Translation Studies and Semiotics – MA seminar 1

Master's seminars

Classroom

The seminar lasts four semesters.

The aim of the seminar in the first and the second semester is to prepare students to individually write their master’s theses. To this end the seminar centres on introducing selected issues from the theory of translation studies and semiotics as well as research methodologies typical of translation studies. It is also aimed at improving critical reading and academic writing skills and analysing specific source texts and their translations.

During the third and fourth semester students work individually and write both the theoretical and the research part of their master’s theses.

If classroom learning is impossible, the seminar will be conducted with the help of distance learning tools, most probably Google Meet and others recommended by the University Authorities.

The seminar consists of two modules:

Semester One

1. theoretical module: students are presented with key texts in translation studies, semiotics and translation semiotics; they conduct critical analyses of selected texts; they take part in in-class discussions, during which they present their own research interests within the area of translation studies.

2. practical module: students conduct practical analyses of selected translations, concentrating on, e.g. evaluating translation strategies and techniques, conducting comparative analyses or indicating sources of untranslatability; they also improve their academic writing skills.

Semester Two

1. theoretical module: students advance their knowledge of translation studies and semiotics and learn more about research methodologies in translation studies (both quantitative and qualitative methods), research tools as well as translation assessment and analysis criteria. Students also learn how to evaluate academic sources.

2. practical module: students conduct critical analyses of selected texts, focusing on the employed research methods and tools as well as conclusions; they analyse translations with the help of theoretical paradigms and research methods introduced during classes; they compile a list of key references; they are also provided with a detailed list of content and formal criteria of writing a master’s thesis. Students write the theoretical part of their master’s theses by referring to the materials and academic sources they have gathered.

Semester Three and Semester Four are devoted to completing the master’s thesis.

In Semester Three students finish writing the theoretical part; they select the research material and collect necessary data; they choose appropriate research methods and tools as well as analyse and interpret the research material. They start writing the research part.

In Semester Four students finish writing the research part of the master’s thesis and write all of the other elements of the text. A complete master’s thesis should be submitted by the end of May.

Encyclopaedias, terminological dictionaries and coursebooks:

Baker M. (ed.) 1998. Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London & New York: Routledge.

Baker, M. 1992. In Other Words. A Coursebook on Translation. London & New York: Routledge

Bassnett, S. 2002. Translation Studies. 3rd Edition. London & New York: Routledge.

Dąmbska-Prokop, U. (ed.) 2000. Mała encyklopedia przekładoznawstwa. Częstochowa: Wydawnictwo Wyższej Szkoły Języków Obcych i Ekonomii Educator.

Gambier Y i van Doorslaer, L (eds). 2012. Handbook of Translation Studies, Vol. 1-4. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Malmkjær, K. (ed.). 2018. The Routledge Handbook of Translation Studies and Linguistics. Oxon & New York: Routledge.

Millán, C. i Bartrina, F. (eds) 2012. The Routledge Handbook of Translation Studies. London & New York: Routledge

Munday, J. 2012. Introducing Translation Studies. Theories and Applications. 3rd edition. London & New York: Routledge.

Monographs (selected chapters will be discussed during classes):

Barthes, R. 1977. Image, Music, Text. New York: Hill and Wang.

Eco, U. 2001. Experiences in Translation. Buffalo & London: University of Toronto Press.

Eco, U. 2003. Mouse or Rat? Translation as Negotiation. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

Gorlée, D. L. 1994. Semiotics and the Problem of Translation, with Special Reference to the Semiotics of Charles S. Peirce. Amsterdam & Atlanta: Rodopi.

Łotman, J. 1984. Struktura tekstu artystycznego. Translated by Anna Tanalska. Warszawa: Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy.

Morris, Ch. 1971. Writings on the General Theory of Signs. The Hague & Paris: Mouton.

Peirce, Ch. S. 1997. Wybór pism semiotycznych. Edited by Hanna Buczyńska-Garewicz. Warszawa: Polskie Towarzystwo Semiotyczne.

