The aim of the four-year B.A. Degree program is to teach students the theories and techniques of translation and interpreting, and to provide them with the necessary cultural background and skills for a career in translation and conference interpreting.

In the fourth year students specialize in either translation or conference interpreting. Specialization in interpreting is subject to the students' success in previously completed INT-coded courses and in a screening test given at the end of the third year.

All students must complete a total of 24 credits in French and/or German as a second and third foreign language requirement.

Students starting with 100-level language courses in their first year fulfill the requirement by completing two 400-level translation courses in this second foreign language; those starting with 200-level courses in the first year, by completing four 400-level literature and translation courses in their second foreign language. Those able to complete 300-level courses in their first year can start their third foreign language only after completing the four 400-level courses. Students who join the department with an excellent command of French or German can register for their third language after completing two 400-level translation courses in their second foreign language during their first year.

*Departmental Electives are to be taken from among the courses offered under the title ‘Special Topics in Translation’.
**Departmental Electives are to be taken from among the courses offered under the title ‘Special Topics for Interpreters’.

Course Descriptions

TR 101 Turkish for Translators (3+2+0) 3
Structural features of Turkish. Principles of syntax, word derivation, and spelling rules. Conceptualization and techniques of written expression. Turkish usage and readings. Presentations, written assignments, and class discussion.

TR 102 English Lexis (3+2+0) 3
Problems of translational equivalence at lexical level. Vocabulary development. Special attention to words frequently confused between English and Turkish. Effective use of dictionaries. Practice in using lexical items in linguistic and situational contexts. Presentations and written assignments.

TR 103 Public Speaking in English I (3+2+0) 3
Basic elements of public speaking. Principles of effective speech and methods for developing communicative skills. Message preparation, overcoming stage fright, audience analysis, non-verbal communication, effective use of language, reading from text, objectives in speaking and choice of topics, planning and preparation of speeches, short oral presentations.

TR 104 Public Speaking in English II (3+2+0) 3
Application of all theoretical approaches covered in TR 103. Extensive discussions and practice with different communicative purposes: various types of informative and persuasive speeches, addresses for special occasions, speaking in small groups and debates. Long oral presentations.
Prerequisite: TR 103.

TR 105 English Writing Skills (3+2+0) 3
Improvement of written English through understanding of syntax and structure as well as constant practice. Vocabulary support. Guided practice and personal expression. Written assignments and a term-paper.

TR 106 Introduction to General Linguistics for Translators (3+0+0) 3
Principal schools of linguistics in the 20th century. The basic concepts, principles and methods. Branches of linguistics with their fields of application; associations with other relevant disciplines. Linguistic analytical methods applied at both sentential and textual levels, followed by semantic analysis. General terminology and the formation of a Turkish terminology for linguistics.

TR 107 Introduction to Translation (2+0+3) 3
Brief history of translation. Theory and practice at the introductory level. Problems of equivalence. Text types and relevant techniques of translation. Exercises and presentations in class as well as written assignments.

TR 116 Technical Translation I (2+0+3) 3
Theoretical approaches to technical translation. Intensive practice with texts related to science, technology and major industries. Exercises and presentations in class as well as written assignments.

TR 122 Turkish Writing Skills I (3+2+0) 3
Special emphasis on correct and refined Turkish usage, anticipating the needs of prospective translators. Practice in essay writing. Rewriting Turkish texts. Correcting common mistakes in Turkish. Summarizing English newspaper articles in Turkish. Introduction to new Turkish coinages - cultural and scientific terms and concepts. Presentation and a term paper on a Turkish novel.
Prerequisite: TR 101.

TR 201 Etymology I (3+2+0) 3
The origin and history of English words, with a short history of the English language up to the Renaissance. Prefixes and suffixes (Old English, Greek and Latin), Greek and Latin roots.

TR 202 Etymology II (3+2+0) 3
Further exercises on Latin roots and on all English suffixes. Words, phrases and literary terms derived from classical mythology. International terms, phrases, mottos. Turkish loan words in English, and the etymology of English and Turkish place names.
Prerequisite: TR 201.

