critical understanding of interpreting theories, concepts and principles, which in turn achieve the intended learning outcomes.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  35
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 10, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 4, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 162 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Mid-term exercise: 2-minute consecutive/simultaneous interpreting performance into English and one-to-one 10-minute feedback session (not assessed)

Final assignment: a reflective logbook entry of 2,000 words. (100%)
Feedback For the mid-term assessment, one-to-one verbal feedback on the interpreting performance will be given in week 8. Detailed written feedback on the final assessment will be given when they are marked.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of major interpreting theories, concepts and principles.
  2. Distinguish the various modes of interpreting and the corresponding skills to perform well in each mode.
  3. Identify and relate the role of the interpreters and the relevant ethical issues involved in the interpreting process.
  4. Identify, and analyse critically, issues in interpreting performance, and offer solutions.
Reading List
Essential Readings:

Gentile, A., Ozolins, U. and Vasilakakos, M. (1996) Liaison Interpreting: A Handbook. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

Pöchhacker, F. (2016) Introducing Interpreting Studies. 2nd edn. Oxon; New York: Routledge.

Setton, R. and Dawrant, A. (2016) Conference Interpreting - A Complete Course. Amsterdam; Philadelphia: John Benjamins.


Recommended Readings:

Gile, D. et al. (eds) (2001) Getting started in interpreting research: methodological reflections, personal accounts and advice for beginners. Amsterdam; Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Gillies, A. (2017) Note-taking for Consecutive Interpreting: A Short Course. 2nd edn. London; New York: Routledge.

Roy, C. B. (1999) Interpreting as a Discourse Process. Oxford: Oxford University Press.


Further Readings:

Angelelli, C. V. and Baer, B. J. (eds) (2016) Researching Translation and Interpreting. Routledge. London; New York.

Jones, R. (2002) ¿Simultaneous interpreting¿, in Conference Interpreting Explained. 2nd edn. London; New York: Routledge, pp. 66¿128.

Ozolins, U. (2015) ¿Ethics and the role of the interpreter¿, in Mikkelson, H. and Jourdenais, R. (eds) The Routledge Handbook of Interpreting. London; New York: Routledge, pp. 319¿336.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills The course is expected to provide students the following attributes:

1) It will provide the foundational knowledge and skills for students to further develop their interest in the interpreting field.
2) Students will have opportunities to learn various modes of interpreting and the relevant theories to lead their own research.
3) It offers opportunities for students to reflect on their own interpreting performance. Analytical thinking is required in this kind of self-reflection which involves identification of issues and suggestion for improvement.
4) It can enhance students' assertiveness and confidence (e.g. being decisive on what and how to interpret) and increase their situational awareness and flexibility (e.g. coping in different interpreting settings).
KeywordsInterpreting,Simultaneous,Consecutive,Liaison,Chuchotage,Sight translation
Contacts
Course organiserDr Mavis Ho
Tel:
Email: Mavis.Ho@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Vivien MacNish Porter
Tel: (0131 6)50 3528
Email: vivien.macnish-porter@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information