Course:
Interpreting, Translating
Group of courses: Humanities
Students learn how to analyse, evaluate, assess and create linguistic utterances according to gender-relevant criteria. They examine the relevance of the category gender for processes of translating and interpreting and gain knowledge of various scientific approaches and methodologies of linguistics. Students acquire skills to specifically and adequately implement strategies for gender-sensitive and gender-differentiated language use as well as queer feminist language strategies.
Translators and interpreters act at the intersection of linguistic and cultural systems. Thus, they have a special role as actors with direct influence on and considerable freedom in the use of language. At the same time, their position in the discursive system obliges them to obey certain conventions. Gender studies in the area of translating focus on the achievements of female translators and strive to capture and describe in a systematic way the strategies and language use of women by drawing attention to the fact that language use is not autonomous and self-determined, but the result of circumstances and external conditions. Language use is viewed as an expression of and subject to power struggles and the reflection of power relations.
Key topics are:
Practical work includes:
Raising the students' awareness for gender issues as a basic approach to language use can be implemented at all language-related parts of the curriculum, i.e. in language practice courses and practical translation and interpretation exercises. Furthermore, gender issues can be integrated into lectures and courses on translation and interpretation theories, the history of the subject as well as into courses which focus on linguistic and cultural studies aspects.
Gender issues should be addressed as follows: