Thematic seminar: The French-language novel for young people: research perspectives and challenges of translation

general courses

Classroom

The classes will be devoted to novels for young adults (so-called YA novels), which we will deal with from the perspective of literary and traductological studies (CLTS). The three initial meetings will be devoted to defining novels for young adults, discussing their characteristics and their types. Then, specific French-language novels that have been published in Polish translation will be discussed (including novels by authors such as Clémentine Beauvais, Claire Castillon, Christelle Dabos, Yves Grevet, Victor Jestin and Marie-Aude Murail). We will analyze both the novels themselves (dystopian novel, realistic novel, fantasy novel, social novel, romance novel, verse novel…) and the challenges associated with their translation (comparative analysis of translations). People participating in the classes will also have the opportunity to independently translate selected fragments of the novel discussed during the classes and critically analyze them.

The classes will be devoted to novels for young adults (so-called YA novels), which we will deal with from the perspective of literary and traductological studies (CLTS). The three initial meetings will be devoted to defining novels for young adults, discussing their characteristics and their types. Then, specific French-language novels that have been published in Polish translation will be discussed (including novels by authors such as Clémentine Beauvais, Claire Castillon, Christelle Dabos, Yves Grevet, Victor Jestin and Marie-Aude Murail). We will analyze both the novels themselves (dystopian novel, realistic novel, fantasy novel, social novel, romance novel, verse novel…) and the challenges associated with their translation (comparative analysis of translations). People participating in the classes will also have the opportunity to independently translate selected fragments of the novel discussed during the classes and critically analyze them.

Detailed description of the issues discussed:

1. Definition of novels for young adults (YA novels) - youth novel, novel for teenagers, new adult category, YA category in Poland, Europe and the USA

2. Features and types of novels for young adults

3. The YA novel publishing market in Poland and France

4. French-language authors of YA novels and their presence on the Polish publishing market

5. Challenges of translating YA novels (based on the example of French-language and English-language literature)

- multiple addresses of YA literature

- translation of dialogues (language register/authenticity of interaction/political correctness)

- translation and cultural issues

- translation of humorous elements

- inclusiveness in translation

- translation and linguistic and cultural taboos (based on the example of translating sexualities)

Literature:

Beauvais C. (2023). Écrire comme une abeille. La littérature de jeunesse de la lecture à l’écriture, Gallimard Jeunesse.

Delbrassine Daniel (2006), Le roman pour adolescents aujourd'hui : écriture, thématiques et réception, Canopé: CRDP de Créteil.

Douglas V. (2019). « Traduire de l’anglais vers le français – ou ne pas traduire – le métissage culturel et la musicalité des voix adolescents des romans young adult de Benjamin Zaphaniah et d’Alex Wheatle », [in :] Translating for Children Beyond Stereotypes, Bononia University Press, 157-170.

Hirano C. (2006). Eight Ways to Say You : The Challenges of Translation, [in] : The Translation of Children’s Literature : A Reader, Gilian Lathey (eds.), Multilingual Matters, 225-236.

Knickelbrocker J. L, Rycik J. A. (2019). Literature for Young Adults: Books (and More) for Contemporary Readers, Routledge.

Lathey G. (2016). “Translating Dialogue and Dialect”, Translating Children’s Literature, Routledge.

Pascua-Febles I. (2006). “Translating Cultural References: The Language of Young People in Literary Texts”, [in :], Children Literature in Translation. Challenges and Strategies, Jan Van Coille, Walter P. Verschueren (eds.), Routlegde, 111-121.

Van Coille J. (2012). “Cool, geil, gaaf, chouette or super. The challenges of translating teenage speech”, [in]: Translating Fictional Dialogue for Children and Young People, Martin B. Fischer/ Maria Wirf Naro (eds.), Frank&Timme, 217-234.

Selected French-language novels for young adults and their Polish translations.

The graduate knows and understands:

K_W05 in-depth basic and complex issues in the field of general, French and Francophone literary studies, especially including novels for young adults

K_W06 in-depth basic and complex issues in the field of general and French linguistics (traductology)

K_W07

in-depth language functions and social and cultural aspects of its use in various, even unusual communication situations, including intercultural communication

The graduate is able to:

K_U06 present your own views, referring to various and complex sources

K_U08 plan and prepare oral presentations in French and Polish, referring to complex theoretical approaches specific to linguistics and literary studies

The graduate is ready to:

K_K01 critically assessing one's own knowledge and skills, as well as making modifications and corrections of attitudes and behaviors

- attendance at classes – two unexcused attendances

- participation in classes (knowledge of the literature on the subject and active participation in discussions, performing short tasks - critical analysis of the translation of the novel in Polish translation, translation of a fragment of the novel and preparing its autocritical analysis, completing the worksheet, preparing questions to the publisher, presentation of the selected novel, reporting on the article …) – 30% of the mark

- semester test on theoretical issues - 35% of the grade

- preparation of an independent translation of a fragment of a selected novel and its critical analysis (in the form of atelier de traducteur.trice) – 35% of the grade