Description

Contents

The MA involves a combination of core modules, which are taken by all students, plus a number of optional modules, where students have a choice. The course structure of the MA is as follows:

Core Courses: obligatory for all students

1. Research Methods and Resources (30 UCUs)
2. Translation Theory (30 UCUs)
3. Translation practica Arabic>English, English>Arabic (30 UCUs)
4. Dissertation (60 UCUs)

Optional Modules: students choose two courses from the following options:

1. Business and Technical Translation, Arabic>English, English>Arabic (15 UCUs)
2. Legal Translation, Arabic>English, English>Arabic (15 UCUs)
3. Interpreting (15 UCUs)

1. Research Methodology and Resources

The module focuses on the generic academic and interpersonal skills required to carry out a research project successfully, aiming not only to equip students with such skills but also to reflect critically upon them. The module covers the following areas, among others:

• using on-line and printed bibliographies to conduct literature searches;
• presenting bibliographies according to specified citation conventions;
• preparing and delivering conference papers;
• the preparation and use of visual aids.

2. Translation Theory [MELA40430]

The translation theory module is taught for three two-hour lectures per term, added with two seminars, and runs over two terms. Starting with the assumption that translation is possible, the course examines various theories of translation and issues in translation, considering questions of text type, target audience of both the original and translation (which may differ in significant respects) translation strategies and general versus language-specific considerations. In each case practical questions of translatability will take precedence. The broad theoretical perspective on translation provided by this course complements the specific Arabic/English orientation of the translation modules.

3. Translation Practica, English>Arabic, Arabic>English translation practica [ARAB40130]

The translation practica provide intensive practice in English>Arabic and Arabic>English translation. The courses are taught for two hours per week -- one hour of Arabic>English translation and one hour of English>Arabic translation -- over two terms of the teaching year in the Department of Arabic. The courses are designed to provide translation practice over a wide range of genres (prose fiction, newspaper and magazine articles, academic writing) and subject areas (society, politics, economics, science, everyday life). The English>Arabic translation practica and the Arabic>English translation practica are integrated with one another. The integrated and focused structure of the translation practica modules provides students with a coherent and accessible structure within which to develop their translation competence.

4. Dissertation / Final Translation Project [ARAB40160]

The dissertation is 15,000 words in length and is written over the summer term, following the completion of all taught courses, and should be a theoretical/applied linguistics study relating to Arabic/English translation or translation theory.

Alternatively, students may choose to do a Final Translation Project (English>Arabic or Arabic>English), with the source text being approximately 10,000 words.

Both the Dissertation and the Final Translation Project are to be submitted by the end of the Summer Term.

5. Business and Technical Translation (English>Arabic, Arabic>English) [ARAB40415]

Responding to an ever-increasing need for specialised translators, the Business and Technical Translation module is intended to develop students´ skills, both into English and into Arabic, in a wide variety of texts relating to the fields of business, commerce and technology. The course is taught for one hour per week over two terms in the Department of Arabic. In addition to contrastive stylistic commentary, the module will also focus on key areas in specialised translation, such as terminology.

6. Legal Translation (English>Arabic, Arabic>English) [ARAB40515]

This module is intended to provide students with an overview of the linguistic characteristics of legal discourse and translation and to train them in the necessary skills involved in legal translation, in general, and the specificities attendant upon translating between Arabic and English in order to tackle a wide range of legal documents in different areas of legal translation, in both national (various types of contracts) and international (e.g. treaties) domains. The module will also give due attention to the cultural and ethical aspects relevant to legal translation. The course is taught for one hour per week over two terms in the Department of Arabic.

7. Interpreting (English>Arabic, Arabic>English) [ARAB40615]

This is a graduated module, which aims to provide students with the fundamentals in interpreting. The various aspects that are dealt with include

• note-taking;
• non-verbal communicative elements of importance to delivery (bearing, pitch, intonation, etc.);
• sight-translation exercises;
• consecutive interpreting exercises;
• introduction to simultaneous interpreting

Part-time study

It is possible to do the MA on a part-time basis by spreading the workload over two years instead of one. Please note, however, that this does not exempt you from day-time attendance as the MA cannot be taken through evening classes or by correspondence.

Requirements

Students whose native language is not English must take an international English language examination. The minimum scores to be obtained are 6.5 for IELTS and 573 (or CBT 230) for TOEFL. Students who have attained lower scores may be permitted to take the MA following completion of a pre-sessional summer language course in the Durham University Language Centre.

A high 2.1 degree or a degree with an overall mark of 75% or above in a relevant subject.

English Language Requirements