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The unit is a presentation of tools for text analysis and practical work on English texts in a number of areas relevant to the translator's and interpreter's work. The unit is also an introduction to discourse analysis for students who have no previous background in linguistics. 3 hrs per week, tools for analysis and text analysis and vocabulary study.

As a translator and/or interpreter, you will encounter a wide variety of texts. It is important to recognise that these texts are not simply in one language or another, but that each of these texts is also representative of a distinct "register" - a variety of language according to its use. TRAN819 aims to provide you with an introduction to a model of language that will enable you to recognise the ways in which language varies according to its use, and in doing so, will also enable you to produce translations appropriate to the contexts in which the source texts are encountered.

The model of language that you will be introduced to in this unit is a "functional" one. In the functional approach to grammar that we will be adopting, we recognise that the constituent parts of the clause and of the sentence perform functions in three ways. These functions concern: the way that language (in particular the English language) construes happenings or events; the way that language reflects the interpersonal relationships of the participants in an exchange; and the way that language organises units of meaning into a coherent whole, and making distinct organisational meanings in the process of doing so.
While our primary concern will be to ensure your acquisition of a set of analytical tools oriented to your needs as Translators/Interpreters, we will also explore contemporary work on the role of discourse in shaping grammar, and we will look at some examples of translation/interpreting issues in practice, and at how the analytical tools acquired in this unit might help in resolving these issues.

We will be working in co-operation with other units in the MA in Translation and Interpreting. You will be introduced, in these related units, to the specialist vocabularies characteristic of a variety of texts and text types. Concurrently, we will, in this unit, look at the way that this vocabulary is organised by the grammar to form contextually appropriate texts.

Assessment
Assignment 1 In-class assessment task - 20%
You will be required to break short texts down into their constituent parts, and to correctly assign the functional roles (Experiential) of PARTICIPANT, PROCESS, and CIRCUMSTANCE. This test will be conducted during normal class time; the test is scheduled for week 6.

Assignment 2 In-class assessment task - 20%
Analyse short texts identifying the elements of the clause functioning as SUBJECT, FINITE, PREDICATE, COMPLEMENT and ADJUNCT. This assignment will also include questions on textual organisation. This test will be conducted during normal class time; the test is scheduled for week 9.

Assignment 3 Essay/Text analysis - 60%
You will be required to examine a text or pair of texts using the various analytical and interpretative tools acquired during the semester.
You will also be required to write up your findings in a coherent essay format. This essay will be between 1500 and 2000 words in length.
While the details of your analysis are important, it should be noted that the marking of this assessment task will focus primarily on the essay itself, i.e. the way in which you present your ideas, and the degree to which you show yourself to be capable of making insightful and well reasoned observations. Due November 16th.
Your final grade for the unit will be given on the basis of the sum of scores for the assignments. The raw results will be processed to be a fraction of the total of 100, then grades will be assigned according to the table given below:

Textbooks
Butt, D., R. Fahey, S. Spinks, and C. Yallop (1996). Using Functional Grammar: an explorers guide. Sydney: NCELTR. Please note that you cannot participate in the lecture or the tutorials in a meaningful way if you do not have this textbook. You should buy it from the Co-op Bookshop on campus

Further reading (You do not have to purchase these books - copies are available in the main library and in the NCELTR library:

Halliday, M.A.K. (1994). Introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Edward Arnold.

Martin, J.R.., C.M.I.M. Matthiessen, C. Painter (1997). Working with Functional Grammar. London: Edward Arnold.

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