Course syllabus

Year and Semester: 

2018, Semester 1

Points value:

30 points

Course convenor:

Dr Vanessa Enríquez Raído

E-mail: v.enriquez@auckland.ac.nz

Class time:

Thursday, 10 am - 1 pm, 207-312 (Arts 2, Room 312)

Please check timetable and room details on Student Services Online for latest information.

Course delivery format:

2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of directed study group work

Course description and objectives:

This course covers theoretical and practical issues on localisation, i.e. the translation and adaptation of software, websites and other electronic texts. Over the course of the last 20 years, the translation of websites and computer applications has become a dominant topic in translation, affecting both theory and practice. Students in this course learn how to analyse a variety of electronic texts and translate software applications and websites using a variety of computer-based translation tools (SDL Trados, Across, SDL Passolo, etc.). The course also offers hands-on experience with machine translation systems and the post-editing of machine-translated output, and deals with theoretical issues as well as the main professional implications arising both from the localisation and machine translation paradigms.

Main topics:

  1. The GILT Industry
  2. The Localisation Paradigm
  3. Website Localisation
  4. Software Localisation
  5. Machine translation and post-editing

Class content schedule:

Session

 

Topic

1

 1 Mar

- Welcome and course overview

- The GILT industry & the localization paradigm

- Introduction to website localisation I/II: Contextual issues and file handling with HTML in CatsCradle

2

 8 Mar

- Introduction to website localisation II/II: XML and how it works and how to handle this file format SDL Trados

- Practical activity: localising static and dynamic web content

3

15 Mar

- Introduction to software localisation

- A first approach to localizing graphic user interface (GUI) resources

4

 22 Mar

- Open source applications: A second approach to localising (GUI) resources

- Introduction to SDL Passolo 2015

5

 29 Mar

- Localizing GUI resources with SDL Passolo (1/2)

- Group formation: localisation with other professional tools

6

 19 Apr

- Localizing GUI resources with SDL Passolo (2/2)

- Preparing for Assignment 1: Problem spotting and solving

- Group work: localisation with Alchemy Catalyst 11, Sisulizer 4 and Multilizer 11

7

 26 Apr

- Group work: localisation with Alchemy Catalyst 11, Sisulizer 4 and Multilizer 11

Assignment 1: Localisation Project carried out in class

 

8

 3 May

First oral presentations/case studies:

Alchemy Catalyst 11

- Sisulizer 4

- Multilizer 11

9

 10 May

Machine translation (MT):

- Historical overview (rule-based systems, ALPAC report, etc.)

- Models: word-, phrase-, tree- based, hybrids.

- Evaluation of  MT output (human and automatic)

10

 17 May

Controlled languages:

- Introduction, purpose and management

Post-editing (PE):

- Guidelines

- Quality assessment

Group work: oral presentations (PE and MT)

11

 24 May

MT and PE hands-on experience:

- Customizing MT

- PE practice

Group work: oral presentations (PE and MT)

Course and lecturer evaluations

12

 31 May

- Assignment 2: Problem spotting and solving

Assignment 2: Practical MT and PE task and multiple choice test

13

 

Second oral presentations/case studies

Note: The class content schedule may be subject to change.

Course materials:

Course materials will consist of academic articles and sections of manuals and user guides dealing with each topic discussed in class. These materials will be provided to students in electronic format via Canvas. Additional material, including PowerPoint presentations, will also be put on Canvas on a weekly basis.

Teaching format and methods:

Course contents will be taught through lectures and guided group discussions. Teaching methods will promote both individual work and team work for students to develop their own specialised knowledge, intellectual skills and interpersonal qualities. Students will be provided with opportunities to: (i) actively participate in and reflect on their own learning, (ii) structure their own learning experiences and relate them to the course syllabus, and (iii) gradually become independent learners. Students will be most welcome to contact the course lecturers outside class times (in particular during the lecturers' office hour), should they have any questions and/or learning difficulties regarding class contents, coursework, etc. 

Expectations of students and assessment:

Students will be expected to read a wide range of texts and recommended bibliography, actively participate in class, and be involved in their own learning experience and progress.

Assessment:

  • First assignment – software localisation project (30%)
  • First group presentation/ case study – localisation (30%)
  • Second assignment – Post-editing activity and multiple-choice test (20%)
  • Second group presentation – Machine translation and/or post-editing (20%)

Requirements for presentation of work:

Assignments will be prepared electronically, i.e. no hand-written works will be accepted, and submitted in electronic format via e-mail (see details below).

Procedures for submission of work:

Please send your first electronic assignment and group presentation to to v.enriquez@auckland.ac.nz and the second assignment and group presentation to msnc017@aucklanduni.ac.nz by the due dates indicated in the course schedule above.

File names

Please name your files in the following way: "FamilyName_StudentID_Assignment#.doc" Example 1: "Enriquez_ 234567_assignment1.doc"

Layout

Please work on an A4 paper format (21 cm x 29.7 cm), portrait, with margins of 2.5 cm top and bottom and 3 cm left and right.

Basic presentation

Use Times New Roman, 12 points, black, 1.5-spaced, as your basic font. Your text should be justified.

Name

Please don't forget to add your name and student ID at the top of your MS Word document in all your work.

