Translation Studies

obligatory courses
Ph. D. seminars

The PhD programme in Translation Studies covers eight semesters, during which students have the opportunity to review and recall the most important issues that constitute the history of translation theory, including the most prominent topics of the most recent past, and to reflect on the present state of the art. Emphasis throughout the whole course of studies will be placed on keeping up to date with how the discipline is developing, with current issues being highlighted in seminar discussions.

The seminar takes place once a week (90 min), with the work organised according to the needs and level of individual students. During the first two years, emphasis is on developing one’s knowledge of the discipline known as Translation Studies, special attention always being paid to one’s chosen research topic.

The PhD programme in Translation Studies covers eight semesters, during which students have the opportunity to review and recall the most important issues that constitute the history of translation theory, including the most prominent topics of the most recent past, and to reflect on the present state of the art. Examples of such topics are: 1) a review of the most important approaches to translation throughout the ages; 2) the academic inter- discipline known today as Translation Studies; what it involves and how it is understood; 3) the impact of Polysystem Theory and the so-called ‘cultural turn’ on our understanding of translation; 4) the range of translation phenomena from the literary to the audio-visual. Bearing in mind that students come from various academic backgrounds and also have different translation experience, work within the seminar centres around expanding previously gained knowledge, sharing it with others, and broadening their horizons in reference to the importance of translation yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Emphasis throughout the whole course of studies will be placed on keeping up to date with how the discipline is developing, with current issues being highlighted in seminar discussions. The PhD seminar takes place once a week (90 min.). During their first year, students have the opportunity to meet together, discuss a certain translation topic, exchange views, and at the same time learn something new. Everythree weeks one seminar participant gives a paper on a subject that s/he is currently working on and which should evoke interest and reflection among the rest of the group. Apart from having open access to their supervisor (email, office hours), every third week students have the opportunity to meet with her on an individual basis to discuss their work in progress or any problems they may encounter while working on their chosen dissertation topic. Second-year students work according to the same schedule. When they move into their third year, meetings with all seminar students continue to take place once every third week, during which one member of the group delivers a paper and leads the discussion. The research conducted should reflect progress in their field of studies and the work done in connection with writing their dissertations. The feedback they receive from their supervisor and fellow students is an essential incentive for further work and also helps solve problems encountered. The fourth-year students are still obliged to attend seminars and deliver papers on a regular basis but emphasis now is strongly placed on writing and on successfully completing their dissertations as soon as possible.

Knowledge:

- gains/extends his/her knowledge of translation theory and awareness of the complexity of the translation process

- gains/extends his/her knowledge on research in his/her chosen field, especially concerning research methods, techniques and tools

Skills:

- knows how to present his/her gained knowledge logically and clearly both orally and in writing

Social competences:

- understands the significance of continuous learning and is aware of the need for personal and professional development; knows how to define the consecutive stages in this development

- is tolerant towards otherness, is respectful towards different forms of behaviour, and also towards different opinions

Students are assessed on the basis of their individual contributions to the work done within the seminar: research and discussions conducted, papers delivered. Regular participation in the seminar is essential. As far as their writing is concerned, by the third year they are expected to have completed at least two chapters of their dissertation, so that the work is finalised by the end of their studies. Assessment also takes place according to the amount of work they have done and the progress they have made. This happens at the end of each academic year.