Japanese Specialised Translation
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
At least 460 hours of previous Japanese language formal education (reaching to the intermediate level) are required for attendance. This course deals with Japanese-Italian translation; therefore a good command of the Italian language is considered to be an absolute requirement. The overall purpose of this course is for the students to learn the most efficient strategies for analyzing simple and complex sentences as found in several kinds of written Japanese texts, of increasing syntactic complexity and difficulty, in order to translate those texts into Italian. In more detail, the students will learn to distinguish the different types of coordinate and subordinate propositions on the basis of their joining elements, in order to accurately ascertain the logic and semantic relationships between the sentential components, and in the event to decide the best sequence in which those elements are to be translated into Italian.
Expected learning outcomes
As a result, by the end of this course the students will have acquired a robust comprehension of the syntax of complex Japanese clauses, and will easily understand a specialized written text of medium-to-high complexity. This in turn will enable them to translate that text into Italian while accurately rendering its general sense and its concrete information, with no factual mistakes, in an easily understandable, grammatically and lexically correct Italian output of high communicative value, which will share with the original the same linguistic style, without necessarily mirroring the syntactic structure of the source text.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
In the first part simple and complex phrases will be analysed and translated. The effective use of dictionaries will be encouraged, focusing on electronic and online devices, but also the use of more traditional printed version will be introduced. Of the simple type phrases the structural elements and connections will be analysed in order to acquire and develop effective translation skills.
In the second part of the course more complex phrases will be analysed by using more specialised and technical texts of increasing syntactical complexity.
In the second part of the course more complex phrases will be analysed by using more specialised and technical texts of increasing syntactical complexity.
Prerequisites for admission
This course is designed for students who have already studied for four years the Japanese language at the university level, the equivalent of 460 hours of formal training. An excellent command of the Italian language is also required.
Teaching methods
Under the guidance of the instructor students will translate texts regarding contemporary diplomatic, economic and political issues. The texts will be chosen from newspapers, journals, online publications and original documents. The selected texts will be read, analysed and then translated by students mainly during class hours. A few texts might be translated by students as home work assignments. Cooperation and interactive participation by the students are essential for attaining the goals of this course.
Teaching Resources
Translation of the texts provided by the instructor will be conducted in class or at home by the students. However, for an effective learning process students must have at least their own Kanji-English and Japanese-English dictionaries either in electronic or printed version. Currently a large and growing number of dictionaries is available. Below is a list of the printed version of the best dictionaries, although the electronic version might be more updated.
(Japanese - English)
Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary (Fifth Edition), Tokyo, Kenkyusha, 1980 (ISBN 9780828810135).
(Japanese - Italian)
Nishikawa, Ichiro, Dizionario giapponese - italiano, Tokyo, Shogakukan, 1993 (ISBN 9784095154510).
(Japanese)
Shōgakkan kokugojiten henshūbu (ed.), Nihon kokugo daijiten. Seisenban (3 Voll.), Shōgakkan, 2005.
Matsumura, Akira (editor), Daijirin (fourth edition), Tokyom Sanseidoo, 1989 (ISBN 9784385140056).
(Kanji - English)
Haig, John H. (ed.), The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary: Based on the Classic Edition by Andrew N. Nelson, Tokyo e Rutland, Vermont, Tuttle, 1997 (ISBN 9780804820363).
(Kanji - Kanji)
Toodoo, Akiyasu (ed.), Gakken Kanwa daijiten, Tokyo, Gakushuu Kenkyuusha, 1978 (ISBN 978-4051035037).
(Grammar)
Makino, Seiichi and Michio Tsutsui, A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar, Tokyo, The Japan Times, 1995 (ISBN 9784789007757).
(English-Japanese)
Kenkyusha's New English-Japanese Dictionary (Fifth Edition), Tokyo, Kenkyusha, 1980 (ISBN 9784767410258).
(Japanese - English)
Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary (Fifth Edition), Tokyo, Kenkyusha, 1980 (ISBN 9780828810135).
(Japanese - Italian)
Nishikawa, Ichiro, Dizionario giapponese - italiano, Tokyo, Shogakukan, 1993 (ISBN 9784095154510).
(Japanese)
Shōgakkan kokugojiten henshūbu (ed.), Nihon kokugo daijiten. Seisenban (3 Voll.), Shōgakkan, 2005.
Matsumura, Akira (editor), Daijirin (fourth edition), Tokyom Sanseidoo, 1989 (ISBN 9784385140056).
(Kanji - English)
Haig, John H. (ed.), The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary: Based on the Classic Edition by Andrew N. Nelson, Tokyo e Rutland, Vermont, Tuttle, 1997 (ISBN 9780804820363).
(Kanji - Kanji)
Toodoo, Akiyasu (ed.), Gakken Kanwa daijiten, Tokyo, Gakushuu Kenkyuusha, 1978 (ISBN 978-4051035037).
(Grammar)
Makino, Seiichi and Michio Tsutsui, A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar, Tokyo, The Japan Times, 1995 (ISBN 9784789007757).
(English-Japanese)
Kenkyusha's New English-Japanese Dictionary (Fifth Edition), Tokyo, Kenkyusha, 1980 (ISBN 9784767410258).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Intermediate examinations are not foreseen. A final examination will be held at the end of the course. The student will be required to translate in Italian texts in Japanese concerning issues already analysed during the course. With the text to be translated student will be provided a list with the rendering in latin characters of specific kanji. Students can use electronic dictionaries, but devices with links to the web or external sources are not allowed.
Teaching Unit 1
L-OR/22 - JAPANESE AND KOREAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Teaching Unit 2
L-OR/22 - JAPANESE AND KOREAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours