The course is connected to the following study programs

  • Translation and Professional Communication, Master's programme

Teaching language

English.

Course contents

This course unit aims to familiarise students with professional practices in the audiovisual translation and accessibility industries and provide them with a grounding in key theories, methods and issues in multimodal translation research.

The course consists of two parts. Part 1 focuses on interlingual subtitling as the dominant modality of audiovisual translation in the Norwegian media marketplace. It combines theoretical and practical perspectives to develop students’ vocational and intellectual development around this modality of multimodal translation. Indicative topics that may be covered under Part 1 include:

  • subtitling and multimodal semiotics: technological and medium-driven constraints
  • agents, processes and workflows in the subtitling industry
  • subtitling editing conventions and standards: translation strategies and techniques
  • subtitling and culture: culture-specific words, expressions and practices
  • subtitling and humour
  • subtitling and linguistic variation (dialect, sociolect, idiolect)
  • history of subtitling: ideology and censorship

Part 2 focuses on assistive forms of multimodal mediation seeking to enhance accessibility to media content and to facilitate the social integration of sensory impaired individuals within inclusive communities. Indicative topics that may be covered under Part 2 include, for example:

  • accessibility as intersemiotic meaning-making practices
  • agents, processes and workflows in the production of accessible cultural commodities
  • subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • audiodescription for the blind and sight-impaired

This course draws on concepts and theoretical perspectives pertaining primarily to the fields of translation studies, multimodal theory, cultural studies and accessibility studies. The variety of assessment formats adopted in the course will contribute to the development of students’ vocational competence and academic literacy.

Students taking this course unit are required to engage in a range of practical projects and to complete recommended reading assignments to inform their practice. More widely, this course also provides a foundation for dissertations involving any form of multimodal translation.

Learning outcomes

This course will provide students with the opportunity to:

  • understand the idiosyncrasy of multimodal translation, with particular emphasis on subtitling and accessibility-enhancing modalities of intersemiotic mediation.
  • develop their professional translation and intersemiotic mediation competence with analytical skills.
  • become acquainted with contemporary theory and professional practices in the domain of multimodal translation.
  • develop their independence of thought and a critical approach to evidence, theories and concepts.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • evaluate and reflect on multimodal translation choices using appropriate concepts and metalanguage.
  • understand how linguistic and semiotic issues can affect translation and intersemiotic mediation decisions, connecting theory with practice as well as micro-linguistic choices with wider issues.
  • assess standards of professional practice in the translation of multimodal and accessible texts.
  • respond critically to academic literature, by questioning and evaluating published sources in multimodal translation studies.
  • develop a range of vocational and transferable skills, including the use of dedicated software tools; familiarity with professional workflows and requirements of translation service providers; quality assurance and revision skills; ability to structure an argument and supporting arguments with evidence.

Examination requirements

Students are required to complete three assignments at pass level. The number and scope of these assignments will be specified at the beginning of the semester. Students will receive formative feedback on the submissions and the opportunity to make revisions before submitting the final Portfolio.

Teaching methods

Lectures and practical lab-based workshops. Active and regular participation is expected. The estimated workload is approximately 270 hours.

Evaluation

The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.

Admission for external candidates

No.

Offered as Single Standing Module

Yes, if there are places available.

Admission Requirement if given as Single Standing Module

Students taking this course as a free-standing module and who are not registered in the Master’s programme in Translation and Professional Communication should meet the following requirements:

Norwegian-English: students wishing to work with this language pair should accredit proficiency in both languages at least at B2 level (CEFR). Being a native speaker will count as sufficient competency in one of the languages.

Norwegian-other language(s): other working language pairs (including Norwegian) will be offered every year. The proficiency requirements are the same as in the Norwegian-English pair.

Assessment methods and criteria

Individual portfolio comprising of revised versions of the three required activities, all weighted equally. Graded assessment.

Last updated from FS (Common Student System) June 30, 2024 11:44:57 PM