Portoguese (MA)
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This course aims to provide students with the basic notions of Portuguese>Italian translation: a theoretical part is proposed (studying the main translation theories and problems and analysing the main tools existing for the linguistic combination in object) and a practical part (in which students are invited to put into practice the elements learned through a group work whose purpose is the realization of a complete product through the application of the theories and tools learned).
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: to acquire the essential concepts of translation theory applied to the field in question; to learn about the main translation tools, strategies and methods in the Portuguese>Italian language combination. Applying knowledge and understanding: to grasp the historical and cultural implications of the evolution of this sector of translation and the specific features of the products belonging to this sector; to know how to reflect critically on the theories and translation tools learned; knowing how to deal with, analyse and translate different text types included in this 'genre'. Achievement of C1 level of CEFR.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
Course syllabus
The course is titled "Translating Online: Theories and Practices of Collaborative Translation for the Web," and it consists of the following two parts:
A) Theoretical Part: Fundamentals of Theory and Technique of Editorial Translation from Portuguese to Italian (20 hours);
B) Theoretical-Practical Part: Translation of Literary Reviews in Collaboration with the Platform "Praça Clóvis: Critical Mapping of Contemporary Brazilian Literature" (40 hours).
The course offers an introduction to the theory and technique of editorial translation from Portuguese to Italian. In the first part of the course, we will reflect on the translation process through an overview of translation theories, with a specific focus on the Brazilian context. We will then provide the theoretical foundations for the translation analysis of the source text and for choosing appropriate translation strategies for the target text's placement. We will also outline an overview of the evolution of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and their implications for the translator's work. Finally, through a series of examples, we will work on the specific translation challenges posed by the Portuguese-Italian language pair.
In the second part, the course aims to put the learned notions and tools into practice by initiating a collaboration with the "Praça Clóvis: Critical Mapping of Contemporary Brazilian Literature" project (https://pracaclovis.com). Students will work collaboratively on the translation of a selection of contemporary Brazilian novel reviews available on the "Praça Clóvis" platform, with the goal of publishing them under students' names in a dedicated section of the website. This activity will require reflection on the implications of translation for the web, the specificities of academic writing, the genre of the literary review, and the use of style guides. Particular attention will be given to stylistic rendition, supported by materials for improving the use of vocabulary, syntax, and punctuation in Italian. The theoretical-practical part will allow students to collaborate with an international research project - which currently includes Brazilian, British, French, and Italian universities - as well as to confront the ethical implications related to collaborative translation, understood as a collective practice and a way of networking.
Please note that the course is complemented by 'esercitazioni' classes, for which reference is made to the specific form.
The course program is valid until September 2027.
The course is titled "Translating Online: Theories and Practices of Collaborative Translation for the Web," and it consists of the following two parts:
A) Theoretical Part: Fundamentals of Theory and Technique of Editorial Translation from Portuguese to Italian (20 hours);
B) Theoretical-Practical Part: Translation of Literary Reviews in Collaboration with the Platform "Praça Clóvis: Critical Mapping of Contemporary Brazilian Literature" (40 hours).
The course offers an introduction to the theory and technique of editorial translation from Portuguese to Italian. In the first part of the course, we will reflect on the translation process through an overview of translation theories, with a specific focus on the Brazilian context. We will then provide the theoretical foundations for the translation analysis of the source text and for choosing appropriate translation strategies for the target text's placement. We will also outline an overview of the evolution of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and their implications for the translator's work. Finally, through a series of examples, we will work on the specific translation challenges posed by the Portuguese-Italian language pair.
In the second part, the course aims to put the learned notions and tools into practice by initiating a collaboration with the "Praça Clóvis: Critical Mapping of Contemporary Brazilian Literature" project (https://pracaclovis.com). Students will work collaboratively on the translation of a selection of contemporary Brazilian novel reviews available on the "Praça Clóvis" platform, with the goal of publishing them under students' names in a dedicated section of the website. This activity will require reflection on the implications of translation for the web, the specificities of academic writing, the genre of the literary review, and the use of style guides. Particular attention will be given to stylistic rendition, supported by materials for improving the use of vocabulary, syntax, and punctuation in Italian. The theoretical-practical part will allow students to collaborate with an international research project - which currently includes Brazilian, British, French, and Italian universities - as well as to confront the ethical implications related to collaborative translation, understood as a collective practice and a way of networking.
Please note that the course is complemented by 'esercitazioni' classes, for which reference is made to the specific form.
The course program is valid until September 2027.
