TRFR - French Translation

Course Descriptions

 

TRFR 4090 Introduction to Translation Studies (3)

This course is an introduction to translation as an academic discipline. Students learn common methods and basic terminology. They study the history and some modern theories of translation. Students become proficient in translation terminology and learn to identify certain challenges involved in intercultural communication. They explore the use of search engines, dictionaries, glossaries, and parallel documents. Students will be able to compare and contrast linguistic structures in French and English. This course is a prerequisite for the other courses in the translation certificate. Prerequisite: Intermediate-high proficiency in French (the equivalent of FREN 3090). Methods for determining the proficiency level may include an oral interview, a written test, and a writing sample.

TRFR 4100 Legal Translation (3)

This course is designed to introduce key aspects of the language of law in a comparative perspective. Students will be introduced to the specifics and intricacies of the French legal system, examining fundamental courtroom procedures, the nature of legal reasoning and the legal process. Students will analyze and translate effectively legal and civil documents and supporting materials focusing on terminology, linguistic structures, and social functions. The course will guide students in developing a portfolio of legal translations. May be repeated once if content differs. Prerequisites: TRFR 4090 and TRSL 4000.

TRFR 4150 Medical and Scientific Translation (3)

This course is designed to introduce some key aspects of the language of medicine in a comparative perspective, the more common genres of medicine translation, and the tools needed to deliver high-quality medical translations. The types of texts selected for practice include patient information, instructions for medicine and instrumentation, labels, medical research abstracts, consent forms, and research protocols. Students will be introduced to a systematic method for learning, understanding and applying the medical terminology pertaining to body systems, illnesses, diagnostic procedures and pharmacology. The course will guide the student in developing a portfolio of medical translations. May be repeated once if content differs. Prerequisites: TRFR 4090 and TRSL 4000.

TRFR 4170 Financial and Commercial Translation (3)

This course is an introduction to translating documents relating to business, economics, financial markets, marketing and advertising for small businesses and larger organizations. Students learn to use terminology and identify the style and register of documents for various types of businesses. Topics covered include business correspondence, corporate and other company structures, news articles on business and finance, marketing and advertising of commercial products, financial reports, tax issues, and documents related to sales and shipping. The course will guide the student in developing a portfolio of financial translations. May be repeated once if content differs. Prerequisites: TRFR 4090 and TRSL 4000.

TRFR 4180 Technical Translation (3)

This type of translation focuses on texts related to technological fields (electricity and electronics, software, hardware) or texts that deal with the practical application of scientific and technological information (patents, owner's manuals, user guides). The course will focus on the acquisition of specialized vocabulary as well as understanding of specific technical procedures. Students will also learn how to write and edit professional-quality documents appropriate for this market area. The course will guide students in developing a portfolio of technical translations. May be repeated once if content differs. Prerequisites: TRFR 4090 and TRSL 4000.

TRFR 4250 Literary Translation (3)

This course focuses on the practice and strategies of literary translation. Students will examine the writings - translations and paratextual (prefaces, notes, etc.) material - of prominent and successful literary translators. Students will also conduct comparative analysis of prize-winning translations. They will become familiar with reader-response theory and the role of the translator as cultural agent. Students will develop their own parataxis, articulating their approach to translation challenges. Finally they will practice vocabulary choice, stylistic matching and editing and learn to identify typical translation challenges from French to English. The course will guide students in developing a portfolio of literary translations. May be repeated twice if content differs. Prerequisites: TRFR 4090 and TRSL 4000.