MA — 2025 entry Translation and AI (Chinese Pathway)

This module provides students with a systematic framework for understanding key concepts in Translation and Interpreting Studies and how they relate and apply to the rest of the programme and to everyday professional practice. The module enables students to confront a wide range of translation and interpreting challenges, from the lack of equivalence between languages and cultures to contemporary technological, ethical and societal issues affecting translation and interpreting practice, including the rapidly evolving use of machine translation and artificial intelligence (AI). The module equips students with both a solid grounding in the guiding principles of translation and interpreting, derived from scholarly engagement with the discipline, and the strategies required to engage in best practices in the profession and future career development. Taking a holistic approach to translator and interpreter education, the module consists of lectures and seminars that discuss the main principles and challenges of translation and interpreting, and explore solutions in close alignment with other modules in the programme. Students complement lectures and seminars with practical exercises and independent reading. 

This module offers a learning-conducive environment where students self-analyse their own translations, identifying problems for improvement and resolving underlying issues that cause mistranslation in the English-into-Chinese language direction. Tutors with long-established professional activity in the field provide guidance that helps students uncover translation issues and challenges and resolve problems. All translation documents used in class are culled from authentic translation assignments and realistic scenarios. Students apply the skills and techniques gained in their practical translation module in the programme and work on weekly assignments followed by self-analysis and tutor feedback. Through a range of exercise and simulations, students engage with regular, practical translation tasks in which they are encouraged to both translate different types of texts as well as reflect critically on the principles and challenges of English-Chinese translation.

This module provides two internally connected components. Firstly, it provides students with detailed methodological procedures and specific guidance of solving problems related to the translation of words, expressions and sentences from English into Chinese. This part focuses on the grammatical differences between English and Chinese languages from the lexical and syntactic levels, and how such differences impact translation of words, expressions and sentences from English into Chinese. Specific techniques of translation will be explained and illustrated with hand-picked examples, enabling students to confront a wide range of challenges of translating words and sentences caused by the lack of equivalence between English and Chinese languages and cultures. Secondly, the module introduces students to the practices and techniques of translating different types of texts from English to Chinese as carried out in authentic settings, e.g. translating for corporates, governments, technical companies, etc. This module focuses on preparing students for professional translation work through linguistic, conceptual and terminological research practice and producing documents to professional specifications.

Students taking this module explore the main theoretical and practical aspects of smart technologies for translation, with emphasis on how the latest developments in Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models (e.g. ChatGPT) and Corpus Linguistics can to help translators. The purpose of this module is to enable students to understand the challenges faced when using computers artificial intelligence to process text automatically or when they need to process speech as an input. The focus is on enhancing students’ digital capabilities, especially those linked to the translation industry. The module will provide students with knowledge about the fields of Machine Translation (MT), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Models (LLMs) and Corpus Linguistics (CL).    The module will start with an introduction to NLP and machine translation and will present different paradigms to produce automatic translations. Students will be provided with hands-on experience on how to train translation engines, and how it is possible to evaluate MT, as well as how to use LLMs for translation related tasks. . Other topics such as terminology extraction, speech recognition and translation will also be covered. The students will learn how to harvest relevant corpora from the web, clean them and use them for translation-related tasks.The practical tasks addressed in the module will improve students’ problem-solving skills and contribute to their future career development.    Knowledge of programming will not be necessary, but students who have a programming background will be given the opportunity to use this knowledge in the module. Links will be established with other modules such as TRAM500 and TRAM496.

This module introduces students to the key critical considerations and creative and technical decisions faced by translators of works in the cultural/creative industries, such as the film, theatre, creative or publishing industries. By focusing on the repertoires and creative decisions that such translation entails, the definition of  ‘translation’ will be examined rather broadly, namely, both as a form of interlingual transfer and as a creative platform for (re)writing texts. Examples are offered from the areas of advertising, cultural heritage, tourism, performance (drama translation) and entertainment/art (children’s literature, comic books, films). The module is suitable for students with different language backgrounds and it offers a creative practical component as well as insights into how the creative industries work.

This module builds on the work of the Translation Analysis I module, but in the reverse language direction. By extending the approach of problem-solving in the Chinese-into-English direction, the module focuses on a different configuration of linguistic competence and language technology resources. As in Translation Analysis I, students self-analyse their own translations, identifying problems for improvement and resolving underlying issues that cause mistranslation. Tutors with long-established professional activity in the field provide guidance that helps students uncover translation issues and challenges and resolve problems. All translation documents used in class are culled from authentic translation assignments and realistic scenarios. Students apply the skills and techniques gained in their practical translation module in the programme and work on weekly assignments followed by self-analysis and tutor feedback. Through a range of exercise and simulations, students engage with regular, practical translation tasks in which they are encouraged to both translate different types of texts as well as reflect critically on the principles and challenges of Chinese-English translation.

