Courses

(Note: All the listed Specialised Elective courses will be offered in each academic year. Students are required to gain a minimum of 12 academic units (AUs) from this category.)

TI6001 Translation Theories (3 AUs)
This course provides a comprehensive introduction of translation theories; topics include lexical semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, structures of meaning in text, the translator as an intercultural mediator, translation quality, loyalty and creativity, and key concepts and tools in post-graduate academic reading and writing. With the aim of equipping students with the prerequisite knowledge of translation studies, this course also serves as a strong foundation for subsequent translation training as well as further research in the field of translation.

TI6003 Introduction to Interpretation (2 AUs)
This course aims to prepare students for the intensive training before the immersion programme, introducing various modes of interlingual interpreting, including liaison, consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting, and public service interpreting. Students will acquire basic interpreting skills as well as academic knowledge of interpretation studies. Topics to be covered include theories of interpretation, the code of conduct, the role of the interpreter, and essential skills of interpretation such as sight translation, note taking and shadowing.

TI6004 Translation Technology (2 AUs)
This course aims to equip students with the specialist knowledge, up-to-date skills and hands-on experience of translation technology. Topics to be covered include history and applications of machine translation, translation memory (TM) tools, computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, revision and post-editing skills, the pros and cons of using translation technology, and relevant challenges facing translators today. Specific applications to be introduced may include SDL Trados Studio, memoQ™, and Wordfast.

TI6403 Literary Translation, Creative Writing and Story Editing (3AUs)
This course focuses on the literary aspects of a text that are most crucial to creating and conveying its meaning. It aims to equip students to identify and explain the key differences in how these elements are treated in Chinese and English literature and produce a literary text in the target language that will replicate the effects of the source text. Literary translation is a specialised field of translation, whereby students will be led through an extended consideration of what separates literary translation from utilitarian translations and learn to both analyse and produce literary works. This is to enhance their creativity, reading practices and ability to think beyond the literary meaning of a work to see more nuanced implications that are deeply embedded in the cultural system in which the work has been produced.

TI6501 Texts in Context in Translation and Interpretation (3AUs)
This course introduces you to the analysis of language at different levels – from the word level to the level of texts in content. In the first half of the course, you will be introduced to traditional descriptive analysis of grammar and to lexical-semantic analysis, that is, analysis of word meanings and influences on word meanings. The implications of such analysis for translation at the sentence and word level are explored simultaneously. The second half of the course explores the relationship between text and context in the creation of meanings and its implications for translation and interpretation. You will be introduced to the framework and concepts of Systemic Functional Linguistics (系统功能语言学) for the analysis of texts in context, as well as to selected notions from other related theories. You will explore how such analysis can be applied in English-Chinese and Chinese-English translation and interpretation. 

TI6502 AI, ChatGPT and Machine Translation (3AUs)
This course aims to equip students with in-depth knowledge of the machine translation (MT) technology which is commonly used and quickly evolving in the industry. Topics include the theory and application of MT, strengths and limitations of the state-of-the-art MT systems and the various technical skills required when working with MT systems. The course focuses on both theoretical understanding and technical training that unlock the best of what the current technology can offer. The course aims to enable translators to work with CAT tools efficiently and embrace a critical and proactive mentality towards integrating technology in their working pipeline.

TI6504 Contrastive Linguistics and Translation: English - Chinese (3AUs)
This course focuses on the linguistic similarities and differences between English and Chinese and their implications for English-Chinese translation. It covers the major linguistic aspects of the two languages, including in particular word formation, lexicon, syntax, and discourse and pragmatics. It will also introduce the linguistic features of Singapore Mandarin and Singapore English in the context of Global Chinese and World Englishes and their implications for translation practice in Singapore. Through a good review of English-Chinese contrastive linguistics, you will enhance your linguistic knowledge essential for translation and interpretation, and learn how to conduct linguistic analysis in both Chinese and English and explain their features from typological and translation perspectives. This course will serve as a strong foundation for your subsequent professional training as well as further research in the field of translation and interpretation.

