Linguistic Analysis of Shakespeare's Works and their Polish Translations

elective courses

The course aims at presenting the characteristic features of William Shakespeare’s language and problems with the translation of his works. Students will get acquainted with phonological, morphological and syntactic issues necessary for the correct reading and understanding of Shakespeare’s texts. The original texts will be compared with their Polish versions in order to show problems encountered by the translators of Shakespeare and to discuss the solutions they adopt.

Students are required to speak Polish (C1 level).

The course aims at presenting the characteristic features of William Shakespeare’s language and problems with the translation of his works. Students will get acquainted with phonological, morphological and syntactic issues necessary for the correct reading and understanding of Shakespeare’s texts. The original texts will be compared with their Polish versions in order to show problems encountered by the translators of Shakespeare and to discuss the solutions they adopt.

In particular, the course will touch upon the following topics:

1. Pronunciation of the Early Modern English period: rhymes, puns and problems with their translation.

2. Rhythm and metre of the original and Polish versions.

3. Inflection and word-formation: Shakespeare’s neologisms and their Polish equivalents.

4. Syntax of Shakespeare’s works and of their Polish versions.

5. Words and their meaning: lexemes that changed their sense.

6. Culture specific items and their Polish equivalents.

7. Figurative language (similes, metaphors, etc.) and methods of its translation.

8. Styles of selected texts and their Polish versions.

Barber, Ch. 1997. Early Modern English. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Blake, N. 1983. The Language of Shakespeare. London: Macmillan.

Cercignani, F. 1981. Shakespeare's Works and Elizabethan Pronunciation. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Crystal, D. 2008. Think on My Words. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Crystal, D. ― B. Crystal. 2002. Shakespeare's Words. A Glossary & Language Companion. London: Penguin Books.

Kökeritz, H. 1953. Shakespeare’s Pronunciation. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Schlauch, M. 1959. The English Language in Modern Times (since 1400). Warszawa: PWN.

The course aims at facilitating students’ comprehension of the language of the Renaissance period. It presents problems encountered by the translators as well as sources and methods used in solving their dilemmas.

In terms of knowledge, the student:

- knows terminology used in historical linguistics

- understands the complexity of the process of translation, especially that of a historical text

- expands his/her knowledge about the historical development of the English language and its complexity.

In terms of expertise, the student:

- acquires the expertise of how to use linguistic methodology in research projects;

- acquires the expertise of how to search for the information in various sources, evaluate their usefulness and interpret them.

In terms of social competences the student:

- acquires the understanding of the importance of permanent education;

- recognizes the dilemmas and finds the best solutions;

- respects different cultural values and models as well as individual opinions.

The final grade depends on two components:

1.homework – 40%

2.final test – 60%

Content: open-ended and closed-ended questions