About the Workshop

In a mercilessly competitive world in which the translator faces seemingly endless pressures, ranging from institutional dicta to the nuisances of the calling and volatile markets, largely dominated by translation firms and their pools of jacks of all trades, technical and scientific translation remains an exclusive terrain for the expert translator. However, the skills required to handle technical translation, be it scientific, technological or medical, do not necessarily entail formal training and expertise in such fields.

Knowledge of the terrain and the techniques of practical translation and its various tools are, nonetheless, decisive. The stakes in this field are high, and so are the opportunities for the translator, especially the one who is prepared to embrace the tools of AI in all their forms, as these are often considered sine qua non for the assignment of technical projects.

Scientific translators, because of the specificities of the field in which their skills are needed, tend to conquer markets beyond their geographical boundaries much easier than general translators. By virtue of their undertaking, they become involved in knowledge transfer, which is a cross-fertilizing instrument of universality, progress and change in the world.

Structure:

The workshop covers the following topics:

• Definitions, Current Trends and Orientations in Technical & Scientific Translation (Why should we translate technical and scientific documents? What do I need to get started? Is this workshop enough as a passage of rite?)
• Technical & Scientific Translation in Context: Practical Models and Further Thoughts
• Manipulation of DTP, AI & CAT Tools and the Future of Translation
• Science, Technology & Translation: Further Models, Practical Training and Professional Opportunities

1. Day 1: General introduction, distinguishing features of technical translation, dos and donts of the field, brainstorming, personal thoughts and practical experiences
2. Day 2: Exposition of practical issues and relevant situations based on real topics and assignments
3. Day 3: The use(s) of technology to translate technology: A survey of CAT tools and their manifestations in the translator’s work
4. Day 4: Bridging gaps, exploring markets and creating niches 

Methodology: The data used in this workshop for training purposes will come from various technical and scientific sources, and will form the core of the trainee’s portfolio

Learning Objectives:

1. Learning and/or re-examining the fundamentals of technical translation and the acquisition of the necessary skills to translate technical and scientific documents to a professional standard,
2. Using translation as a pathway to exploring and decoding traditional and modern means of knowledge transfer in science and technology through exposure and engagement (texts and contexts),
3. Using technology, online and offline, to translate technical documents to maximize output and achieve the highest levels of translation accuracy,
4. Mastering the distinctive features and terminology of text typology and the strategies of using technical language in an effective, concise, accurate, objective, practical and concrete manner, as opposed to the methodologies of general and literary translation.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Learning how to become a well-rounded technical translator through extensive practice and the implementation of the relevant methodologies explored in the workshop,
2. Building repertoires, glossaries and terminologies in relation to translation in general and technical and scientific translation in particular,
3. Mastering the nuts and bolts of translation technology and the use translation management tools,
4. Exploring professional opportunities and applicable skills through certification and on-the-job training as pathways towards successful breakthroughs in the job market.

Target Participants: This workshop is intended for translation practitioners with or without an informed background in science and technology. Advanced students of translation studies may also find the workshop beneficial, a potential breakthrough in their career as translators. Academic or personal interest in any aspect of science and technology, combined with proficient knowledge of Arabic and English, is a fundamental asset for the enrichment of the workshop, as the participants are expected to share this personal, academic or professional interest with the workshop attendees.

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