Language, Culture, Translation and Interpreting - Dutch

llsti2130  2026-2027  Louvain-la-Neuve

Language, Culture, Translation and Interpreting - Dutch
The version you’re consulting is not final. This course description may change. The final version will be published on 1st June.
5.00 credits
30.0 h + 30.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Fromont Audrey (coordinator);
Language
Dutch
Main themes
This teaching unit will address different themes, both written and oral,  such as: 
  • current political, economic, social and cultural events of the countries studied; 
  • contemporary history and political organisation of the countries studied; 
  • implicit cultural, historical or political references present in the texts to be translated or speeches to be interpreted;  
  • specific features of Dutch that are useful for a translator/interpreter working into French. 
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Contribution of teaching unit to learning outcomes assigned to programme 
This unit contributes to the acquisition and development of the following learning outcomes, as assigned to the Master's degree in translation: 
  • understand the function of language variations (social, geographical or historical) and use the appropriate grammatical, lexical and idiomatic structures of their working languages (01 – Language and culture); 
  • identify cultural elements, values and references in the written or oral text (including presuppositions, allusions and stereotypes) and write in accordance with the cultural conventions, and conventions of genre and rhetorical standards (02 – Language and culture); 
  • draft texts for specific purposes in one or more of their working languages, taking into account specific situations, recipients and constraints (9 – Translation). 
Specific learning outcomes on completion of teaching unit 
On completing this unit the student is able to: 
  • identify and employ documentation that is pertinent and useful in comprehending, and enlarging upon, the themes and questions addressed; 
  • read, understand and summarise Dutch written texts and audio-visual material relating to themes and questions addressed;  
  • classify chronologically the most significant political processes of the countries studied, applying high-quality analysis and clear expression and respecting the terminology specific to the topic; 
  • bring together similar elements from miscellaneous sources to achieve a coherent, high-quality informational whole; 
  • understand, explain, situate and illustrate both the concepts addressed in the course and the implicit cultural, historical and political references present in the material to be translated or interpreted;  
  • fluently extemporize ideas and opinions on current political, economic, social and cultural affairs with clarity and attention to accuracy;  
  • render the essential content of complex messages in Dutch with rapidity and in a structured way with the aim of facilitating intercultural and interlinguistic mediation;  
  • present, orally and in written form, an individual work of analysis dealing with historical, cultural and linguistic topics addressed in the course and observing the rules specific to writing and public speaking in Dutch; 
  • apply to translating and interpreting the concepts addressed in the course. 
 
Content
See Main themes.
This course is made up of two parts: Language and Culture.
In the 'Language' section, the main characteristics of the Dutch language (including its historical origins) are discussed. Using texts, students will also observe the linguistic specificities of Dutch, in a contrastive approach.
In the 'Culture' section, various themes relating to the culture, language, society and politics of the Netherlands and Flanders are covered, with the aim of enabling future translators to gain a better understanding of the current situation and to be able to translate all texts containing implicit or explicit references to these elements more easily.
Teaching methods
The course (face-to-face or online) is based on concrete examples borrowed from Dutch and Flemish culture and society. Students are invited to read articles and to take an active part in the course. Course attendance is mandatory.
Evaluation methods
Part 1 (Language):
- Written exam in June (25 % of the course grade).
Part 2 (Language and culture):
- Two oral presentations (25 % of the course grade).
- Reports to be submitted during the term (50 % of the course grade).
August/September session: the entire grade is based on two written exams (Part 1 and Part 2).
In the event of unjustified absence from one of the parts, all parts must be represented at the August/September session.
Other information
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Online resources
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Bibliography
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Faculty or entity
> LSTI


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in Translation
TRAD2M
5
Master [120] in Interpreting
INTP2M
5
Master [120] of Education, Section 4 : Modern Languages - Translation and Interpretation
TRAD2M4
5