Formato De Syllabus

UNIVERSIDAD DE ESPECIALIDADES ESPÍRITU SANTO

FACULTAD DE ESTUDIOS INTERNACIONALES

Escuela de Traducción e Interpretación

SYLLABUS

FOR DAC 11 VER 12 03 09

COURSE:Legal Translation intoEnglishCODE: UTRA447

FACULTY:Jess Kincaid, MA, CCICREDITS: 3

CONTACT HOURS:48 NON CONTACT HOURS:96

YEAR:2010BIMESTER:Fall I

DAYS:Mon-ThursSCHEDULE:19:30-20:50

ROOM:T&I Multimedia ClassroomSYLLABUS DATE:August 2010

1. DESCRIPTION

“Legal language shares with science a concern for coherence and precision;

and it shares with religion a respect for ritual and historical tradition.”

--David Crystal

This course aims to introduce students to the challenges presented by legal translation, and to offer students the tools to begin meeting those challenges.

The course deal with legal syntax, register and style,andlook at texts of a variety of difficulty levels and in a number of fields. We will compare and contrast theCommon Law and Civil Law legal systems, and that knowledge will inform translation assignments, and expand student knowledge of legal terminology in both languages. This course assumes that students are translating from their A language – Spanish–into their Blanguage –English.

Translation assignments will be culled from authentic texts, some from my own past professional work. Specialized readings including legal theory are part of the course contents.

2. JUSTIFICATION

The professional market for legal translation is quite large, and professional translators must learn to analyze legal texts and choose the appropriate terminology in the target language. They must also be able to produce accurate work under pressure, as is typical of large legal translation projects. This course makes students aware of the need to research both source and target language texts for meaning accuracy and style.

3.OBJECTIVES

GENERAL

To make students familiar with (a) comparative law as an invaluable tool for dealing with translated or translatable legal texts and (b) the legal discourse of both source and target language texts (Spanish and English).
To offer a new technical approach for students to produce accurate legal translations.
To make students more familiar with the opportunities and challenges in thefield of professional legal translation.

SPECIFIC

Students will gain and improve skills to (a) analyze both the source text and the target text; (b) identify and solve legal translation problems; (c) produce complete and accurate legal translations; (d) research and apply appropriate terminology; (e)apply legal translation strategies and techniques; (f) work with authentic legal texts; (h) critique/assess a peer-translated piece.

4. COMPETENCIES (for translatinglegal texts from Spanish - A language into English - B language)

Students will attain a general proficiencyin thecourse subject which can be itemized as follows:

To identify the legal system where a given text has been produced.
To recognize the intricacies and complexities of legal discourse.
To apply the best available research techniques to resolve translation problems.
To produce sound, accurate Spanish Englishtranslations.

5. COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE

dates & sessions / specific competencies / contents / homeworkprojects/
assignments
(non-contact hours) / assessment
Week 1
Session 1
Mon
August 30 / Student identifies the significance of comparative law to produce accurate legal translations. / Introduction: The challenges of legal translation
-Normal cultural, linguistic, and terminological issues
-Differing legal traditions
-Appropriate use of translation strategies in the legal context
-Overlapping fields / Reading:
"Mixed jurisdictions: common law vs civil law,” William Tetley,in Uniform Law Review, 1999,pp. 595-597, 599-600, 613-618.
Duro Moreno, pp. 553-569, 637-640 (2005). / Participates in class discussion
Session 2
Tues / Student gains experience translating authentic texts / -Discussion of importance of understanding both ST and TT legal systems in order to understand legal problems and articulate ideas across systems
-In-class translation:
Excerpt fromDerecho Comparado
by Robert Blacio Aguirre / Finish translating:
Excerpt fromDerecho Comparado
Reading:
"The Challenges of Intercultural Legal Communication,” Alenka Kocbek, in International Journal of Euro-Mediterranean Studies, Volume 1 No. 1, pp. 66-70 (2008). / Critiques work of peers, submits translation to professor
Session 3
Wednes / Student recognizes that knowledge of the law is important in understanding the challenges present in legal texts / -In-class translation review of Derecho comparado / Reading:
Glendon et al., pp. 52-118 (1982) / Participates in class discussion; demonstrates familiarity with readings
Week 2
Session 4
Mon
Sept 6 / Student refreshes and/or expands knowledge Source Text legal family / Unit 1: Civil Law / Reading:
Glendon et al. pp. 13-51. / Participates in class discussion
Session 5
Tues
(NP) / Student gains experience translating authentic texts / In-class translation:
Código Civil, Título III, del Matrimonio, Art. 81-84 (Ecuador)
/ Finish translating:
Código Civil / Critiques work of peers, submits translation to professor
Session 6
Wednes / Student further develops capacity for peer-evaluation and self-evaluation / -Civil Law discussion
-In-class translation review / Reading:
Glendon et al. pp. 142-167. / Participates in class discussion
Week 3
Session 7
Mon
Sept 13 / Student increases familiarity with Target Text legal family / Unit 2: Common Law / Reading:
Schubert, pp. 108-132 / Participates in class discussion
Session 8
Tues
(NP) / Student gains experience translating authentic texts / In-class translation
Contrato de arrendamiento (Ecuador) / Finish translating:
Contrato de arrendamiento / Critiques work of peers, submits translation to professor
Session 9
Wednes / Student further develops capacity for peer-evaluation and self-evaluation. / -Common Law discussion
-In-class translation review / Reading:
Glendon et al. pp. 217-226
Review: Glendon et al. pp. 94-96. / Participates in class discussion; shows familiarity with readings
Week 4
Session10
Mon
Sept 20 / Student understands main differences in criminal procedure between Common Law and Civil Law jurisdictions / Unit 3: Criminal Procedure
Criminal procedure refers to the legal process for adjudicating claims that someone has violated criminal law. / Reading:

/ Participates in class discussion
Session 11
Tues (NP) / Student gains experience translating authentic texts / In-class Translation:
Denuncia Penal (Colombia) / Finish translating:
Denuncia Penal / Critiques work of peers, submits translation to professor
Session 12
Wednes / Student further develops capacity for peer-evaluation and self-evaluation. / In-class review of Denuncia Penal / Reading: Código civil del Ecuador, Libro III, «De la sucesión por causa de muerte y de las donaciones entre vivos»: / Participates in class discussion; shows familiarity with readings
Week 5
Session 13
Mon
Sept. 27 / Student attains basic understanding of probate law issues in Civil and Common Law jurisdictions / Unit 4: Wills / Reading:
Probate Law
Duro Moreno, pp. 471-486. / Participates in class discussion
Session 14
Tues (NP) / Student gains experience translating authentic texts / Translation:
Testamento / Finish translating:
Testamento / Critiques work of peers, submits translation to professor
Session 15
Wednes / Student further develops capacity for peer-evaluation and self-evaluation. / -Willsdiscussioncont'd
-In-class review of Testamento / CD: Compares critically the difference between the common law and civil law probate systems.
Thursday Sept. 30:
Día Internacional del Traductor
Week 6
Sess. 16
Mon
Oct 4 / Unit 5:
Immigration Law / Read:
Immigration legal terms glossary
/ Participates in class discussion
Session 17
Tues
(NP) / Student gains experience translating authentic texts / In-class Translation:
Carta a la embajada de Australia (Venezuela) / Finish translating:
Carta a la embajada / Critiques work of peers, submits translation to professor
Session 18
Wednes
Oct 6 / Student further develops capacity for peer-evaluation and self-evaluation. / -Immigration Lawdiscussioncont'd
-In-class review of Carta a la embajada / Reading:
Código civil del Ecuador, Libro IV, «De las obligaciones en general y de los contratos» / Participates in class discussion
Week 7
Mon No Class – World Social Forum on Migration in Quito
Oct 11
Tues No Class – World Social Forum on Migration in Quito
Oct 12
Session 19
Wednes
Oct 13 / Student becomes more familiar with different methods for certifying translation work for the legal arena / Unit 6:
Certificates of Accuracy / Reading:
Kincaid, “Affidavit of accuracy of translation”
Duro Moreno, “Diligencia fedataria” / Participates in class discussion
Week 8
Sess. 20
Mon
Oct 18 / Student refreshes knowledge of particular areas covered during class / Review / Asks appropriate questions
Sess. 21
Tues
Oct 19 / In-class Final Translation / Submits final translation for grading by Professor
Sess. 22
Wednes
Oct 20

6. METHODOLOGY

Professor will assign reading materials in preparation for translation exercises and assignments that are to be completed before class so that class time will be devoted to working out the translation, expanding vocabulary, and discussing issues. Each week will includeone class period of onsite translation practice.

