What is the Translation Project?
Have you ever watched a movie that had been made from one of
your favorite novels (or vice versa)?
Was the movie better or worse?
What is it that the movie version did or didn’t do that you found
particularly successful or not?
It’s tough to take a written work and translate it for the
screen. In many ways, that is what
the translation project is asking you to do. You are going to take a sophisticated piece of technical
writing and you will be translating it for a new audience.
Keep in mind that while you are looking to simplify the
information, you are not looking to simplify the thinking behind it. You will need to maintain the heart of
the material you are working with.
Having said that, it might be easiest if you begin with a piece of
writing that challenges you, something that you will have to figure out
yourself so that you will be able to demonstrate the process for your readers.
What is its purpose?
The purpose of the translation project is for you to demonstrate
an ability to work with, understand, and communicate challenging ideas in
multiple ways and in various formats.
You will be able to identify and speak to multiple audiences. You will be able to demonstrate an
ability to read, understand, and communicate difficult information.
What are its components?
Article:
Pick and make a copy of a scholarly or technical article,
five to ten pages. Read it
thoroughly. You’ll be translating
the information for a less knowledgeable, specific group of readers. You can use a second publication as a
resource for basic definitions, but 70% or more of the translation should come
from the scholarly or technical paper.
Memo:
Write a 500 – 700 word explanatory memo before you begin
your draft. Though one main purpose
of the translation is providing information, you’ll need to decide who your
readers are and how they’ll actually apply the knowledge in their work,
relationships, sports activities, health choices, etc.
In the memo please answer the following questions:
- Who is the original audience for the paper or technical article you’re translating?
- Who will your readers be for the information? How are the author’s original readers different from your audience?
- What are your purposes? What response would you like from your readers?
- What do your readers know about your subject in our low context culture?
- Why would your readers be interested in reading your translation? What will the information allow them to do?