This module builds on the work of the Translation Workshop I module by focusing on units of translation in the reverse language direction. By extending the approach of problem-solving in the Chinese-into-English direction, the module allows students to exercise their attention to detail and to make strategic use of different digital and AI-powered resources. Going beyond the typical language transfer scenario allows them to build confidence when deploying the above resources and when delivering text output for English-speaking clients. As in Translation Workshop I, the module provides two internally connected components. Firstly, it provides students with detailed methodological procedures and specific guidance of solving problems related to the translation of words, expressions and sentences from Chinese into English. This part focuses on the grammatical differences between Chinese and English languages from the lexical and syntactic levels, and how such differences impact translation of words, expressions and sentences from Chinese into English. Specific techniques of translation will be explained and illustrated with hand-picked examples, enabling students to confront a wide range of challenges of translating words and sentences caused by the lack of equivalence between Chinese and English languages and cultures. Secondly, the module introduces students to the practices and techniques of translating different types of texts from Chinese to English as carried out in authentic settings, e.g. translating for corporates, governments, technical companies, etc. This module focuses on preparing students for professional translation work through linguistic, conceptual and terminological research practice and producing documents to professional specifications.

This module is designed to enable students to consolidate and further advance the knowledge and skills acquired during the taught components of the programme, and gain experience working independently on an extended project through one of the following options: Research on a Translation or Interpreting Studies topic and a written dissertation An extended translation with an analytical commentary or an interpreting simulation with an analytical commentary A work placement of at least 150 hours accompanied by a critical report. If taking this option, it is the responsibility of students to find a professional placement approved by CTS (this includes volunteer translation and a range of ad hoc language-industry activities carried out during the academic year). CTS will support students in finding a placement through professional engagement portfolios, invited seminar talks and a dedicated language industries careers fair. A practical skills-enhancement programme of 60 hours or equivalent and a written report. If taking this option, the skills-enhancement programme can be either run by CTS (subject to availability and demand) or external. If external (e.g. a summer school run by another organization), the programme must be approved by CTS in advance

This module provides students with a systematic framework for understanding key concepts in Translation and Interpreting Studies and how they relate and apply to the rest of the programme and to everyday professional practice. The module enables students to confront a wide range of translation and interpreting challenges, from the lack of equivalence between languages and cultures to contemporary technological, ethical and societal issues affecting translation and interpreting practice, including the rapidly evolving use of machine translation and artificial intelligence (AI). The module equips students with both a solid grounding in the guiding principles of translation and interpreting, derived from scholarly engagement with the discipline, and the strategies required to engage in best practices in the profession and future career development. Taking a holistic approach to translator and interpreter education, the module consists of lectures and seminars that discuss the main principles and challenges of translation and interpreting, and explore solutions in close alignment with other modules in the programme. Students complement lectures and seminars with practical exercises and independent reading. 

This module offers a learning-conducive environment where students self-analyse their own translations, identifying problems for improvement and resolving underlying issues that cause mistranslation in the English-into-Chinese language direction. Tutors with long-established professional activity in the field provide guidance that helps students uncover translation issues and challenges and resolve problems. All translation documents used in class are culled from authentic translation assignments and realistic scenarios. Students apply the skills and techniques gained in their practical translation module in the programme and work on weekly assignments followed by self-analysis and tutor feedback. Through a range of exercise and simulations, students engage with regular, practical translation tasks in which they are encouraged to both translate different types of texts as well as reflect critically on the principles and challenges of English-Chinese translation.

This module provides two internally connected components. Firstly, it provides students with detailed methodological procedures and specific guidance of solving problems related to the translation of words, expressions and sentences from English into Chinese. This part focuses on the grammatical differences between English and Chinese languages from the lexical and syntactic levels, and how such differences impact translation of words, expressions and sentences from English into Chinese. Specific techniques of translation will be explained and illustrated with hand-picked examples, enabling students to confront a wide range of challenges of translating words and sentences caused by the lack of equivalence between English and Chinese languages and cultures. Secondly, the module introduces students to the practices and techniques of translating different types of texts from English to Chinese as carried out in authentic settings, e.g. translating for corporates, governments, technical companies, etc. This module focuses on preparing students for professional translation work through linguistic, conceptual and terminological research practice and producing documents to professional specifications.

