Academic Year:
2025/26
27845 - Contrastive Linguistics Applied to Translation
Teaching Plan Information
Academic year:
2025/26
Subject:
27845 - Contrastive Linguistics Applied to Translation
Faculty / School:
103 - Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Degree:
416 - Degree in English
680 - Degree in English
Ambit:
Philology, classical studies, translation and linguistics
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
3 and 4
Semester:
First semester
Subject type:
Optional
Module:
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1. General information
This course introduces the student to the methodology of the translation process through the study of the lexicogrammatical, pragmatic and discursive aspects of linguistic contrast that take part and interfere in English-Spanish translation. The aim is for the student to develop a general translation competence. The tasks`s minimum level is B2.2.
These objectives are aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030 (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/), so that the learning outcomes of the subject provide training to contribute to some extent to their achievement:
Goal 4: Quality education.
Goal 5: Gender equality.
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities.
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions.
Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
2. Learning results
CON-8. Know, describe, analyse, and apply critical theories and methodologies of linguistic and translation analysis
Know, describe, analyse, and apply critical theories and methodologies of linguistic and translation analysis necessary to produce and assess professional-level translations of general texts.
CON-11. Identify and apply basic translation resources in texts related to English
Identify and apply basic translation resources in texts related to English, especially translation techniques/strategies and documentary resources (use of bibliographic sources and parallel texts).
HAB-4. Convey and explain knowledge in English
HAB-5. Receive, understand, and communicate scientific output in English
HAB-6. Identify study topics and assess their relevance
HAB-7. Locate, manage, and synthesise bibliographic information using both traditional academic sources and online tools and resources
HAB-8. Use and take advantage of online resources
Use and take advantage of online resources for the translation of general texts.
HAB-11. Perform linguistic analysis and commentary
HAB-12. Provide linguistic advice and proofreading
Provide linguistic advice and proofreading of general text translations.
HAB-13. Translate various types of texts directly or inversely between English and Spanish
Translate general texts directly from English into Spanish at a professional level.
CTR-1. Democratic values and sustainability. Develop a commitment to the society we live in so that it may thrive through the dimensions of democratic values and sustainability, as defined within the global framework in place at any given time
CTR-2. Teamwork. Actively collaborate with a group of people to achieve a common goal by bringing together different talents
CTR-3. Critical thinking. Reflectively reason on a topic, being capable of deliberating on its validity by subjecting one’s own and others’ convictions to debate
CTR-4. Emotional intelligence. Understand and regulate one’s own emotions and those of others in order to interact and participate effectively and constructively in social and professional life
CTR-5. Innovation and creativity. Design and carry out a new task or project in a different way, using creativity and curiosity to add value with an entrepreneurial mindset
CTR-6. Lifelong self-directed learning. Continuously use learning and develop autonomous and flexible learning strategies throughout life in order to be an active, motivated, and integrated citizen, promoting employability and personal development
3. Syllabus
I- The domain of translation (English-Spanish):
1. Introduction. Defining translation.
2. Textual unity and discourse diversity: text-types, registers and genres.
3. The translator's tools: dictionaries, reference books and new technologies.
4. Translation strategies: transposition, modulation, adaptation and others.
II- The domain of Contrastive Linguistics (English-Spanish):
5. Lexicogrammatical equivalence. Contrastive analysis of English and Spanish at word and phraseological level: interlinguistic transfer.
6. Translation problems beyond the sentence: the pragmatic and discursive level. Exploring the notion of context.
7. Revising translations. Avoiding interlinguistic transfer: a linguistic taxonomy of errors.
4. Academic activities
The proposed activities will include theoretical seminars and group and individual translation activities. The theoretical and analytical seminars will deal with different aspects of the English-Spanish linguistic contrast - lexicogrammatical, pragmatic and discursive features-, as well as of the translation process - from the textual and contextual analysis of the source text to the revision of the target text, including the identification of problems, presentation and practice of translation strategies, and error detection. In group and individual activities, tasks related to the practical application of the theoretical aspects presented in the seminars will be presented, discussed and solved.
5. Assessment system
FIRST CALL
A theoretical-practical written test divided into two parts:
Part A: Translation into Spanish of an original text in English and discussion of the translation process. Grading from 0 to 10 (70 % of the final grade). It will be a sine qua non condition to obtain a minimum of 50 % to add the rest of the grades.
Part B: Questions to evaluate the knowledge of the theoretical contents (30 %). In the event that the number of students enrolled in the course is less than 25, the teacher may apply the following evaluation system for this part: A portfolio with the tasks proposed throughout the course. Grading from 0 to 10 (30% of the student's final grade).
SECOND CALL
A theoretical-practical written test divided into two parts:
Part A: Translation into Spanish of an original text in English and discussion of the translation process. Grading from 0 to 10 (70 % of the final grade). It will be a sine qua non condition to obtain a minimum of 50 % to add the rest of the grades.
Part B: Questions to evaluate the knowledge of the theoretical contents (30 %).
CRITERIA
The following aspects will be assessed:
-Identification of English-Spanish translation problems.
-Critical use of appropriate translation strategies from a lexicogrammatical, pragmatic and discursive point of view.
-Ability to handle appropriate documentary sources.
-Knowledge of the different areas of contrastive application.
-Ability to apply the contrastive methodology to the translation of original English texts into Spanish.
6. Sustainable Development Goals
4 - Quality Education
10 - Reduced Inequalities
17 - Partnerships for the Goals