TI6505 Research Methodology: Dissertation and Capstone Project (3AUs)
This course is a compulsory course for MTI students who are the research track. This course is composed of two parts with specific training for writing dissertation and taking capstone project. you will acquire knowledge and skills about research ethos and ethics, research methodology, delineating scope and setting hypothesis which are instrumental skills to design a good research topic. Equal emphasis will be placed on qualitative and quantitative research methods. In the field of translation and interpreting studies, data collection, data size and data analysis are fundamental skills to deliver empirical research. 

Another component of this course is on the practical skills for conducting research related to specific translation projects. The second part of the course will focus on the importance of solid research skill preparing for practical translation.  Different areas of translation will be covered, including: working in specialised/technical translation, translating ancient texts, translating names, and handling material translated from a third language into the source text (i.e., finding official translations from the original).

TI6506 Optimising Machine Translation: Pre-Editing & Post-Editing Skills in The AI Age (2AUs)
This module addresses the current surge in demand for pre-editing and post-editing services in the global translation market. This rise is propelled by the evolving landscape of the translation industry, where machine translation (MT) has become indispensable. The role of MT has expanded to satisfy the growing demand for fast and cost-effective translation solutions across industries. Given the varying quality of MT outputs, human expertise is crucial in ensuring contextual accuracy and cultural appropriateness. The module takes a holistic approach to enhancing proficiency in both pre-editing and post-editing, both of which are essential abilities in modern translation. It deepens understanding of various MT models, their intricacies, and limitations, and emphasizes the preparation of source texts to improve the quality of first outputs.

TI6507 Varieties of Chinese and Translation (3AUs)
This course is designed to empower students with a two-fold expertise: (1) a comprehensive linguistic foundation in Modern Mandarin Chinese, covering its writing, phonological, lexical, grammatical, and pragmatic aspects; and (2) invaluable insights into the linguistic variations among diverse Chinese varieties spoken in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and beyond. In today's interconnected world, a deep understanding of the intricate linguistic variations within the Chinese language is essential for effective translation and successful cross-cultural communication. To illustrate, consider the term 'Standard Mandarin,' which has distinct translations: 普通话 in Mainland China, 国语 in Taiwan, and 华语 in Singapore. By taking this course, students will enhance their ability to deliver precise and regionally sensitive translations and interpretations, making them adept at meeting the demands of our contemporary, globalized world and learning to convey meaning with respect for local norms.

TI6701 Methods in Healthcare Interaction & Translation (3AUs)
This module addresses the current surge in demand for pre-editing and post-editing services in the global translation market. This rise is propelled by the evolving landscape of the translation industry, where machine translation (MT) has become indispensable. The role of MT has expanded to satisfy the growing demand for fast and cost-effective translation solutions across industries. Given the varying quality of MT outputs, human expertise is crucial in ensuring contextual accuracy and cultural appropriateness. The module takes a holistic approach to enhancing proficiency in both pre-editing and post-editing, both of which are essential abilities in modern translation. It deepens understanding of various MT models, their intricacies, and limitations, and emphasizes the preparation of source texts to improve the quality of first outputs.

 

(Note: Students are required to gain a minimum 12AUs from Specialised Electives category and they can choose a maximum of 18AUs from this category to fulfill the remaining 30AUs. There is no minimum AU requirement for this category.)

General Electives

TI6102 Audiovisual Translation (2 AUs)
This course introduces students to the theories and practice of an emerging discipline—audiovisual translation, which can be further divided into three main subjects: Subtitling, Translating for Voiceover and Dubbing, and Accessibility to the Media. Through a series of lectures and seminars, students will develop relevant professional skills and broaden their awareness of the idiomatic and syntactic features specific to the languages at work as well as the knowledge and perception of socio-cultural referents. Practical exercises will allow students to translate texts and audiovisual programmes chosen from a variety of sources including films, documentaries, animation, corporate videos, etc. In addition, students will learn how to produce their own translated subtitles with appropriate subtitling equipment.