Assignments Policy: Extensions, Deadlines and Penalties:

HOW TO SEEK/ REQUEST/APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION

In serious circumstances* beyond the student’s control (see below), s/he may request an extension from the course coordinator. The request should:

  • be made by email at least 2-3 days BEFORE the due date for the assignment
  • provide an explanation of the circumstances
  • be supported by a satisfactory medical certificate or other documentation

If an extension is granted, you will be given a new due date. Only ONE extension can be granted to a student per assignment. Only in extreme circumstances will late requests for extensions be considered.

*Serious circumstances means sudden illness (in the case of in-class tests etc.) or long-term illness (for essays etc. done over a week or more).  It does NOT mean time management difficulties, wanting to go on holiday, relatives visiting from overseas, computer breakdowns, etc.  

SUBMISSION OF ALL ASSIGNMENTS

Unless indicated otherwise by the Course Convenor, hard-copies of assignments should be posted in the appropriate assignment box on 3rd floor Arts 1 building before 4 pm on the due date.  Assignment boxes are cleared at 4 pm and any assignment handed in after 4 pm will not be date-stamped till the next working-day. 

The Reception Area is not open on Saturday or Sunday or during public holidays.

DEADLINES & PENALTIES FOR LATENESS

Any work submitted after the due date and without an extension form or permission in writing from the Course Convenor will be treated as overdue and penalties will apply (see below). 

The mark given to an overdue assignment will be reduced by up to 10 per cent (at the discretion of the Course Convenor) of the total possible marks for that assignment for each day that it is late up to 5 days (e.g. for an assignment marked out of 20, deduct up to 2 marks per day up to a total of 10 marks). Assignments which are due on Friday, or the day before a university holiday, but are not received until the next working day will be counted as TWO days late.

Overdue assignments that are submitted more than five days late will not be marked; nor will assignments be marked if submitted after the assignment has been marked and returned.  Unmarked assignments will be held by the marker until the end of the semester, and in cases where the final grade for the student is borderline (D+), the marker may choose to award a minimal completion mark. For this reason, it is better to hand in an assignment late than not at all.

OUT-OF-CLASS ASSESSMENT (i.e. take-home essays/projects/assignments etc.)

When a staff member grants an extension they will set a new due date.  The completed assignment must be submitted on or before the new due date together with the medical certificate and other documentation.  If an assignment is submitted after the new due date, penalties for lateness apply as above.

IN CLASS TESTS, ELECTRONIC TESTS, ORAL PRESENTATIONS, ETC.

When serious circumstances (e.g. sudden serious illness or a car accident) cause a student to miss an in-class test/assessed presentations or electronic test it is expected that the student will notify the Course Convenor at the earliest possible opportunity, if possible before the scheduled test or presentation takes place.  If the student or their representative makes no contact within five days of the scheduled test/presentation, they will be awarded a zero grade for that piece of assessment. 

Extreme cases will be judged by the Course Convenor on their own merits. Documentation may be required.

Plagiarism and use of Information and Communication Technology:

PLAGIARISM

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting his or her learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced.  This requirement also applies to sources on the world-wide web. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerized detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerized review.

Students may not translate work from another source without proper acknowledgment and referencing.

The penalties for plagiarism are severe and can range from gaining no marks for the assignment to disciplinary action under the terms of the Examination Regulations. For further information and advice on University regulations and how to reference appropriately, see http://www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/index.php?p=overview.

All students entering the University are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module. For further information on this module please see https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/learning-and-teaching/policies-guidelines-and-procedures/academic-integrity-info-for-students/about-academic-integrity/academic-integrity-course.html.

Information about third-party assistance in postgraduate coursework can be found here: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/webdav/site/central/shared/about/teaching-and-learning/policies-guidelines-procedures/documents/guidelines-third-party-assistance-ugpg-senate-appr-05112007.pdf

The Student Academic Conduct Statute can be found here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/the-university/how-university-works/policy-and-administration/teaching-and-learning/students/academic-conduct-statute.html.

USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (E.G. CLASS FACEBOOK PAGES)

If students in any course wish to set up a Facebook page for the course or to use any other form of ICT, they need to be aware that the  University of Auckland Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Statute sets out rules governing use of any ICT hardware or software at or for University activities. It forbids using ICT “to store, display or communicate… files containing any text, image that is deceptive or misleading, is abusive or defamatory, contravenes anyone’s privacy… or that reproduces all or part of any work in breach of the Copyright Act 1994”.  The Statute refers students to the relevant University Disciplinary Statute and the penalties that may apply.  It can be found at: https://policies.auckland.ac.nz/student-undergraduate.aspx.

Inclusive learning:

Students are urged to discuss privately any impairment-related requirements face-to-face and/or in written form with the Course Convenor, Lecturer and/or Tutor. Please contact Dr Vanessa Enriquez Raido as soon as possible if you have any impairment-related needs.

Complaint procedures:

The University of Auckland seeks to encourage the prompt and informal resolution of all students’ learning and research grievances as they arise. Students should be aware that support is available through either their class or faculty representative, the Student Advocacy Network or their Students' Association. For detailed information on academic disputes and complaints, see http://www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/home/for/current-students/cs-academic-information/cs-regulations-policies-and-guidelines/academic-disputes-and-complaints.

Teaching modules:

 Modern translator.jpgWeek 1

website-localization.jpgWeek 2

localize.gifWeek 3 images.pngWeek 4

Course summary:

Date Details Due