TRS 101 - Introduction to Translation and Interpretation

1. Differentiate between interpretation and translation and the basic skills needed for translation and interpretation.
2. Discuss the preparation and organizational methods in translation and interpretation.
3. Describe the procedures, resources, and techniques related to translation and interpretation.
4. Describe the specialties of translation and interpretation including the common pitfalls within each specialty.
5. Describe the work of translators and interpreters including the skills involved in being well trained.

1. Introduction to Translation and Interpretation
   1. Interpreters vs. translators - what’s the difference?
   2. Theory vs. practice
   3. Basic skills (language proficiency, literacy, etc.)
   4. Setting and register
   5. What translation and interpretation is not
2. Translation and Interpretation Preparation
   1. Goal - fidelity and accuracy
   2. Conserving meaning, style, and register
   3. Reading for comprehension (translation)
   4. Listening for intention (interpretation)
   5. Summarize for meaning
   6. Organization of exposition for English to Spanish and Spanish to English
   7. Types of oral presentations and audiences
   8. Self-monitor
3. Translation and Interpretation Procedures
   1. Process vs. procedures
   2. Equipment and modalities- written, tape, video
   3. Dictionaries and other tools
   4. Emerging technologies, i.e., computer translations, Internet, etc.
   5. Networking with other professionals (associations)
   6. Charging for services:  lessons of the National Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT)
   7. The client and how to negotiate pay
4. Translation and Interpretation Specialties
   1. Legal translation and interpretation
      1. Legal settings, documents, and uses
      2. The register of a legal document
      3. Admissibility and conservation of “legal equivalence”
      4. Identification of specialized Lexicons
      5. Legal translation related to NAFTA/business/commercial translation
      6. Comparative legal systems
      7. Modes of interpretation for legal
      8. Most common pitfalls
   2. Business and commercial translation and interpretation
      1. Business settings, documents, and uses
      2. Short and long-term issues
      3. Conservation of business intent
      4. Legal admissibility and implications: domestic and international diplomacy issues
      5. Modes of interpretation for business and commercial
      6. Most common pitfalls
   3. Literary translation
      1. Literary forms—poems, short story, novel, critical essay, etc.
      2. Intent of the author
      3. Preservation of author’s tone, style and imagery
      4. Literary translation contributions to all types of translations; ways to stay limber
      5. Most common pitfalls
   4. Health Care translation and interpretation
      1. Health care settings, documents, and uses.
      2. Purposes and access to health care information
      3. Cultural and technical aspects of health care translation
      4. Modes of interpretation for health care
      5. Most common pitfalls
5. Work of the Translator and Interpreter
   1. Career commitments
   2. Attitudes and skills of the successful translator and interpreter
   3. Ethics in translation and interpretation