Theory of Translation and Cross-Linguistic Communication (in German)
45.04.02 In german
Level of education Master
Type of instruction Full-time
Duration 2 years
- The aim of the programme is to train high-level conference interpreters for the German-Russian language pair. They will acquire all the fundamental skill sets necessary for this profession. It is also aimed at: training multiskilled experts for work in areas where a high level of knowledge of a foreign language is required; as well as training foreign language teachers with majors in translation and interpreting, capable of carrying out applied and scientific research. This programme is designed to train multiskilled translators with focus on translation and interpreting, including consecutive and simultaneous interpreting
- Graduates of this programme may be in demand in: Russian-German enterprises; companies and representative offices of various German institutions. Despite the fact that the programme has existed for only a couple of years, its graduates can already be found working in such companies as: The Russian-German Chamber of Commerce; the German-Russian-Meeting Centre; IT company ‘T-Systems RUS’. They also work as freelance translators/interpreters, university and school teachers. Some of them continue their studies in postgraduate programmes
In addition to different courses on translation and interpreting, which are given the most attention, the curriculum also includes such uniquely designed courses as:
- Information Search in Translation and Interpreting
- Translator in the Present-Day Market: Key Issues in Management
- Modern Political and Cultural Landscape of Russia
- Modern Political and Cultural Landscape of Germany
- Interpreting of Guided Tours
- Translation of Literature
The programme curriculum also includes elective courses that introduce students to various professional fields where their translation activities can be carried out in the future. So, students can choose a major focused on translation in the field of medicine, law, economics, technology, culture and education, and international relations. Within the framework of these courses, students acquire vocabularies of these areas and are trained in translation (including consecutive and simultaneous interpreting) of the relevant subject-oriented texts.
Graduates of this programme are capable of:
- being involved in the development of the fundamental concepts of modern translation theory; and studying the features and patterns of speech, both prepared and spontaneous
- developing tactics and strategies for interpreting and their procedural models
- developing and improving typologies of errors in translation and interpreting
- using interdisciplinary approaches to solving translation and interpreting problems
Graduates of this programme acquire: fundamental mnemonic techniques; methods of searching and implementing solutions when transcoding in the process of translation and interpreting; fundamental skill sets necessary for different types of interpreting that are used by conference interpreters in their professional activities; and practical skills in organizing the work of a freelance translator and interpreter and promoting their services in the present-day translation and interpreting market.
Classes on the programme are taught exclusively by practicing interpreters who not only have vast experience in interpreting, but also deal with the theory and practice of teaching translation and interpreting and design unique methods for training future specialists. The international partners of the programme are actively involved in translation projects in the field of translation and interpreting for the German-Russian language pair and are interested in integrating St. Petersburg University students into the cooperation programmes they supervise.