Translation and Intercultural Communication

Issues of translation and intercultural communication arise everywhere in the contemporary world.  What makes a good translation?  Are there different kinds of "good translations" for different circumstances?  How do multilingual speakers navigate among their languages, and how do translators and interpreters deal with the challenges presented by multilingual tests and contexts?  How does machine translation work?  What are the challenges for Sign Language interpretation?  How does one translate the language of a poem or a play?

The Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication (PTIC) takes linguistic translation as its base and offers a diverse set of undergraduate courses that allow students to develop an understanding of translation from varied perspectives.  Most courses are taught by faculty in humanities departments, but we also consider the ways translation functions in the social sciences, the arts, and engineering.  Students from all backgrounds with a range of interests and passions are welcome.

PTIC's programs include regular lunchtime talks, conferences, and winter session translation workshops. Each semester the program hosts a visiting Translator in Residence, who shares their real-world experiences of life and work as a translator. The program also supports student translation projects with summer funding. 

The program offers a Certificate of Proficiency to undergraduates who develop skills in language use and an understanding of the complexity of communicating across cultures, nations, and linguistic borders.  Before entering the certificate program, students must have completed two courses at the 200 level or above in a language other than English, or have tested out of the University's language requirement.  To earn the certificate, students are required to successfully complete two core courses in translation, four TRA cross-listed courses, or other courses in which translation plays a major role, study or internship abroad, and independent work that incorporates issues of translation.

Among PTIC's goals are connecting translators with one another and encouraging them to use their talents and energies in the service of the wider community.  To this end, the program supports the Princeton University Language Project (PULP), a student-led initiative that offers free translation services to nonprofits.  Beyond campus, PTIC supports activities that seek to link the academic community with voluntary and professional groups serving a wide variety of organizations with translation needs, including the New Jersey judiciary, the United Nations, and literary publishing. 

(Note: The Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication does not offer translator training.) 

Program of Study

All students enrolled in the certificate program are required to successfully complete the following program requirements.  Each student's specific course of study must be approved by the program director:

1. The program's two core courses: TRA 200 Thinking Translation: Language Transfer and Cultural Communication, and TRA 400 Translation, Migration, Culture.

2. Four courses at the 200 level or above from at least two of the following three categories:

 a) Upper-level courses focusing on translation into and/or from a language (examples include: SPA 380, FRE 407, ARA 308, and CWR 306)

b) Courses that contribute to an understanding of some aspect of translation (may be found in disciplines such as linguistics, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, history, comparative literature, etc.)

c) Any course listed or cross-listed by the Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication (with the exception of TRA 200 and TRA 400)

Courses outside of these categories that contribute to an understanding of intercultural and interlingual communication may be substituted at the discretion of the program director.

3. International Experience. See Study or Work Abroad below. (Note: Due to the change in global circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, this requirement will be waived for the Class of 2023.)

4. Independent Work. Students in the program will write a senior thesis that incorporates issues of translation in one or more of its several senses. In departments where this option presents a difficulty, a student may petition to have another piece of independent work meet the requirement.  Such projects may be completed, for instance, during a summer stay abroad.

International Experience/Study or Work Abroad

Students who wish to achieve a certificate in the program will spend a year, a semester, or six weeks of the summer in a Princeton-approved course of study or internship program in an area where the chosen non-English language of proficiency is spoken.

Language Requirement

In order to enter the program, a student should normally have completed at least two courses at the 200 level or above in a language other than English or have tested out of the University's language requirement.

Students who fulfill all requirements for the program will receive a certificate of proficiency in Translation and Intercultural Communication upon graduation.

1. Transcript. An official transcript must be sent by a school counselor or school official.

2. School Report (SR). The SR form is available from the Common Application website. Please ask your school counselor or other school official to complete and submit the SR form. 
    
3. Counselor Recommendation. If you are using the Common Application online, please note that the SR and the Counselor Recommendation are separate items. Be sure to “invite” your school counselor or academic adviser to complete both items.
    
4. Two (2) Teacher Recommendations. Please ask two of your teachers who have taught you in higher level courses (e.g., AP, IB Higher/Standard Level, A-Levels, etc.) in different academic areas of study to complete and send the teacher recommendation forms, available on the Common Application website. The subjects should be in core academic areas, such as English, language, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or math.
    
5. Midyear School Report. Please ask your school counselor or other school official to complete and submit this form when your midyear grades are available. 

1. A Completed Application. You must submit your application online through the Common Application. Princeton's CEEB Code: 2672

2. Princeton's Supplement. In addition to the application provided by the Common Application, all applicants must submit the Princeton Supplement. You should submit the Princeton Supplement online through the Common Application website. 

3. Application Fee or Fee Waiver. You may submit a fee waiver one of two ways: 1) Select the fee waiver option on the Common Application. Your school counselor must approve your fee waiver request online or submit your fee waiver form by mail or fax. 2) Select one of the following fee waiver options on the Princeton Supplement: Princeton-specific, ACT, College Board or NACAC. All low-income students are eligible for the Princeton-specific fee waiver. In addition, all applicants who are serving or have served in the U.S. military are eligible for the Princeton-specific fee waiver. If you use the Princeton-specific fee waiver, you do not need to get approval from your college counselor or academic adviser.

4. Graded Written Paper. A graded written paper is required, preferably in the subjects of English or history.