Week 8 self-marking exercise

In week 9, I will be returning the mock exam passages. First, I want you to have a go at giving
yourself a mark for the translation, by applying the marking criteria.

a) Read through the marking criteria, below.

b) Then, comparing your translation with the fair copy, assess your translation under the three
main headings:

 Understanding the ST (i.e. how well you have DECODED the ST – mark any mistakes
in this area with DEC for DECODING)

 Compliance with TL conventions (i.e. how well you have ENCODED the TT – mark any
mistakes in this area with ENC for ENCODING)

 Conformity with the BRIEF (mark any mistakes in this area with BRIEF)

c) Finally, answer the Canvas quiz: ‘self-marking exercise quiz’

Marking criteria

Your translations will be assessed as follows:

[A] The translation

Understanding of ST: Does the student show command of subject matter and terminology in
technical texts? Does the student show appreciation of stylistic devices in literary texts?

Compliance with TL discursive conventions: Is the TT well written? Are there problems with
grammar, inappropriate word choices? Fluency? Does the text follow the target language
genre conventions?

Conformity with translation brief or approach as described in the commentary: Is the

translation appropriate according to the hypothetical commission (if there is one)? Does the
translation fulfil the function intended by the translation, or required by the (hypothetical)
client?
Presentation: Is the text clearly presented on the page? Is it easy to compare source and target
texts?

Overall assessment: What is the overall merit of the translation? How could it be improved?

80% and above An outstanding translation, fully addressing the needs of the target readership
and client as specified in the brief, and ready to be published with no editing
whatsoever. Full understanding of all the nuances of the source text, problems
encountered were creatively solved and supported by careful and exhaustive
research where needed. Excellent presentation.

70-79% A very good, or even excellent translation, addressing the needs of the target
readership and client as specified in the brief, and ready to be used in a
professional context with very little or no editing. Full understanding of the
source text meaning and appropriate solutions to problems encountered,
revealing careful thinking and appropriate research. Excellent presentation.

60-69% A good translation, which addresses the needs of the target readership and
client as specified in the brief, and could be used in a professional context with
little editing. Shows good comprehension of the source text and reasonable
solutions to problems encountered, with minor problems of expressions in the
target language. Appropriate presentation.

50-59% A translation that could be deemed acceptable and usable, given the translation
brief, and provided some editing is carried out. Shows generally good
comprehension of the source text but with occasional distortions and/or
unexplained omissions. Some instances of inappropriate expression in the
target language that do not reflect similar problems in the source text.
Presentation standards are acceptable but could be improved.

40-49% A translation that could not be deemed acceptable and usable given the
translation brief. The editing required to bring it to an acceptable professional
standard would be considerably more than is acceptable in a professional
context. Shows a generally reasonable comprehension of the source text but
there are several places where misunderstanding and distortions are evident.
There are several instances of inappropriate expression in the target language
that do not reflect similar problems in the source text. Fails to meet minimum
presentation standards.

30-39% A translation that could not be deemed acceptable and usable given the
translation brief. Shows very limited comprehension of the source text. There
are serious misunderstandings and distortions are evident. There are several
problems with the target text that affects its intelligibility. Fails to meet
minimum presentation standards.

Below 30% A translation that could not be deemed acceptable and usable given the
translation brief. Shows extremely poor comprehension of the source text. The
problems with the target text seriously impair comprehension. There is no
evidence of efforts in trying to meet minimum presentation standards.