TI6207 Localisation and Translation Project Management (2 AUs)
Localisation can be broadly defined as a process of adapting business products to best meet the expectations of end-users in a locale. The process involves handling important linguistic, cultural and technical issues. Often, project management abilities are required in handling these issues that are normally packaged as a translation project. This course will provide students an opportunity to learn how to handle localisation issues both at the level of solving specific issues, such as how to take a product and make it linguistically and culturally appropriate to the target locale where it will be used and sold, and at the level of handling various types of issues involved as a translation project and managing it as a project manager. Case studies will be introduced and illustrated for skill learning purposes.

TI6214 Interpreting in Practice (2 AUs)
Interpreting is a “live” practice which is executed in real-time, there and then. In the course of executing this service, interpreters often encounter all sorts of surprises and difficulties which emerge suddenly. This course is designed with a strong focus on introducing some practical skills to handle such situations.

TI6401 Literary Translation in the Singapore/Malaysian Context (3 AUs)
This module provides an introduction to the field of literary translation with especial focus on prose, poetry, and drama arising from the Singapore/Malaysia (S-M) context. It aims to help MTI students develop stronger competencies in literary translation, and also to strengthen their creative writing skills (in consideration of its ongoing synergies with translation praxis). Through seminar, workshop engagement (groupwork), and assignment exercises, students will learn and experiment with various translation strategies pertinent to S-M literature. Among other things, students will explore and debate issues of linguistic purism/ prescriptivism and its alternatives. They will develop linguistic, historical, cultural, and critical/aesthetic frameworks pertinent to understanding and analysing S-M literature. They will engage some paradigms and schools of thought within translation studies while being encouraged to develop an approach that best suits their own praxis. More generally, they will learn how to make S-M writing more accessible to the public (through translation work) while respecting the quotidian multiculturalism & established trans-languaging lifeways of the region.

TI6402 Translation & Mainland Chinese Literature (3 AUs)
This course is opened to MTI students, dealing with the context of understanding and literary translation activities related to the social, cultural, historical and political development and issues in Mainland China since 1949. The focus is on the relationship between translation and Mainland Chinese literature. Topics include major historical events that have influenced translation activities, the most prominent translator, the literary journals that translate foreign literature, and the historical relevance and impact of the translated texts. The aims and objectives of this courses include: 1) to simulate students’ critical awareness of the operation of translation in a specific context such as Mainland China after 1949; 2) to enable students to discuss in-depth the relation between translation and its background.

TI6503 Translation: Journalism and News Media (3AUs)
This course aims to give students an overview of translation in journalism and news media. By going beyond the textual level, students will gain hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge in news translation, trans-editing and integrating content from multiple sources to produce news reports for different purposes and media outlets. Students will also apply these skills in media monitoring for public relations and corporate communications contexts. In doing so, students will have chances to reflect on their work and suggest ways for improvement. 

(NEW!) TI6601 Localisation, Financial Translation and Digital Marketing (3AUs)
 This course aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding and practical skills in three interconnected domains that are critical in today’s globalised and digital economy. Specifically, the course aims to: (1) develop expertise in localisation which enables students to understand and apply the principles and practices of localisation, including the use of industry-standard tools and techniques, to adapt content for different linguistic and cultural contexts; (2) master financial translation by imparting in-depth knowledge and practical experience in translating complex financial documents, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and compliance with international regulations on them; (3) integrate digital marketing strategies, teaching students how to create and implement effective digital marketing strategies that are culturally and linguistically tailored to target audiences, incorporating SEO, SEM, and social media marketing; (4) enhance interdisciplinary skills to foster an interdisciplinary skill set that combines translation, localisation, and digital marketing, preparing students for diverse career opportunities in multinational corporations, financial institutions, marketing agencies, and technology companies; (5) promote critical thinking and problem solving and encourage analytical and critical thinking skills, enabling students to address real-world challenges in localisation, financial translation, and digital marketing through project-based learning and case studies.

TI6801 Translation, Cultural Heritage and Museum (3AUs)
This course aims to provide the contemporary perspectives of museology and translation of museum texts. As organisations in the service of society, museums are platforms where cultural heritage is valued and where cross-cultural understanding (or misunderstanding) takes place. Museum translation, more specifically translating museum text, is a specialised and highly relevant inter-cultural mediation activity (Sonaglio, 2016). In the changing cultural landscape in recent decades, museums have evolved from places of prestige and awe into “contact points” with functions such as public entertainment and education. To access wider audiences, multilingualism and multimodality are increasingly common features in the 21st century museums.  The course aims to identify translation strategies and assess appropriateness based on functions of museum text types. This not only hones students’ translation skills but also cultivates their interest in bilingual curatorship or docentship. 

TI6802 Multimodal Translation: Theatre, Performance Arts and Culture (2AUs)

How is the translation of playscript used for performance different from literary text? What are the modes and elements in performance arts that translators have to take note? In multimodal translation, we take into consideration the increasing focus on translation of non-verbal semiotics prevalent in theatre that goes beyond conventional translation and interpretation. Instead of focusing only on text and verbal presentation, this course will engage students on several modes and dimensions “incorporating visual, gestural, aural and linguistic signifiers…”. The complexity of “para-verbal signs”, including how (not what) words are expressed on stage, “non-verbal acoustic signs” such as music, theatrical effects and performers’ movements, as well as symbols, colour and light used in specific cultures are incorporated in multimodal translation and interpretation. Through this course, translators and interpreters can be increasingly equipped on how to decode verbal and non-verbal signs in translation. It is also argued here that cultural knowledge further adds on to translation skills as will be highlighted in this course. 

 


 

Overseas Immersion Courses

(Note: This is a compulsory component for Students on Practice Track. Any courses taken overseas will not be included in the computation of GPA.)

TI6211 Simultaneous and Consecutive Interpretating I (3 AUs)
This course will provide students systematic training in Chinese-English conference interpretation with a focus on the essential skills of consecutive interpretation, such as listening, information processing, working memory, reconstruction, note-taking, sight interpretation and shadowing. Students will be guided towards improving their skills in the application of interpretation principles and strategies, and introduced to the general concepts of conference interpretation in selected areas, such as current affairs, international relations, culture and education, the environment, trade and economics, and popular science. Examples from conference and event interpretation will be examined from different professional perspectives, so as to train students to take circumstances and settings into account in their own practice of consecutive interpretation.

TI6212 Simultaneous and Consecutive Interpretating II (3 AUs)
This course is designed to provide students further training in Chinese-English conference interpretation with a focus on the more advanced skills of consecutive interpretation. Students will be guided towards further development of their skills in the application of interpretation principles and strategies. Examples from conference and event contexts will be used in the detailed investigation of issues in professional consecutive interpretation.
(Note: Students on Research Track can choose either Dissertation or Capstone Project to gain the last compulsory 8 AUs before graduating from the MTI Programme.)

Dissertation (8 AUs)

The dissertation is a compulsory graduation project worth 8 academic units (AUs). To fulfill the requirement of this component, students are required to choose a topic in a research area in translation and interpretation studies to conduct an empirical study, with either others’ translations of certain source texts, or their own translations of certain source texts as their source for analysis and discussion. The total number of words required for writing the dissertation is 12,000 and the language required to use is English.

Each student will be assigned a supervisor in the beginning of Semester 2. The dissertation is regarded as an important component of students’ study under the MTI Programme. It serves to develop their abilities in independent research in translation or interpretation studies. All students must take this part of the work seriously and submit their independent and quality work by the deadline given.

Capstone Project (8 AUs)

The capstone project is a compulsory graduation project worth 8 academic units (AUs). To fulfill the requirement of this component, students are required to complete an English-to-Chinese or Chinese-to-English translation project with 8000 to 10000 words for translation and 5,000 to 7,000 words for a commentary, or an English-to-Chinese or Chinese-to-English interpretation project with about 60 minutes or 7,500 to 9,000 words of their own consecutive or simultaneous interpreting plus a 5,000-7,000 word commentary of their work with the application of both theoretical and practical knowledge acquired. The required language for writing the capstone paper is English.

Each student will be assigned a supervisor in the beginning of Semester 2. The capstone project is regarded as an important component of students’ study under the MTI Programme. It serves to synthesize students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities of professional translation for independent work and to demonstrate their professionalism in translation or interpretation studies. All students must take this part of the work seriously and submit their independent and quality work by the deadline given.