TR 204 Information Technology (IT) for Translators (3+2+0) 3
Review of current information technology (IT) and its impact on contemporary communication. Various IT-related concepts (Internet, www, e-mail, Telnet, FTP, hypertext, browser, homepage, URL, etc.) and the use of computer technology in accessing information for translating/interpreting purposes. Software localization practices (various software translation and glossary maintenance applications, current international software localization challenges/opportunities).

TR 213 Language of Journalism (3+0+0) 3
Journalistic expression in English and Turkish with special emphasis on headlines, politics and economics. Research into the basic structure of the press. Content analysis of news. Exercises in English and Turkish for an increased awareness of the language of journalism.

TR 214 Translating for Radio and Television (2+1+3) 3
Theories and techniques of translation for radio and television. Focus on news broadcasts, documentaries, films and special techniques such as dubbing, subtitling and voice-over. Laboratory.

TR 215 Technical Translation II (2+0+3) 3
A short introduction to major theories of communication. Basic terminology on the technology, reception, analysis and economics of the media. Translation of texts on electronic communication such as television, film, radio and the internet. Exercises and presentations in class as well as written assignments.

TR 216 Note-taking from Speech (2+1+3) 3
Techniques and practice in recording the content of oral presentations in English. Understanding rapid speech, recording of details, and summarizing. Preparation for consecutive and bilateral interpreting. Laboratory.

TR 221 Turkish Writing Skills II (3+2+0) 3
Methodical analysis of content and expression in an extensive range of literary and conceptual texts by contemporary Turkish writers. Focus on the analytical and interpretative process, succeeded by class discussion and written assignments as a follow-up. Term paper.
Prerequisite: TR 122.

INT 311 Onsight Interpreting (2+1+3) 3
Training in the skills of ad hoc interpreting of written texts (English-Turkish, Turkish-English). Intensive practice with authentic conference material using terminology from different fields. Laboratory.

INT 313 Community Interpreting (2+1+3) 3
Training in the skills of interpreting (English-Turkish, Turkish-English) for the social services and in legal, medical, business settings. Familiarizing students with the diverse demands of dialogue interpreting. Laboratory.
Prerequisite: TR 216.

TR 314 Literary Translation (2+0+3) 3
Text analysis with different approaches suited to the nature and structure of the text to be translated, followed by actual translation and translation criticism. Practice with different genres, figures of speech and stylistic elements. Exercises and presentations in class as well as written assignments.

INT 316 Consecutive Interpreting I (2+1+3) 3
Introduction to consecutive interpreting. Theoretical approaches. Expansion of speech based on notes. Training in comprehension, note-taking and memory skills in both English and Turkish. Specialized vocabulary in various fields through the study of authentic conference texts. Laboratory.
Prerequisite: TR 216.

TR 317 Translating Texts on Economics and Business (2+0+3) 3
Translation of business language (English and Turkish) with emphasis on technical terms from economics, management, banking, commerce, insurance, and business law. Format, style and expression in business documents (contracts, proxies, etc.). Translation of articles from Turkish and English newspapers. Exercises and presentations in class as well as written assignments.

INT 318 Introduction to Simultaneous Interpreting (2+1+3) 3
Theoretical/practical introduction to the basic processes and strategies of simultaneous interpreting with a brief history of the profession. Simulated interpreting in translation booths. Graded audio recordings of authentic conference material. Laboratory.

TR 364 Political Discourse of International Organizations (3+0+0) 3
Analytical survey of the political discourse emerging from the role and impact of international organizations (e.g. the UN, EU, CE) to facilitate students' performance in translation and conference interpreting. Discussions on the main issues of international politics. Presentations and written assignments.
Prerequisite: POLS 101.

