Language Variation in Translation

elective courses

Dedicated to the BA programme

Requires the knowledge of the Polish language

Dedicated to the BA programme

Requires the knowledge of the Polish language

This course explores translation problems posed by language variation (described in terms of register and dialect) in fiction and non-fiction and solutions available to translators, in relation to the functions of language variation in different types of texts.

This course explores the practical translation problems posed by language variation described in terms of register and style, in fiction and non-fiction. Classwork will address the sociolinguistic and discourse-analysis background of describing register (field, tenor and mode) and dialect (geographical, temporal, social) and then investigate the translation problems induced by language variation in a selection of texts (fiction, including film, and non-fiction) in practice by analyzing original texts and their existing translations, or by producing individual and group translations and discussing them. Prominent topics will be the functions of language variation in different kinds of texts and changes in translation norms concerning its rendition across time. Emphasis will be put on the necessity to develop the translator’s awareness of cross-cultural differences in the linguistic patterns and conventions of language variation, as well as in its cultural perception. This in turn leads to an exploration of a range of possible translation solutions (including compensation) and to developing the ability to assess the communicative and socio-cultural results of the translator’s choices.

Alsina, Victoria. 2012. Issues in the translation of social variation in narrative dialogue. In Jenny Brumme & Anna Espunya eds. The Translation of Fictive Dialogue,137-154. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

Berezowski, Leszek. 2000. “Pragmatyczne podstawy archaizacji”. In W. Kubiński, O. Kubińska, T. Z. Wolański eds. Przekładając nieprzekładalne vol. I , 129-138. Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego.

Boase-Beier, Jean. 2010. Stylistic Approaches to Translation. London: Routledge.

Bobrowski, Jakub. 2017. Pojęcie kompetencji stylizacyjnej I jego użyteczność w badaniach nad językową stylizacją historyczną w filmowych listach dialogowych. Polonica XXXVII, 13-22. https://polonica.ijp.pan.pl/pl/37a2 doi: http://dx.doi.org./10.17651/POLON.37.2

Bogucki, Łukasz. 2016. Areas and Methods in Audiovisual Translation Research. 2n .ed. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.

Cadera, Susanne M. 2012. Translating fictive dialogue in novels. In Jenny Brumme & Anna Espunya eds. The Translation of Fictive Dialogue, 35-49. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

Coulmas, Florian ed. 2000. The Handbook of Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Blackwell.

Fawcett, Peter. 1997. Translation and Language. Linguistic Theories Explained. Manchester: St. Jerome.

Federici, Federico M. ed. 2011. Translating Dialects and Languages of Minorities. Challenges and Solutions. Bern: Peter Lang.

Hatim, Basil. 2000. The myth of the single register. In Communication Across Cultures. Translation Theory and Contrastive Text Linguistics. University of Exeter Press.

Hatim, Basil & Ian Mason. 1990. Discourse and the Translator. London: Longman.

Hatim, Basil & Ian Mason. 1997. The translator as communicator. London: Longman.

Hejwowski, Krzysztof. 2010. O tłumaczeniu aluzji językowych. In Roman Lewicki (ed.), Przekład – język – kultura. Tom II, 41-56. Lublin: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej.

Hejwowski, Krzysztof. 2015. Iluzja przekładu. Przekładoznawstwo w ujęciu konstruktywnym. Katowice: Śląsk

Ramos Pinto, Sara. 2009. How important is the way you put it? A discussion on the translation of linguistic varieties. Target 21(2), 289-307.

Ramos Pinto, Sara. 2017. Film, dialect and subtitles: an analytical framework for the study of non-standard varieties in subtitling. The Translator, https://doi.org/10.1080/13556509.2017.1338551

Zabalbeascoa, Patrick. 2012. Translating dialogues in audiovisual fiction. In Jenny Brumme & Anna Espunya eds. The Translation of Fictive Dialogue, 63-78. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

Knowledge:

- students acquire greater awareness of the variety of linguistic resources in two languages and their socio-cultural conditioning;

- students extend their knowledge of conventions of communication applicable in different contexts and of differences between languages and cultures in this area

- students acquire knowledge of translation norms pertaining to and translation solutions applicable in different types of texts

Skills:

- students improve their translation skills

- students develop their ability to analyze the linguistic make-up of texts and interpret its communicative functions

- students can interpret the socio-cultural significance of linguistic choices in particular contexts in different cultures and languages and adjust the choice of translation methods accordingly

- in class discussions students acquire skills of expressing their thoughts in a clear, coherent, logical and precise manner, with the use of language which is correct grammatically, lexically and phonetically.

Social competences:

- students consciously participate in the two cultures and understand their linguistic diversity;

- students assume an attitude of tolerance toward linguistic variation and, understand the specificity of culturally-conditioned linguistic behaviour,

- students practice negotiation and cooperation in problem-solving situations

Education at language level B2+

Continual assessment based on attendance and participation; 3 home assignments (an analysis of a translated text or a translation with commentary).

Retake: tasks based on a different material.

Three absences are allowed.