History of Translation Theory

elective courses

The course is concerned with looking at translation and Translation Studies from the historical perspective. So as to understand the present, students are encouraged to go back in time and look closely at some of the most important texts in Translation Studies as well as learn more about theories formulated within the discipline. As the course is descriptive in nature, students are also given the opportunity to do their own translations of texts (especially chosen so they are in accordance with the course topics), discuss their strategies and decisions.

The course takes in twelve main topics that will introduce students to Translation Studies and will present the stages of its development as a discipline.

The twelve topics are:

1. Translation Studies: Main Ideas

2. Pre-Discipline Era

3. The Linguistic Turn

4. Functionalist Approaches

5. Equivalence in Translation

6. (Un)Translatability

7. Philosophy and Translation

8. Ideology and Translation

9. DTS and Manipulation School

10. Cognitive Approaches

11. Translation Competence

12. Translation Studies Today

Baker, Mona ed. (1997) Routledge Encyclopaedia of Translation Studies, London & New York: Routledge.

Bassnett, Susan (1991) Translation Studies. rev. ed. London & New York: Routledge.

Delisle, Jean & Judith Woodsworth eds. (1995) Translators through History, Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Hatim, Basil & Ian Mason (1997) The Translator as Communicator, London & New York: Routledge.

Korzeniowska, Aniela & Piotr Kuhiwczak (1994) Successful Polish-English Translation. Tricks of the Trade, Warszawa: PWN.

Korzeniowska, Aniela (1998) Explorations in Polish-English Mistranslation Problems, Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego.

Lefevere, André (1992) Translation, Rewriting and the Manipulation of Literary Fame, London & New York: Routledge.

Lefevere, André (1992) Translation/History/Culture: A Source Book, London & New York: Routledge.

Munday, Jeremy (2001) Introducing Translation Studies. Theories and Applications, London & New York: Routledge.

Newmark, Peter (1995) Approaches to Translation, New York & London: Prentice Hall MacMillan.

Robinson, Douglas (1997) Western Translation Theory from Herodotus to Nietzsche, Manchester, UK: St Jerome Publishing.

Shuttleworth, Mark & Moira Cowie (1997) Dictionary of Translation Studies, Manchester UK: St Jerome Publishing.

Knowledge

Student will be able to:

K_W02 – understand key terminology, well established methods and theories of linguistics, literary studies and culture studies within English studies, especially in the context of translation studies

K_W03 – describe methodology and recent developments in English linguistics, especially in translation studies

K_W05 – list and discuss the characteristics of English grammar, syntax, phonology, phonetics, morphology and pragmatics on an advanced level

K_W07 – explain principles of designing studies in linguistics, with special focus on selecting appropriate methods and tools in formulating research questions, especially in translation studies

Abilities

The student will be able to:

K_U01 – employ the terminology and methodological tools from linguistics and translation studies

K_U02 – employ the methodology of linguistics and translation studies within English studies, respecting the ethical norms and copyright law

K_U04 – implement knowledge to describe a problem and identify means to solve it, thereby completing a project in linguistics, especially in translation studies

K_U011 – design one’s own development

Social competences

The student will be ready to:

K_K02 – undertake life-long learning and personal development, applying skills and competences to select subjects and projects optimally suiting one’s personal interests

K_K03 – value responsibility for one’s own work and respect the work of others, adhering to the professional and ethical norms in various projects and other activities undertaken at work, voluntary services, etc.

Written essay or oral exam (as arranged by instructor). Grade may be pushed up depending on class participation, extra projects and general class performance (if agreed on by instructor).

N/a