Prerequisites for admission
The course will be taught entirely in Portuguese. Textbooks and activities in class or for self study assume that students already have a linguistic competence of level B2.
Teaching methods
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures; individual and group analysis and translation jobs; practical translation laboratories. Furthermore, the course is complemented by 'esercitazioni' classes, for which reference is made to the specific form.
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures; individual and group analysis and translation jobs; practical translation laboratories. Furthermore, the course is complemented by 'esercitazioni' classes, for which reference is made to the specific form.
Teaching Resources
The course has a site on the online platform MYAriel - https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=4190 - to which reference is made for lecture notes and other materials provided by the teacher. In addition to the material created by the teacher, the following books and materials are expected to be used:
Part A:
Bruno Osimo, Manuale del traduttore. Guida pratica con glossario, Hoepli, terza edizione, 2011. (selected pages)
Haroldo de Campos, Da transcriação. Poética e semiótica da operação tradutora, Belo Horizonte, Viva Voz, 2011. (selected pages)
Monti, Johanna. Dalla zairja alla traduzione automatica: riflessioni sulla traduzione nell'era digitale, Loffredo, 2019. (selected pages)
Part B:
Hayashida, Jennifer, "Solidarity in Translation - Translation in Solidarity", in Glossary of Common Knowledge. Beyond the conventional usage of the language in contemporary art, Moderna Galerija, https://glossary.mg-lj.si/referential-fields/commons-solidarity/translation-3, 2020.
Motta-Roth, Desiréé, e Graciela R. Hendges, "Resenha", in Produção textual na universidade, Para'bola Editorial, 2010, pp. 27-49.
Other materials:
Serianni, Luca. Prima lezione di grammatica, Laterza, 2011.
Serafini, Francesca. Questo è il punto: istruzioni per l'uso della punteggiatura. Introduzione di Luca Serianni, Laterza, 2014.
Non-attending students must contact the teachers to arrange an appropriate program.
Part A:
Bruno Osimo, Manuale del traduttore. Guida pratica con glossario, Hoepli, terza edizione, 2011. (selected pages)
Haroldo de Campos, Da transcriação. Poética e semiótica da operação tradutora, Belo Horizonte, Viva Voz, 2011. (selected pages)
Monti, Johanna. Dalla zairja alla traduzione automatica: riflessioni sulla traduzione nell'era digitale, Loffredo, 2019. (selected pages)
Part B:
Hayashida, Jennifer, "Solidarity in Translation - Translation in Solidarity", in Glossary of Common Knowledge. Beyond the conventional usage of the language in contemporary art, Moderna Galerija, https://glossary.mg-lj.si/referential-fields/commons-solidarity/translation-3, 2020.
Motta-Roth, Desiréé, e Graciela R. Hendges, "Resenha", in Produção textual na universidade, Para'bola Editorial, 2010, pp. 27-49.
Other materials:
Serianni, Luca. Prima lezione di grammatica, Laterza, 2011.
Serafini, Francesca. Questo è il punto: istruzioni per l'uso della punteggiatura. Introduzione di Luca Serianni, Laterza, 2014.
Non-attending students must contact the teachers to arrange an appropriate program.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a written and an oral test, both compulsory, with the mother tongue teacher and an oral test with the teacher of the monographic course. The written exam lasts 4 hours and includes a part of written comprehension, one of written production, one of structural and lexical competence; the oral test with the mother-tongue teacher will consist of a language interview; The oral exam with the teacher of the course includes questions asked by the teacher and interactions between teacher and student. This last part takes place in Portuguese. The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts studied, the capacity for contextualization, the ability to expose, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the capacity for critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes.
For attending students only (those who attend 75% of hours), the final written test can be replaced by partial tests. All the results of the written tests (final and partial) will be announced on the Ariel page of the course.
The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be established with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
The exam consists of a written and an oral test, both compulsory, with the mother tongue teacher and an oral test with the teacher of the monographic course. The written exam lasts 4 hours and includes a part of written comprehension, one of written production, one of structural and lexical competence; the oral test with the mother-tongue teacher will consist of a language interview; The oral exam with the teacher of the course includes questions asked by the teacher and interactions between teacher and student. This last part takes place in Portuguese. The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts studied, the capacity for contextualization, the ability to expose, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the capacity for critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes.
For attending students only (those who attend 75% of hours), the final written test can be replaced by partial tests. All the results of the written tests (final and partial) will be announced on the Ariel page of the course.
The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be established with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
L-LIN/09 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - PORTUGUESE AND BRAZILIAN - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
L-LIN/09 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - PORTUGUESE AND BRAZILIAN - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours