The aim of the course is to introduce the students to the particularities of the translation of economic texts. The texts are chosen from the fields of macroeconomy, international banking, expert analyses from different Schools of economic thinking. The course focuses on a) how an economic ST is translated depending on the particularities of the assignment, b) the research and documentation of terminology in the target language, c) the translation of neologisms that have not yet been included in the lexicon of the Greek economic language.

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:

• understand that a source-text (ST) may be translated for many and different purposes
• that the translation of economic texts is a decision-making process where, apart from the translator, other agents participate (initiator, commissioner, user, and receiver of the translation) who influence the content and the form of the translation
• translate highly specialised texts
• seek and use information and documentation sources following the thematic content of each ST
• apply terminology documentation methods using all electronic terminology data bases
• handle the semantic features of the economic texts (metaphor, synonymy, and polysemy)
• handle the lexical features of the economic texts (internationalisms, abbreviations, compound and port-manteau words)
• translate economic texts for different purposes and receivers/users

Week 1: Delivery of the first ST. Brief presentation and discussion on its content. Analysis of the translation brief and the purpose of the translation. Delivery of parallel English and Greek texts. The students are asked to: a) study the parallel texts to acquire some basic knowledge on the thematic of the ST and get acquainted with their language and textual conventions, b) to study the ST and spot meaning and terminological problems, and c) make a first attempt to translate the ST economic terms using the internet resources delivered (terminology data bases, parallel texts, electronic economic dictionaries). They are also asked to keep a translation diary where they will describe the steps that they follow to accomplish their weekly tasks.

Week 2: Discussion of the tasks (a) to (c) above and evaluation of their results by the students and the instructor. The students present their translation diaries to discuss and evaluate the process they followed. Following this discussion and the evaluation of the results of the tasks (a) to (c) above the students are asked a) to re-evaluate their solutions, and b) make a draft ST translation focusing on the macrostructure of the ST.

Week 3: Discussion of the tasks (a) and (b) above and evaluation of their results by the students and the instructor. Assessment of the intertextual coherence of the draft translation to the ST and spotting of eventual mistranslations. The students present their translation diaries to discuss and evaluate the process they followed. Once the functional relevance between the ST and the target text (TT) is ascertained the students are asked to look for and document solutions on the microstructure level.

Week 4: The students present and explain their solutions on the TT microstructure level. The proposed solutions are evaluated and reviewed if necessary. The students present their translation diaries to discuss and evaluate the process they followed. Based on the discussion so far, the students are asked to produce a final TT.

Week 5: Evaluation of the TT through the assessment of its intratextual coherence to the language and textual norms and the expectations of the TT audience. Discussion and re-evaluation of the process that led to the production of the TT. The students present their translation diaries to discuss and evaluate the process they followed. Delivery of the second ST and assignment same as in Week 1 above.

Week 6: Same as in Week 2 above.

Week 7: Same as in Week 3 above.

Week 8: Same as in Week 4 above.

Week 9: Same as in Week 5 above. Delivery of the third ST and assignment same as in Week 1 above.

Week 10: Same as in Week 2 above.

Week 11: Same as in Week 3 above. T

Week 12: Same as in Week 4 above.

Week 13: Same as in Week 5 above. Overall assessment of the process followed throughout the semester.

Kelandrias, Panagiotis I. (2007). The Translation of the Economic Texts. A functional Approach (in Greek). Athens: Diavlos.

The teaching method is based on the functional approaches of translation and, specifically, a) on the Skopostheorie and b) the Theory of Translational Action. It also combines the process-oriented and the product-oriented approach. The learning method is mostly student-centred, and it is based a) on the principle of the Zone of Proximal Development, b) the admission that knowledge is rather discovered than constructed, and c) the interchanging role of the teacher from coordinator to instructor and vice versa. The teaching material is digitally available through the Open eClass platform.

At the end of the semester the students are asked to deliver the translation of an economic text the thematic content of which is similar to the content of one of the texts discussed in the class throughout the semester. Their translation is evaluated following specific translating instructions delivered with the text.

The evaluation criteria are those defined in the beginning of the semester. Specifically, the translation will be evaluated according to its compliance with the translating instructions and its intertextual and intratextual coherence.