Sumários

Review of Practical 1: Intralingual Translation

20 Fevereiro 2026, 15:30 • Rui Vitorino Azevedo

This session was dedicated to reviewing Practical 1, which focused on intralingual translation — the process of rewriting a text within the same language, in this case moving from Early Modern English (the 1611 King James Bible) into contemporary English. Students had chosen one of the following passages:

  • Source Text 1 – Genesis 11:1–9 (The Tower of Babel)
  • Source Text 2 – Genesis 3:1–10 (The Serpent and the Fall)

The review was structured around the assignment’s three parts. First, the class revisited the source text analysis, discussing how students identified key challenges such as archaic vocabulary, obsolete verb forms, biblical register, cultural references, and narrative style, as well as how Early Modern English differs from contemporary English and how diverging interpretations can shape adaptation choices.

Next, students’ intralingual translations were examined, with attention to which of the three strategies had been applied — gist translation (conveying overall meaning loosely), exegetic translation (expanding and explaining the text), or faithful translation (staying close to the original’s meaning and tone) — and how effectively the chosen strategy aligned with the stated target audience.

Finally, the class explored various approaches to audience-specific adaptation, comparing alternatives and discussing how different strategic choices produce notably different results even when working from the same source text.

Review of Practical 1: Intralingual Translation

20 Fevereiro 2026, 14:00 • Rui Vitorino Azevedo

This session was dedicated to reviewing Practical 1, which focused on intralingual translation — the process of rewriting a text within the same language, in this case moving from Early Modern English (the 1611 King James Bible) into contemporary English. Students had chosen one of the following passages:

  • Source Text 1 – Genesis 11:1–9 (The Tower of Babel)
  • Source Text 2 – Genesis 3:1–10 (The Serpent and the Fall)

The review was structured around the assignment’s three parts. First, the class revisited the source text analysis, discussing how students identified key challenges such as archaic vocabulary, obsolete verb forms, biblical register, cultural references, and narrative style, as well as how Early Modern English differs from contemporary English and how diverging interpretations can shape adaptation choices.

Next, students’ intralingual translations were examined, with attention to which of the three strategies had been applied — gist translation (conveying overall meaning loosely), exegetic translation (expanding and explaining the text), or faithful translation (staying close to the original’s meaning and tone) — and how effectively the chosen strategy aligned with the stated target audience.

Finally, the class explored various approaches to audience-specific adaptation, comparing alternatives and discussing how different strategic choices produce notably different results even when working from the same source text.

Foundations of Translation

13 Fevereiro 2026, 15:30 • Rui Vitorino Azevedo

This session introduced the foundations of translation practice. The class opened with a discussion of personal experiences with translation and the role of the translator, emphasizing two core types of decisions: strategic decisions (analyzing the source text, target audience, genre, and purpose) and detailed decisions (grammar, word choice, and cultural context). Translation was framed as an iterative process between the source text (ST) and target text (TT), and key terminology — SL/TL (languages) and ST/TT (texts) — was introduced.

Roman Jakobson’s three types of translation were also covered: interlingual, intralingual, and intersemiotic. Particular attention was given to intralingual translation and its three forms: gist, exegetic, and faithful reproduction.

Students then worked in pairs on Practical 1, choosing one of two source texts — Genesis 11:1–9 or Genesis 3:1–10 — to analyze and adapt. The assignment is to be submitted via Moodle.

Foundations of Translation

13 Fevereiro 2026, 14:00 • Rui Vitorino Azevedo

This session introduced the foundations of translation practice. The class opened with a discussion of personal experiences with translation and the role of the translator, emphasizing two core types of decisions: strategic decisions (analyzing the source text, target audience, genre, and purpose) and detailed decisions (grammar, word choice, and cultural context). Translation was framed as an iterative process between the source text (ST) and target text (TT), and key terminology — SL/TL (languages) and ST/TT (texts) — was introduced.

Roman Jakobson’s three types of translation were also covered: interlingual, intralingual, and intersemiotic. Particular attention was given to intralingual translation and its three forms: gist, exegetic, and faithful reproduction.

Students then worked in pairs on Practical 1, choosing one of two source texts — Genesis 11:1–9 or Genesis 3:1–10 — to analyze and adapt. The assignment is to be submitted via Moodle.

Course Introduction

10 Fevereiro 2026, 15:30 • Rui Vitorino Azevedo

The first session covered the course syllabus, assessments, and key dates. The grade breakdown is as follows: two translation tests worth 30% each (each requiring a translated excerpt and an analytical commentary), a group presentation worth 20%, and homework, participation, and attendance making up the remaining 20%. Students were asked to enroll on Moodle to access readings and assignments throughout the semester.

Regarding presentations, students were asked to form groups of 4–5 and will present for 20–25 minutes during the final sessions in May (exact dates to be confirmed on Moodle). Group topics must be approved by the instructor via email, with a maximum of three groups per topic, so early sign-up is encouraged. Presentations must include visual aids (PowerPoint, Canva, Prezi, etc.), follow a clear introduction/body/conclusion structure, and maintain consistent language use — either all English or all Portuguese. Reading directly from slides is not permitted. Grades will reflect both group and individual contributions.

The following presentation topics were introduced:

  1. Film Title Mistranslations – Analyze 10 EN→PT film title translations across 3+ genres, comparing European and Brazilian Portuguese localization strategies.
  2. Slang, Dialects & Accents – Examine how non-standard language in a chosen film or series episode is rendered in European Portuguese subtitles or dubbing.
  3. Swearing & Profanity – Analyze the translation of swear words in a specific film or series, comparing European and Brazilian Portuguese where possible.
  4. Video Game Localization – Choose a game and examine at least 5 translation or localization choices, discussing their impact on gameplay and player immersion.
  5. Marketing Mistranslations – Examine translation errors in global marketing campaigns, with at least 3 Portuguese-market examples and one real-life brand case study.
  6. EU-PT vs. BR-PT on Streaming Platforms – Compare 8–10 meaningful translation differences in the same film or series across European and Brazilian Portuguese versions.
  7. Children’s Media Localization – Analyze 6–8 dubbing translation choices in an animated film or children’s series, including songs, humor, and cultural references.