Languages Translation

This programme provides systematic training in translation for those who already have degree or equivalent qualifications. It aims at giving students the confidence and competence to deal with translation work at a close to professional level in different settings and contexts. Students should be able to apply the linguistic and cultural concepts learned to the practical tasks of translation and make improvements in translations done by people and/or artificial intelligence after completion of the programme.
 

The programme also provides a solid foundation for those who plan to study for a higher qualification in translation in the future: holders of the Postgraduate Certificate in Translation can articulate to Postgraduate Diploma in Translation with exemption from the first five modules of the Postgraduate Diploma in Translation programme offered by HKU SPACE.

The programme aims at exploring the basic aims, key principles, and main schools of thought in translation. By emphasizing translation as an act of communication, the programme introduces students to the practice of translation, the goal of which is to communicate the original message, attending its meaning while also taking into account the cultural and historical context of the text as well as the growing use of generative artificial intelligence in the process of translation. 

The programme is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform translation work across various settings and contexts. The primary objective is to instill a sense of confidence and competence in students, enabling them to do translation work at a level that closely mirrors professional standards. This will be achieved through practical exercises that simulate real-world translation scenarios, including assessing translation works done by artificial intelligence. Students are encouraged to apply the linguistic and cultural concepts they have learned throughout the programme to practical tasks, including the final Translation Project module.
 
In addition to providing students with practical training, the programme also lays a solid foundation for further academic pursuits. It prepares students for higher qualifications by providing them with a comprehensive understanding of translation theories and methodologies.

The programme examines the quality of translation (including the use of generative AI in the process of translation), the role of human translators, and the potential ethical issues that arise from the translation of materials that involve the representation of marginalised communities in society. Discussion includes fundamental concepts and understandings of cultural and identity issues that are common to non-profit organisation operations – issues such as gender, sexuality, race, and disabilities.  The aim of the programme is to get students to understand how translation promotes or underpins social justice through language choices in the target culture.  Through close scrutiny of real-life cases, students will be aware of the politics in translation activities and will learn strategies for doing translations that are cultural-sensitive. 

The programme will be useful for translators/people working in the fields of social work, NGOs, or any positions which require a certain amount of bilingual proficiency and sensitivity to diverse identities. 

This programme aims to provide students with the necessary skills to interpret consecutively between Chinese (Cantonese and Putonghua) and English languages. It covers the basic components and processes of consecutive interpretation (including the growing use of generative AI in the process of translation), with a heavy emphasis on consecutive interpretation role-play in simulated scenarios. Students will gain active-listening skills, note-taking skills, and rendition delivery. The delivery will include lectures and extensive practice in Hong Kong’s trilingual context – English, as well as Cantonese, will be used as the medium of instruction. 

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The programme examines the benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in translation, including its impacts on the quality of translations, the role of human translators, and the potential ethical issues. It will also explore how AI can be used to improve the efficiency and accuracy of translation through machine learning algorithms and natural language processing techniques. Students will learn to collaborate with AI to provide translation for a variety of text types, including general documents, marketing materials, and literary texts.