Translation in Cultural Terms: British Minor Cultures - MA Seminar 4

proseminars

The MA seminar centres on the translation of literary works belonging to Britain’s minor cultures, thus the literatures of Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The analysis encompasses: linguistic and cultural specificity of the source texts, translation strategies, the place and significance of translations of these texts in the target culture, the critical reception thereof.

Fourth semester.

The seminar explores the question of translating literary works which belong to minor cultures within the linguistic and cultural terrain of the British Isles, thus the writings of Scottish, Irish and Welsh authors. The aim of the seminar is to develop students’ analytical skills, and especially their ability to analyse a literary text as translation material, or a literary text in translation, in the context of its linguistic and cultural identity and specificity. During our classes, we will discuss the cultural turn in contemporary translation theories: Descriptive Translation Studies (Gideon Toury), Polysystem Theory and Culture Theory (Itamar - Even-Zohar), the notion of refraction (André Lefevere) the idea of translation as the experience of the foreign (Antoine Berman), the strategies of foreignisation and domestication (Lawrence Venuti). Particular attention is given to the postcolonial perspective (Maria Tymoczko, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak). Students will expand their knowledge with regard to the internal linguistic and cultural diversity of the nations of the British Isles, and the role of literature in building national identity (here in the face of the dominant culture). These concepts serve as a starting point for an analysis of the strategies that Scottish, Irish and Welsh authors employ to mark, develop and define their linguistic and cultural distinctiveness, as well as of the functioning of these strategies in translation. We will discuss difficulties inscribed in the translation of texts which bear strong linguistic and cultural markers (and which are at the same time problematic due to their complex and ambiguous relationship with the dominant culture), po-tential translation solutions, and the reception and significance of translations of such texts in the target culture. The classes involve group discussions as well as individual presentations on the subject of one’s own choice (in the second half of the term).

The first term provides an overview on contemporary translation theories. The second term’s analysis (from the perspective of linguistics, literary and cultural studies) focuses on the way Scottish, Irish and Welsh works function in translation; we will discuss both untranslated texts and existing translations (students’ interests will be taken into account). In the third term, the students will present their own research projects, including work-in-progress reports on the successive chap-ters. The fourth term, adjusted to the students’ individual needs, will involve one-on-one meetings, where each student’s work is discussed.

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

Bassnett, Susan (1991) Translation Studies, London: Routledge.

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

Berman, Antoine (2000 [1985]) “Translation and the Trials of the Foreign”, trans. Lawrence Venuti, in Lawrence Venuti (ed.) The Translation Studies Reader, London & New York: Routledge, 284-297.

Bukowski, Piotr i Magda Heydel red. (2009) Współczesne teorie przekładu, Kraków: Znak.

Cronin, Michael (2003) Translation and Globalization, London & New York: Routledge.

Even-Zohar, Itamar (2000 [1975/revised 1990]) “The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem”, in Lawrence Venuti (ed.) The Translation Studies Reader, London & New York: Routledge, 192-197.

Even-Zohar, Itamar (1997) “ The Making of Culture Repertoire and the Role of Transfer”, Target, 9 (2), 373-381.

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

Jarniewicz, Jerzy (2012) Gościnność słowa. Szkice o przekładzie literackim, Kraków: Znak.

Jarniewicz, Jerzy (2018) Tłumacz między innymi. Szkice o przekładach, językach i literaturze, Wrocław: Ossolineum.

Korzeniowska, Aniela (2013) “’Scotland Small? Our Multiform, Our Infinite Scotland Small?’ Scotland’s Literary Contribution to the Modern World” in Colloquia Humanistica 2, 37-58.

Korzeniowska, Aniela (2008) Translating Scotland. Nation and Identity, Warsaw: University of Warsaw.

Sommer, Piotr (ed.) (1995) Literatura na świecie nr 7/1995, Szkoci, Warszawa.

Sommer, Piotr (ed.) (2009) Literatura na świecie nr 07-08/2009, Walia, Warszawa.

Toury, Gideon (2000 [1978/revised 1995]) “The Nature and Role of Norms in Translation” in Lawrence Venuti (ed.) The Translation Studies Reader, London & New York: Routledge, 198-211.

Venuti, Lawrence (1995) The Translator's Invisibility. A History of Translation, London & New York: Routledge.

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

Walkowitz, Rebecca L (2017) Born Translated. The Contemporary Novel in an Age of World Literature. New York: Columbia University Press.

Knowledge:

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

2. gains/extends knowledge about the symbolic foundation of interac-tion within one culture as well as between cultures

Skills:

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

2. is able to appreciate different opinions found in literature and pre-sented during discussions, and knows how to make use of them as a source of inspiration and not as a threat to his/her own system of values

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

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.

The course is conducted at the B2+ level.

Students get their credit based on regular attendance, active participation in discussions and completing their MA dissertations.

During the first semester students are required to give one oral presentation. By Easter, the first draft of their MA dissertation should be submitted. The first chapter has to be handed in by the end of the second semester. Successive chapters have to be submitted at regular intervals so that by May in their fourth semester students are bringing their work to a close.