INT 411 Interpreting for the Electronic Media (2+1+3) 3
The multifunctional aspects of electronic media interpreting and of international audiovisual communications. Focus on the analysis of spoken messages in the source and target languages; language transfer methods such as voice-over, narration, revoicing, dubbing and commentary (techniques and audience-related aspects); the combined functions of journalist, reporter, editor, broadcaster, announcer and linguistic interpreter. Laboratory.

INT 412 Simultaneous Interpreting Practice in Conference Situations (2+1+3) 3
Acquisition of professional skills in actual conference situations. Off campus training under the instructor's supervision.

TR 412 Intercultural Communication Studies (3+0+0) 3
Introduction to theories of Intercultural Communication. Culturally sensitive issues in interpreting and translating. Focus on new paradigms involving poststructuralist discussions on cultural and ethnic identities. Readings on minority/majority cultures, power relations within culture, culture shock, nonverbal communication and other culture-bound communication strategies. Term paper.

INT 413 Survey of International Institutions for Interpreters (2+1+3) 3
Focus on international institutions (such as the EU, UN, WEU, NATO, OSCE, BSEC) to provide the necessary background for the practice of conference interpreting. Presentations and laboratory work.

TR 414 Semiotics (Gostergebilim) (3+0+0) 3
Introduction to semiotics. A survey of the work of leading scholars in the field and related schools of thought in the 20th century. Term paper.

INT 415 Simultaneous Interpreting I (Eszamanli Ceviri I) (2+1+3) 3
Training for students who specialize in conference interpreting. Intensive practice in booths, with audio recordings of authentic conference material on a variety of subjects such as economics, marketing, international politics, medicine and law. Introduction to different usages of English and Turkish. Laboratory.

TR 415 Translating Texts on Political Science and International Law (2+0+3) 3
Intensive laboratory practice in translating subject matter related to political science and international law. Developing specific strategies. Exercises and presentations in class as well as written assignments.

INT 416 Simultaneous Interpreting II (2+1+3) 3
Training for students who specialize in conference interpreting. Advanced practice in booths, with audio recordings of authentic material on current topics, and at off campus conferences. Laboratory.
Prerequisite: INT 415.

TR 416 Translation Criticism (3+0+0) 3
Critical exploration of published translations, cultivating an awareness based on theoretical readings rather than error identification and prescriptivism.
Prerequisite: TR 419.

INT 417 Consecutive Interpreting II (2+1+3) 3
A continuation of INT 316 with emphasis on improving note-taking for students who specialize in conference interpreting. Introduction of subject matter at a more challenging level. Laboratory.
Prerequisite: INT 316.

TR 417 Turkish-English Literary Translation (2+0+3) 3
Intensive practice in translating the major literary genres in contemporary Turkish literature, with special attention to culture-specific problems. Exercises and presentations in class as well as written assignments. Term paper.

INT 418 Theoretical Approaches to Interpreting Practice (3+0+0) 3
Study of theoretical approaches to interpreting practice. Examination of the strengths and shortcomings of different paradigms (cognitive, socio-cultural, and physiological as well as those related to translation theory). Exercises in interpreting, followed by a critical assessment of both the process and the product according to the different paradigms. Term paper.

TR 419 Theories of Translation (3+0+0) 3
Introduction to theoretical reflection on translation and relevant current issues. Approaches specific to the cultural paradigm in translation studies in which context, situation and power relations are foregrounded.

INT 420 Project in Interpreting (0+0+8) 4
English-Turkish and/or Turkish-English translation of a recorded conference text, or a text on interpreting (each of substantial length), or a scholarly research project, under the supervision of a faculty member, on a topic related to interpreting.

TR 420 Translation Project (0+0+8) 4
English-Turkish and/or Turkish-English translation of a text of substantial length, or a scholarly research project, under the supervision of a faculty member, on a topic related to translation.

INT 480-499 Special Topics for Interpreters (2+1+3) 3
Study of selected topics in interpreting not covered in other courses. Laboratory.

TR 480-499 Special Topics in Translation (Ceviride Ozel Konular) (2+0+3) 3
Study of selected topics in translation not covered in other courses. Exercises, presentations and laboratory.