Translation of Political Texts

The course focuses on the theoretical and practical exploration of political text translation, aiming to understand how political discourse shapes, reproduces, and conveys ideological meanings across different linguistic and cultural contexts. Through the study of authentic examples — speeches, press releases, electoral manifestos, international agreements, journalistic and institutional texts — students are invited to identify the linguistic, stylistic, and cultural specificities of political discourse and to develop rendering strategies that respect both the rhetorical function and the political dynamics of the source text.

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

• Analyze political discourse through the lens of translation and ideology.
• Apply appropriate translation strategies for different types of political texts.
• Recognize and manage rhetorical, cultural, and communicative nuances.
• Evaluate the impact of technology and machine translation on political communication.

Week 1 – Introduction to Political Discourse and Translation

• Political discourse theory, linguistic and communicative characteristics

Week 2 – Political Rhetoric and Ideology

• Persuasion techniques, rhetorical figures, ideological loading

Week 3 – Types of Political Texts

• Speeches, press releases, electoral manifestos, international agreements

Week 4 – Translation and Communicative Context

• Adapting to the target audience, cultural and social parameters

Week 5 – Terminology and Specialized Language

• Managing political terminology, lexicographic tools

Week 6 – Stylistic Strategies

• Preserving rhetorical style, rendering sensitive expressions

Week 7 – Sight Translation I: Theory and Techniques

• Methodology of written sight translation
• Managing auditory information and note-taking

Week 8 – Sight Translation II: Practical Workshops

• Practice with recorded speeches and press releases
• Strategy feedback

Week 9 – Gender, Inclusion, and Political Language

• Gendered and inclusive translation, avoiding stereotypes

Week 10 – Journalistic and Digital Political Texts

• News articles, social media, sight translation of video content

Week 11 – Technology and Artificial Intelligence

• Use of CAT tools and sight translation tools
• Advantages and limitations

Week 12 – Critical Analysis of Translations

• Evaluation of written and sight translation, comparative analysis

Week 13 – Final Presentation and Feedback

• Final project presentation, discussion of strategies, challenges, and overall evaluation

Baker, Mona (2006). Translation and Conflict. A Narrative Account. London and New York: Routledge.

Cronin, Michael (2006). Translation and Identity. London and New York: Routledge.

Munday, Jeremy (2001). Introducing Translation Studies. London & New York: Routledge.

Nord, Christiane (1997). Translating as a Purposeful Activity. Manchester: St. Jerome.

Pym, Anthony (2012). On Translator Ethics. Principles for mediation between cultures (transl. from French by Heike Walter, ed. And updated by the author). Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Co.

Schäffner, C., & Bassnett, S. (2010). Political Discourse, Media and Translation. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Schäffner, C., & Bassnett, S. (2010). Political Discourse, Media and Translation. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Venuti, L. (2008). The Translator's Invisibility: A History of Translation. London: Routledge.

1. Lectures

• Presentation of theoretical topics: political discourse, rhetoric, ideology, cultural and communicative dimensions.
• Introduction to core concepts in sight translation and linguistic analysis.

2. Seminar Discussions

• Analysis of authentic political texts (speeches, press releases, electoral manifestos).
• Discussion of ideological, stylistic, and cultural parameters of translation.

3. Practical Translation Workshops

• Written translations of political texts.
• Focus on stylistic accuracy, terminology, and rhetorical rendering.

4. Sight Translation Practice

• Practice with recorded political speeches or press releases.
• Transcription and rendering into written text.
• Feedback and analysis of translation strategies.
• Gradual increase in difficulty: short excerpts → full speeches.

5. Case Studies

• Comparison of source text and existing translation.
• Analysis of strategies for rendering ideology and rhetoric.
• Identification of challenges in sight translation.

6. Individual and Group Assignments

• Supervised translations.
• Preparation of sight translations for presentations.
• Analysis of translation strategies and presentation of findings.

7. Feedback and Assessment

• Ongoing feedback on practical exercises.
• Critique and evaluation of final written and sight translation assignments.

• Digital Text Analysis Tools
• Sight Translation Software
• Online Resources and Multimedia
• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Tools
• Collaborative Platforms

Written assignment