Diploma in Translation (DipTrans)

Course details

The Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) is the oldest professional qualification of its kind, widely recognized by employers in the UK and around the world, and intended for working translators and for those who wish to embark on a career in professional translation. It is a postgraduate-level professional qualification offered by the Institute of Linguists Educational Trust (IoLET).

 Intended Learning Objectives (ILOs)

The overall aim of this Diploma in Translation (DiPTrans) is to provide students/trainees with the necessary progressive training in the various skills needed by those planning a career in translation. The program will familiarize candidates with the theory, practice, and ethics of translation. The primary focus, however, will be on practice in English-Arabic-English translation. At the end of the program, the students/trainees will acquire the following skills:

• understand the practical stylistic, grammatical, idiomatic and cultural complexities of Arabic-English-Arabic translation and work competently on professional assignments
• carry out a linguistic and sociocultural analysis and assessment of a variety of texts or text types in the source language
• master the use of search engines, dictionaries, glossaries, and parallel documents; new translation technologies, including computer-assisted translation tools
• develop the skills involved in the process of translating, proofreading and editing of different types translations (business, legal, political, journalistic etc.)
• develop skill and confidence working with texts and crafting translations
• apply practical translation skills to the standard expected of a newly certified translator, editor and proofreader
• explain and justify translation solutions and approaches where appropriate
• conduct cultural and lexical research relevant to a variety of topics for the purpose of translation

To be effective and professional in carrying out translation work, a translator has to have certain vital skills: the ability to read the source language, write in the target language, and understand the various contrastive features of the pair of languages concerned.  Mastering these essential skills—developing that essential proficiency in “translation judgment”—is the focus of this program. The following topics will be covered during the program:

Topics:

Topic 1:

• Introduction to translation (theoretical)
• Types of translation (content or literal translation versus communicative or target-language-driven translation)
• Machine translation (practical applications and limitations)
• Definitions: post-editing, paraphrasing and contrastive linguistics

Topic 2

• Translation ethics and the practice of translation
• Complex bilingual structural, stylistic and cultural differences
• Practical value of Machine translation and the role of post-editing
• General translation Techniques

Topic 3

• Use of translation tools—computer-assisted tools and translator productivity tools
• Effective use of Google translation tool
• Training in advanced machine translation post-editing skills using authentic materials
• Specialized translation strategies
• Practical translation work without computer-aided tools
• Test I (Translation using machine translation and post-editing work)
  Complex Sentence and extended text levels

Topic 4

• Translation practice using authentic texts
• Further practice in supervised machine translation/ editing/ proofreading
• Practice in legal translation/ editing/ proofreading
• Supervised peer and group exchange and discussion of students’ translation work

Topic 5

• Continued supervised peer and group work on translation tasks
• Random selection of some basic English-Arabic authentic texts online for translation
• Test II (Translation plus editing/proofreading work)

Complex Sentence and extended text levels

Topic 6

• Students/trainees are given a major translation project for translation
• Individual projects are discussed in class for peer comments and feedback
• Individual students/trainees present their completed projects
• Projects are assessed and graded by instructors
• Administration of final exam set by UK Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) (2 hours)
• End of program