Students taking this module explore the main theoretical and practical aspects of smart technologies for translation, with emphasis on how the latest developments in Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models (e.g. ChatGPT) and Corpus Linguistics can to help translators. The purpose of this module is to enable students to understand the challenges faced when using computers artificial intelligence to process text automatically or when they need to process speech as an input. The focus is on enhancing students’ digital capabilities, especially those linked to the translation industry. The module will provide students with knowledge about the fields of Machine Translation (MT), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Large Language Models (LLMs) and Corpus Linguistics (CL).    The module will start with an introduction to NLP and machine translation and will present different paradigms to produce automatic translations. Students will be provided with hands-on experience on how to train translation engines, and how it is possible to evaluate MT, as well as how to use LLMs for translation related tasks. . Other topics such as terminology extraction, speech recognition and translation will also be covered. The students will learn how to harvest relevant corpora from the web, clean them and use them for translation-related tasks.The practical tasks addressed in the module will improve students’ problem-solving skills and contribute to their future career development.    Knowledge of programming will not be necessary, but students who have a programming background will be given the opportunity to use this knowledge in the module. Links will be established with other modules such as TRAM500 and TRAM496.

This module introduces students to the key critical considerations and creative and technical decisions faced by translators of works in the cultural/creative industries, such as the film, theatre, creative or publishing industries. By focusing on the repertoires and creative decisions that such translation entails, the definition of  ‘translation’ will be examined rather broadly, namely, both as a form of interlingual transfer and as a creative platform for (re)writing texts. Examples are offered from the areas of advertising, cultural heritage, tourism, performance (drama translation) and entertainment/art (children’s literature, comic books, films). The module is suitable for students with different language backgrounds and it offers a creative practical component as well as insights into how the creative industries work.

This module builds on the work of the Translation Analysis I module, but in the reverse language direction. By extending the approach of problem-solving in the Chinese-into-English direction, the module focuses on a different configuration of linguistic competence and language technology resources. As in Translation Analysis I, students self-analyse their own translations, identifying problems for improvement and resolving underlying issues that cause mistranslation. Tutors with long-established professional activity in the field provide guidance that helps students uncover translation issues and challenges and resolve problems. All translation documents used in class are culled from authentic translation assignments and realistic scenarios. Students apply the skills and techniques gained in their practical translation module in the programme and work on weekly assignments followed by self-analysis and tutor feedback. Through a range of exercise and simulations, students engage with regular, practical translation tasks in which they are encouraged to both translate different types of texts as well as reflect critically on the principles and challenges of Chinese-English translation.

This module builds on the work of the Translation Workshop I module by focusing on units of translation in the reverse language direction. By extending the approach of problem-solving in the Chinese-into-English direction, the module allows students to exercise their attention to detail and to make strategic use of different digital and AI-powered resources. Going beyond the typical language transfer scenario allows them to build confidence when deploying the above resources and when delivering text output for English-speaking clients. As in Translation Workshop I, the module provides two internally connected components. Firstly, it provides students with detailed methodological procedures and specific guidance of solving problems related to the translation of words, expressions and sentences from Chinese into English. This part focuses on the grammatical differences between Chinese and English languages from the lexical and syntactic levels, and how such differences impact translation of words, expressions and sentences from Chinese into English. Specific techniques of translation will be explained and illustrated with hand-picked examples, enabling students to confront a wide range of challenges of translating words and sentences caused by the lack of equivalence between Chinese and English languages and cultures. Secondly, the module introduces students to the practices and techniques of translating different types of texts from Chinese to English as carried out in authentic settings, e.g. translating for corporates, governments, technical companies, etc. This module focuses on preparing students for professional translation work through linguistic, conceptual and terminological research practice and producing documents to professional specifications.

This module is designed to enable students to consolidate and further advance the knowledge and skills acquired during the taught components of the programme, and gain experience working independently on an extended project through one of the following options: Research on a Translation or Interpreting Studies topic and a written dissertation An extended translation with an analytical commentary or an interpreting simulation with an analytical commentary A work placement of at least 150 hours accompanied by a critical report. If taking this option, it is the responsibility of students to find a professional placement approved by CTS (this includes volunteer translation and a range of ad hoc language-industry activities carried out during the academic year). CTS will support students in finding a placement through professional engagement portfolios, invited seminar talks and a dedicated language industries careers fair. A practical skills-enhancement programme of 60 hours or equivalent and a written report. If taking this option, the skills-enhancement programme can be either run by CTS (subject to availability and demand) or external. If external (e.g. a summer school run by another organization), the programme must be approved by CTS in advance