Students will create a draft of each translation assignment, which they will discuss and critique during class with their peers and professor. Professor may request that students prepare a specialized glossaryfor his review.

There will be a number of short quizzes dealing with content of readings assigned. The midterm and final evaluations will consist of in-class translations.

Professor may assign a translation project where students work in teams.Materials to betranslated may vary in level of difficulty.

7. EVALUATION

Translation/Projects assignments

Students will turn in assignments/projects. Professor will offer feedback in class. Peers will also critique.Respecting deadlines is the daily bread of professional translators; that culture will also prevail in this class.

Mid-term and final exams

The final exam will be an in-class translation graded by the professor. Students will have the normal 80-minute class period to finish the translation and submit it to the professor. It is expected that students produce an acceptable version of the source text that could be used, after the appropriate editing process, as a final target text.

The final class grade will be determined as follows:

Each translation project/assignment10 points.

Final exam20 points.

Students must submit all translation assignments to be able to obtain the maximum mark (100 points).

7.1 Assessment Criteria

Participation in class.
In-class translation/revision.
Graded in-class translations at Mid-Term and Final.

7.2 Performance Markers

Identifies the legal translator’s specific competencies.
Determines the influence that a well-oriented training course, covering progressively and adequately all the fields of knowledge involved, every legal discourse concerned and the proper translation techniques, may have on the students.

7.3 Weighting

Individual projects 100.
Group projects100.
Practical classes100.
Research projects100.
Quizzes100.

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

8.1 Required

Glendon, Mary Ann et al. (1982), Comparative Legal Traditions, St. Paul (Minnesota), West Publishing Co.

Duro Moreno, Miguel (2005), Introducción al derecho inglés: la traducción jurídica inglés>español en su entorno, Madrid, Edisofer

Schubert, Frank A. (20089), Introduction to Law and the Legal System, Boston & New York, Houghton Mifflin Co., 2005.

8.3.1Legal Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

dictionary.law.comLaw Dictionary

solon.ejn-crimjust.eu.intSolón (ue)

cem.itesm.mx/derecho/diccionario/diccalf.htmlTecnológico de Monterrey (México)

conpapeles.com/glosario_juridico.phpCon Papeles

duhaime.org/dictionary/diction.aspxDuhaime Law Dictionary

lexjuridica.com/diccionario.phpLexJuridica

encyclo.findlaw.com/Encyclopedia of Law and Economics

dictionary.lp.findlaw.com/FindLaw Legal Dictionary

gahtan.com/cyberlawCyberLaw Encyclopedia

freeroller.netLoans Dictionary

global.bs/lexicon.htmlOffshore Lexicon Index

public.findlaw.com/library/padefinitions.htmlWest Legal Dictionary

lectlaw.com/def.htm‘Lectric Law Library

nolo.com/glossary.cfmNolo’s Legal Glossary

dictionaries.travlang.comTravLang

ultralingua.netUltraLingua

8.3.2Legal Translators’ Mailing Lists

finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/legaltranslatorsLegal translators’ mailing list

groups.yahoo.com/group/translistLegal translators’ mailing list (English>Spanish)

8.3.3Terminology Databases

termium.gc.caTermium (Canada)

ilo.org/ilotermIloterm (International Labour Organization)

infoterm.infoInfoterm (International Information Centre for Terminology)

logos.itLogos (Multilingual E-Translation Portal)

eurac.edu/bistroBistro (Information System for Legal Terminology)

europa.eu.int/celex/eurovocEurovoc (European Union thesaurus)

linux.termnet.orgTermNet (The International Network for Terminology)

europa.eu.int/eurodicautom/ControllerEuroDicAutom (European Union)

8.3.4Translator Associations - USA

Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators

Translators Association

Translators Association, Spanish Language Division

9. FACULTY INFORMATION

NAME:Jess David Kincaid

NATIONALITY/NATIVE LANGUAGE:USA / English

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:

GRADUATEMA, Translation Interpretation, Spanish, Monterey Institute

of International Studies

UNDERGRADBA, Honors in Political Science, University of Oregon

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS:

Oregon Certified Court Interpreter - Spanish

“HighPass” - MIIS Professional Exam, Translation into English

E–mail:

Phone: 08-142-3418

10.FACULTY SIGNATURE AND OR DEAN/DIRECTOR’S APPROVAL (SIGNATURE)

Prepared by:Jess Kincaid, MATI, CCIDate:August 2010

Reviewed by:Dean Monica ReynosoDate: August, 2010