Ricoeur, P. and P. Torop. 2008. O tłumaczeniu. Gdańsk: WUG.

Żyłko, B. (ed.). 2002. Sztuka w świecie znaków. Gdańsk: wydawnictwo słowo/obraz terytoria.

Selected texts discussed during classes:

Gottlieb, H. 2018. “Semiotics and Translation”. In: The Routledge Handbook of Translation Studies and Linguistics, Kirsten Malmkjær (ed.), 45–63. Oxon & New York: Routledge.

Jakobson, R. 1959. “On Linguistic Aspects of Translation”. In: On Translation, Reuben A. Brower (ed.), 232–239. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

Jakobson, R. 1960. “Closing Statements: Linguistics and Poetics”. In: Style in Language, Thomas A. Sebeok (ed.), 350–377. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

Kaźmierczak, M. 2017. „Od przekładu intersemiotycznego do intersemiotycznych aspektów tłumaczenia”. Przekładaniec 34: 7–35.

Klemensiewicz, Z. 1955. “Przekład jako zagadnienie językoznawstwa”. In: O sztuce tłumaczenia, Michał Rusinek (ed.), 85-98. Wrocław: Zakład im. Ossolińskich.

Lawendowski, B. P. 1978. “On semiotic aspects of translation”. In: Thomas A. Sebeok (ed.), Sight, Sound and Sense. Bloomington & London: Indiana University Press.

Petrilli, S. 2003. “The intersemiotic character of translation”. In: Susan Petrilli (ed.), Translation translation, 41–53. Amsterdam & New York: Rodopi.

Stecconi, U. 2007. “Five reasons why semiotics is good for translation studies”. In: Doubts and Directions in Translation Studies, Yves Gambier, Miriam Schlesinger and Radegundis Stolze (eds), 15–24. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Torop, P. 2008. “Towards the Semiotics of Translation”. Semiotica 128(3/4): 597–609.

Toury, G. 1986. “Translation. A Cultural-Semiotic Perspective”. In: Encyclopedic Dictionary of Semiotics, Thomas A. Sebeok (ed.), 1111–1124. Berlin & New York: Walter de Gruyter.

Knowledge:

The student understands and has a knowledge of:

• the subject and methodological specifics of research in translation studies

• selected areas of linguistic terminology and terminology of translation studies, including more advanced and specific concepts

• selected tendencies in translation research and its most significant challenges and problems observed nowadays

• interlingual similarities and differences as well as adequate techniques of interlingual transfer

• notions and rules pertaining to intellectual property protection, in particular copyright.

Skills

The student can:

• analyse research problems in the field of translation studies as well as carry out analyses and present their results

• carry out a critical analysis of specific research methods and paradigms in the field of translation studies

• formulate hypotheses connected with research problems in the field of translation studies

• choose innovative research methods and tools as well as prepare and present findings

• use theoretical and research paradigms or concepts common to translation studies during debates and discussions

• recognise the relations between translation studies and other disciplines as well as indicate their practical implications

• prepare an oral presentation in English on specific topics by using various sources

• draft correct, extensive, clear and coherent papers in English on a selected topic, also in the context of LSP communication.

Social competences

The student is ready to:

• critically evaluate his or her knowledge and the content he or she receives

• recognise the significance of knowledge in solving epistemic and practical problems as well as resort to expert opinion.

General criteria:

- attendance and in-class participation

- an oral presentation discussing a selected text from the course bibliography

- active participation in discussions

In addition to meeting general criteria students should also:

- present a brief outline of the master’s thesis at the end of Semester One

- present a detailed outline of the master’s thesis in Semester Two and complete at least one chapter of the theoretical part towards the end of Semester Two

- complete the theoretical part in Semester Three and start writing the research part

- present a complete master’s thesis written in accordance with formal requirements in Semester Four.

Students may be absent three times a semester.