Text Selection for Teaching Scientific and Technical Translation

Abstract

Textual materials for teaching written scientific and technical translation to Philology undergraduates and preparing them for real-life translation activity require careful selection with due regard to the aim and conditions of instruction. Objective. The article aims at specifying text selection principles and criteria for developing in Philology undergraduates all components of scientific and technical translation competence сonsidering such factors as the field involved, in particular the oil and gas industry; the type of translation in terms of completeness (full, fragmentary, summary or abstract translation); the level-based approach to the development of translation competence from English into Ukrainian and vice versa; and the use of modern information and communication technologies (ICT). Methods. The study applies analysis, synthesis, and systematization of recent publications on teaching written translation, as well as the latest European recommendations and projects concerning level-based competences in written mediation and specialized translation. Results. The principles and criteria for selecting texts for teaching fourth-year Philology students written scientific and technical translation have been specified in greater detail. Source texts should be selected according to the principles of thematic relevance, necessity and sufficiency, feasibility and accessibility, and frequency of use. The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of texts should be assessed against such criteria as authenticity, relevance to the subject area and problem-thematic complexes, translation value, length, genre and stylistic diversity, compliance with textual and linguistic parameters, and technological translatability. Conclusions. Observance of the principles and consideration of the selection criteria will make it possible to select high-quality instructional materials of the required scope for developing a system of exercises and tasks aimed at forming scientific and technical translation competence; this should constitute the focus of further research.