Integrating Translation Technology in the Specialised Translation Classroom to Contextualise Learning

Plaza-Lara, Cristina

Plaza-Lara, Cristina · 2017

Abstract

Recent approaches to translation training have emphasized the need to include in the classroom a real working context and to promote situational learning (cf. Kelly, 2005: 16-18 ). For the specialised translator, new technologies and, consequentially, the instrumental-professional sub-competence, have become as important as linguistic-cultural knowledge. For this reason, in this contribution, a didactic proposal will be presented to incorporate new technologies (computer-assisted translation and localisation tools) in the scientific/technical translation classroom, as well as a proposal to coordinate different subjects in the curriculum to promote horizontality in contents. Modality and type of translation are not mutually exclusive. For this reason, the main objective of this contribution is to merge both concepts with a learning proposal in which new technologies become another essential working tool in the specialised translation classroom. Nowadays, the meaning of localisation goes beyond the translation of software, video games and websites and it has caused important changes in the translation process and the translation industry. In Spain, it is compulsory to include in the Translation and Interpreting curriculum subjects such as documentation, terminology and computer science. These subjects are normally offered in the first years of the degree, when students have only basic knowledge of translation. If these skills are not put into practice in later years of the degree, students will not understand the operating principles of these tools. In this regard, it is essential that the different subjects in the curriculum are coordinated to ensure learning contextualisation and the employability of future graduates. Different activities directly related to computer-assisted translation and localisation will thus be presented in order to integrate and improve the knowledge acquired in previous years and new skills regarding specialised translation.

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Integrating Translation Technology in the Specialised Translation Classroom to Contextualise Learning

Author: Plaza-Lara, Cristina

Year: 2017

Source: https://riuma.uma.es/xmlui/bitstream/10630/14774/1/Plaza%20Lara_Cristina_Integrating%20Translation%20Technology%20in%20the%20Specialised%20Translation%20Classroom%20to%20Contextualise%20Learning.pdf

In eg a ing T ansla ion Technology in he Specialised T ansla ion Class oom o
Con ex ualise Lea ning
Recen app oaches o ansla ion aining ha e emphasized he need o include in he
class oom a eal wo king con ex and o p omo e si ua ional lea ning (c . Kelly,
2005: 16-18i). Fo he specialised ansla o , new echnologies and, consequen ially, he
ins umen al-p o essional sub-compe ence, ha e become as impo an as linguis ic-
cul u al knowledge. Fo his eason, in his con ibu ion, a didac ic p oposal will be
p esen ed o inco po a e new echnologies (compu e -assis ed ansla ion and
localisa ion ools) in he scien i ic/ echnical ansla ion class oom, as well as a p oposal
o coo dina e di e en subjec s in he cu iculum o p omo e ho izon ali y in con en s.
Modali y and ype o ansla ion a e no mu ually exclusi e. Fo his eason, he main
objec i e o his con ibu ion is o me ge bo h concep s wi h a lea ning p oposal in
which new echnologies become ano he essen ial wo king ool in he specialised
ansla ion class oom. Nowadays, he meaning o localisa ion goes beyond he
ansla ion o so wa e, ideo games and websi es and i has caused impo an changes
in he ansla ion p ocess and he ansla ion indus y. In Spain, i is compulso y o
include in he T ansla ion and In e p e ing cu iculum subjec s such as documen a ion,
e minology and compu e science. These subjec s a e no mally o e ed in he i s yea s
o he deg ee, when s uden s ha e only basic knowledge o ansla ion. I hese skills a e
no pu in o p ac ice in la e yea s o he deg ee, s uden s will no unde s and he
ope a ing p inciples o hese ools. In his ega d, i is essen ial ha he di e en
subjec s in he cu iculum a e coo dina ed o ensu e lea ning con ex ualisa ion and he
employabili y o u u e g adua es. Di e en ac i i ies di ec ly ela ed o compu e -
assis ed ansla ion and localisa ion will hus be p esen ed in o de o in eg a e and
imp o e he knowledge acqui ed in p e ious yea s and new skills ega ding specialised
ansla ion.
Keywo ds: compu e -assis ed ansla ion; localisa ion; scien i ic/ echnical ansla ion;
ins umen al-p o essional compe ences; ho izon ali y in cu iculum
i Kelly, Do o hy (2005). A Handbook o T ansla o T aine s. Ox o d: S . Je ome Publishing.