Educazione Linguistica Language Education (Apr 2019)

Watching News Translation as It Happens

  • Caimotto, Maria Cristina

DOI
https://doi.org/10.30687/ELLE/2280-6792/2019/02/007
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2

Abstract

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Observing and comparing various translations of the same source text is an activity that can improve students’ language skills and their awareness of translation practice. Foreign news concerning the inaugural speech given every four years by the President of the Unites States of America offer a rare occasion to observe a wide range of translation and reporting strategies. This article overviews the findings of scholarly research on journalistic translation in the last two decades and offers some examples of translation choices that were observed in 2009 and in 2017 when Barack Obama’s and Donald Trump’s speeches were reported in Italian news outlets. Possible activities and items worth observing with students are presented and discussed.

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