The Department of Translation Studies

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Translation Studies is one of the youngest departments in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Maribor. The beginnings of scientific research activities in the field of Translation Studies were; however, already present in the late 1990s, when translation study programmes in English and German were established within the Philology Departments.

The rapid development of Translation Studies as a field of study has led to the creation of an independent department that combines the fields of translation and interpreting, namely for English and German, with Hungarian and Croatian also having been added within the new Bologna Programmes.

MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT

PROJECTS AND PROGRAMME GROUPS

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

The Translation Studies Department is an interdisciplinary department that collaborates internationally, with its lecturers researching communication challenges in a global context.

The acts of translation and interpreting form the focus of Translation Studies, representing thousands of years-old ways of communicating in an effort to bridge linguistic and cultural barriers. In recent years, the Department of Translation Studies has successfully carried out scientific and applied projects, providing a scientific and critical approach to current issues in Translation Studies in the international field.

Since 2012, the Department of Translation Studies has been leading and coordinating the CEEPUS TRANS International Network CIII-SI-0711-02-1314 (TRANSkulturelle Kommunikation und TRANSlation, TRANScultural communication and TRANSlation), which involves 20 partner universities from Central and South-Eastern Europe. The Network organises scientific symposia and TRANS Summer Translation Academies on translation, interpreting and intercultural communication. Eight conferences and summer translation academies have been organised so far (the University of Maribor 2013 and 2017, the University of Rijeka 2014, the University of Zadar 2015, the University of Sofia 2016, the University of Zagreb 2018, the University of Vienna 2019, the University of Belgrade 2020 – postponed to 2021). The Network offers excellent opportunities for mobility and study placements at foreign universities, as well as for gaining experience in an international environment. For students of Translation Studies, the Department organises professional excursions and study trips to partner universities abroad.

The Department has established an excellent working relationship with the Directorate-General for Translation (DG TRAD), the Translation Office of the European Parliament, which organises professional translation and interpreting workshops and lectures as part of the summer translation academies. Most importantly, the DG TRAD provides students with access to translation and interpreting internships.

The Department participated in the European project Translaw ‒ Exploring Legal Interpreting Service Paths and Transcultural Law Clinics for Persons Suspected or Accused of Crime (2018‒2020), which conducted research into the field of court interpreting for foreigners suspected of crimes who do not speak and understand the language of the crime’s jurisdiction. More about the project can be found here: Translaw.

In collaboration with the University of Rijeka, the bilateral project Translation and Interpretation for Migrants and Refugees – Experience of Slovenia and Croatia (2018‒2019) was successfully completed.

The HE Department also ran a bilateral project with Montenegro, entitled Education of Translators and Interpreters – Comparative Analysis of Slovenian and Montenegrin Higher Education Programmes (2020‒2022, ARRS-MS-BI-ME-JR).

This excellent example of international collaboration has resulted in several monographs and publications being published at partner universities. In 2016, and in collaboration with the Department of Translation Studies at the University of Nitra, Slovakia, Department member red. prof. dr. Vlasta Kučiš founded the Translatologia scientific journal, working as its Editor-in-chief and Managing Editor.

STUDENT AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

PRACTICAL TRAINING

During the practical training or study placement on the Master’s Degree Programme within the Department of Translation Studies, students are confronted with real translation assignments and interpreting situations. They are able to gain knowledge and experience of working with clients in real-life environments and circumstances, providing a high-quality translation or interpreting service.

Practical training for translators or translation practice takes place either by e-mail or at the contractual partner’s location in Slovenia or abroad. Students can make their own initial contact with the institution where they will complete their traineeship and organise all subsequent arrangements with the institution. Alternatively, they can ask for assistance from a coordinator who can help them to organise their placement. In general, they must independently discuss their translation process and deadlines with the client. During their practicum, they will learn about the professional and technical requirements of translation, use translation tools, and independently search for the information resources they need. They will also be supported by mentors assigned by the institution, who guide them to deliver a high-quality translation on time and according to the client’s expectations.

Practical interpreting training takes place either at the location of the contractual partner in Slovenia, abroad, or at the location of the event where the interpreter is needed. The interpreting practicum coordinator contacts the institution or company where the students are completing their practicum, guides them through the interpreting event and, if necessary, assists them in preparing for it (e.g., by obtaining materials to prepare for the event). During the interpreting practicum, students learn about simultaneous, consecutive and whispered interpreting, the professional requirements of interpreting, the code of professional ethics, how to communicate with the client, and business protocols and etiquette.

Students are normally not paid for the work they do as part of their internship. At the end of their placement, they will receive a certificate from the institution confirming their participation, together with an evaluation and a description of the work and tasks they carried out. These certificates represent an important reference when looking for future jobs, and are a testament to the skills and experience they have gained.

The Department’s contractual partners for translation practicum are:

• the Secretariat-General of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia;
• the Association for the Development of Voluntary Work Novo mesto;
• the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia (KGZS), Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Maribor;
• the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Slovenia;
• the Slovenian Association Hospic;
• the Maribor Art Gallery;
• FIRIS IMPERL d.o.o.;
• the Municipality of Sveta Trojica in Slovenske gorice;
• Virs;
• Pretolm, interpreting and translation, Zmago Pavličič, s.p.;
• Printing House Walstead Leykam d.o.o.;
• Zofijini ljubimci – Association for the Development of Humanities;
• Radiotelevizija Slovenija;
• Preteks d.o.o.;
• IOLAR d.o.o.;
• Slovensko – Avstrijsko prijateljstvo Maribor Association.

Students can also independently contact new potential partners, with whom the Department can then conclude a practical training agreement.

Useful Links

Dictionaries and Glossaries

Encyclopaedias

Corpuses

Mediji in informacije

Useful Links

Translation Associations

Useful forums

Social networks