Contemporary Approaches to Translation Studies II

elective courses

This course can be treated as a continuation of 'Contemporary Approaches to Translation Studies I' or can be attended without having had any previous experience in the subject. Greater emphasis is placed on the literary, cultural and political aspect of translation, hence discussion, for example, on the Polysystem Theory, Translation and Power, as well as Translation and Gender. Here theory is also linked with practice, translating short pieces of prose and poetry into and from one's native tongue.

The course is designed for MA students.

To give students the opportunity to become better acquainted with the complexities involved in the translation process from the cultural, social and political point of view, and to bring to the foreground the issues most often discussed in contemporary Translation Studies, the following topics will be the main basis for discussion:

1. Introduction:

- Translation as a creative act of interpretation.

- Translation between cultures.

- Equivalence and associations: living between cultures.

- Faithfulness and reader expectancy.

2. The Polysystem Theory as promoted by Israeli scholars Itamar Even-Zohar and Gideon Toury:

- The influence of their work on the development of Translation Studies as a discipline.

- The links between the Manipulation School and DTS (Descriptive Translation Studies).

- How the above have helped to develop understanding of the translation process.

3. Translation and power:

- The power relationship between writer and reader.

- Translation and ideology.

- The subversive and innovatory power of translation.

- Translating as a political act.

- Translation and censorship.

- Translation and the mythology of stereotyping and representation of other cultures.

- Assimilation - appropriation - acculturation.

- Equality and non-subservience.

4. Gender in translation:

- Cultural identity and the politics of transmission.

- Authority and responsibility.

- Challenging grammatical gender.

- The violence of appropriation.

Students will have the opportunity to analyse translations from the point of view of the above issues, do their own translations and confront their views with that of their colleagues.

Education at language level B2+

Álvarez, Román & M. Carmen-África Vidal, eds. (1996) Translation Power Subversion, Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

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

Bassnett, Susan & André Lefevere (1998) Constructing Cultures. Essays on Literary Translation, Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Diaz-Diocratez, Myriam (1985) Translating Poetic Discourse. Questions on Feminist Strategies in Adrienne Rich, Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Fast, Piotr ed. (1996) Polityka a Przekład, Katowice: "Śląsk".

Gentzler, Edwin (1993) Contemporary Translation Theories, London & New York: Routledge.

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

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.

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

Pérez, Maria Calzada (2003) Apropos of Ideology. Translation Studies on Ideology - Ideologies in Translation Studies, Manchester UK: St Jerome Publishing.

Robinson, Douglas (1997) Translation and Empire, Manchester UK: St Jerome Publishing.

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

Snell-Hornby, Mary (2006) The Turns of Translation Studies, Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Toury, Gideon (1995) Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond, Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Tymoczko, Maria & Edwin Gentzler (2002) Translation and Power, Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press.

Venuti, Lawrence (1998) The Scandals of Translation, London & New York: Routledge.

Venuti, Lawrence (2000) The Translation Studies Reader, London & New York: Routledge.

von Flotow, Louise (1997) Translation and Gender. Translating in the Era of Feminism, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Knowledge:

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

2. becomes acquainted with the most important contemporary approaches and trends in Translation Studies

Skills:

1. knows how to assess the usefulness of different theoretical concepts for research purposes as well as how to differentiate their applicability in practice

2. is able to analyse research studies as well as to define and conduct his/her own research; know how to formulate the problem and decide on which method to choose

Social competences:

1. is aware of the social significance of his/her knowledge, work and skills 2.

understands the ethical dimension of his/her work and follows the principles of translator ethics H1A_K04

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.

Assessment will be on the basis of regular and active attendance (a max. of 3 absences are allowed) in class, written assignments and a final semester paper of 1500 words.