Module: Theory and Translation Studies

Module Specifications

Academic Year 2026 - 2027

Module Title	Theory and Translation Studies
Module Code	TRA1023
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	SALIS
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module introduces students to major research paradigms and theories that feature in the academic study of translation and interpreting. It demonstrates how these theories can be used to describe and explain selected functions, contributions, roles, and impacts of translation and interpreting in society. In doing so, the module makes students critically aware of historical, social, cultural, and professional aspects of translation and interpreting and encourages them to see a useful relationship between theory and practice. In addition, the module gives students an opportunity to critique, produce, and justify academic writing in a clear and coherent manner and according to well-defined academic criteria.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe roles and impacts of translation and/or interpreting in selected areas of society [Gather relevant information relating to a topic.]
2. Paraphrase and summarise major research paradigms and theories of translation in their own words
3. Recognise the value of and engage with cultural diversity.
4. Apply a translation theory to perform an intralingual translation on a piece of English text [Demonstrate how to adapt communication styles in order to effectively interact with people from different cultures.]
5. Compare, contrast, or otherwise relate different theories and practices in translation and interpreting
6. Compose an academic argument in an appropriate academic register by making a claim and supporting it with appropriate references to academic literature
7. Come to informed conclusions on the roles and impacts of translation and/or interpreting in society [Draw informed and logical conclusions from information.]

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Online activity	22	No Description
Independent Study	56	No Description
Assignment Completion	25	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	21446	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Patrick Cadwell	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Students are provided with an example of a letter to a patient from a hospital in English. They must: (1) find three examples in the letter of potentially hard-to-understand communication; (2) explain why these examples should be rewritten, citing appropriate theories; (3) rewrite the three examples; (4) come to a judgment on the importance of these theories for effective health communication.	30%	Week 8
Essay	Students write a short essay in response to a broad prompt. The format of the prompt will be to make a claim about translation in society (based on one of the topics covered in the module) and ask students to discuss the claim with reference to relevant scholarship.	30%	Week 10
Oral Examination	In a short, individual oral exam (ca. 10 mins), students will be asked to describe and explain a theory and a societal impact of translation covered in their assessments; they will be asked to relate these theories and impacts to others dealt with on the module; they will be asked to come to a judgment (with appropriate support) on whether they think theory is useful for practice in T&I and whether T&I make an important contribution to society.	40%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

A mixture of lectures, discussion, asynchronous reading, and assigned activities
Week 1 (Theory) History of ideas, research paradigms, what is theory, theory and practice (history of ideas, semiotics, hermeneutics, functionalism, feminism, positivism, post-positivism, etc.) Week 2 (Theory) Theories of equivalence Week 3 (Societal Application) The societal role of translation and interpreting in science and the law Case: The importance of equivalence in the patents and the work of the World Intellectual Property Organisation Week 4 (Theory) Theories of communication Week 5 (Societal Application) The societal role of translation and interpreting in marketing and global business Case: Advertising and transcreation and some notable successes and failures when businesses market across languages and cultures Week 6 (Theory) Theories of purpose and function Week 7 READING WEEK Week 8 (Societal Application) The societal role of translation and interpreting in institutions and governance Case: fit-for-purpose translation and accessibility at the institutions of the EU Week 9 (Theory) Theories of feminism and political activism Week 10 (Societal Application) The societal role of translation and interpreting in the dissemination of cultural products Case: feminist approaches to literary translation Week 11 (Theory) Theories of process and human-computer interaction Week 12 (Societal Application) The societal role of translation and interpreting in AVT and game localisation Case: how humans and computers interact in translation processes at a software company

Indicative Reading List

Books:

0: The SAGE Handbook of Social Research Methods, 1725945
0: Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, 1725946
0: Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None