Name of the Programme : M.A.
Admission Eligibility : B.A. degree in the concerned foreign Language, or any Bachelor's degree with requisite knowledge of the foreign language on the basis of an admission test.
Duration : 2 years/4 semesters.
System of instruction and examination : Annual/Semester system
Number of papers : Annual system : 8 to 10.
Number of courses : Semester system : 16 to 20.
Division into M.A. I and II : Annual system:
Where a University offers 8 papers:
M.A. I: 4 papers; M.A. II: 4 papers.
Where a University offers 9 papers:
M.A. I: 4 papers; M.A. II: 5 papers.
Where a University offers 10 papers:
M.A. I: 5 papers; M.A. II: 5 papers.
Semester system:
4 to 5 courses per semester.
It is strongly recommended that at the M.A. level the concept of core/compulsory and optional/
elective courses be encouraged. For instance, out of 8 papers in the annual system 6 could be core and 2 could be optional; out of 16 courses in the semester system, 4 could be optional.
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PRE-DOCTORAL/ M.PHIL./ PH.D. IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES A. Aims and Objectives
The main goal at the pre-doctoral/M.Phil. level is to prepare the learner for research. In keeping with this goal the main aims and objectives of the M.Phil. programme should be as under:
1. Consolidating and reinforcing the aims and objectives already laid down at the M.A. level.
2. Providing an introduction to research methodology.
3. Providing an introduction to techniques of documentation and write-up.
4. Inculcating an interdisciplinary/comparative approach to research.
5. Updating knowledge in areas of research through advanced courses pertinent to those areas.
B. Duration
M.Phil. : At least two semesters/12 months, of which one semester is devoted to course work and one semester to the writing of a dissertation.
Ph.D. : Minimum of 6 semesters / 3 years.
C. Areas
Given the nature of this programme, the areas need not be specifically defined. However, an interdisciplinary/comparative approach should be stressed. A course/paper on research methodology should form the core component of the programme, while the other courses/
papers can be related to the candidate's area of research.
D. Evaluation
As far as possible, the evaluation of the courses/papers should be continuous and based on the following:
1. Seminars
2. Paper presentations 3. Book-reviews
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4. Preparing abstracts 5. Library work
The course work for the Ph.D. programme will be related to the area of research of the candidate and will be determined by the supervisor, research committee or research board of the university.
The courses could be taught and/or reading courses.
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SYLLABI FOR NEED-BASED COURSES 1. Typology:
The main aim of these courses is to provide a minimum vocational infrastructure, whereby the foreign language caters to the needs of the learners and is, directly or indirectly, instrumental to his acquiring gainful employment. The Committee has tried to identify potential areas for need-based courses. Two major types of vocational courses can be visualised:
1. Courses where the foreign language is the major tool and whose practice leads to the satisfaction of certain needs. These courses demand an extremely high degree of knowledge of the foreign language concerned. The potential areas of application of such courses are:
a. Translation b. Interpretation c. Banking d. Dubbing e. Sub-titling
f. Commercial Correspondence g. Reporting and journalism h. Information technology
2. Courses where the knowledge of the foreign language is secondary and acts as an ancillary tool. In such courses, which could be termed Foreign Language for Special Purposes (FLSP), the foreign language acts as an armature or a secondary skill that complements and supplements a primary skill. Below are enumerated a few potential areas of FLSP, although in reality their applications are unlimited:
a. Hotelry b. Tourism
c. Science and Technology d. Defence
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e. Diplomacy
f. Trade and Commerce g. Communication.
Each of these, as the title FLSP suggests, uses the foreign language for bettering the main skill that the learner has acquired, and very often also for advancement of knowledge.
2. Problems.
At present very few institutions have syllabi specifically designed to meet the demands of both types of courses. As a matter of fact, two types of problems beset this situation:
1. There exist no surveys or analyses of the real consumer needs of a foreign language in our country. Potential areas can be identified, but a lot of work has to be done to find out the exact needs. In this respect the universities need to create an Extension Unit which could profitably interact with the community and supplement its needs, thereby contributing to both national development and human resource development.
2. Once the needs are identified through questionnaires, interviews, surveys etc. there remains the problem of designing specific syllabi to suit these demands. It needs to be stressed here that every need is specific in an FLSP situation and can be met only through a specially designed syllabus. The syllabi given here are mainly examples and can serve as models for other syllabi.
3. Eligibility
Candidates who have passed Advanced Diploma or an equivalent examination will be eligible.
SPECIALISED TRANSLATION COURSE IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
The course can include the following aspects:
a. Scientific and technical
b. Social Sciences and Humanities c. Literary Translation
Aims and Objectives:
a. To strengthen and further develop language skills. Special attention to be paid to developing translation skills/techniques.
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b. To develop the comprehension level.
c. To acquaint learners with the major theories and with the methodology of translation.
d. To make the learners aware of different language styles and registers.
e. To train learners to use a variety of dictionaries and reference materials.
f. To train learners to translate a variety of texts from the foreign language into English and Indian languages.
g. To acquaint learners with the history, geography, culture, economic and socio-political systems of target- and source-language countries.
Duration:
The above aims and objectives should be achieved through a study programme spread over at least two semesters (150-200 hrs.).
Contents:
The course should have two parts:
Part I
a. Language usage
b. Language styles and registers c. Theories of translation
d . Problems of lexis, terms and terminology e. Problems of equivalence
Part II
Translation of scientific, technical, social science and literary texts from the foreign language into English/Indian languages.
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