Translator in intercultural communication 3201-1TKM-OG

“Are translators closer to betrayal or fidelity?” Julian Tuwim pondered this question in his essay Traduttore – traditore, which he devoted to translators and their work.
Every translator creates their own definition of translation, as well as their own understanding of faithfulness and unfaithfulness. However, their decisions are shaped not only by individual personality. They are also influenced by prevailing social norms, political conditions, and translation “trends.” History offers prominent figures who have either defined or significantly transformed dominant approaches. The aim of the course is to create a space for discussion of diverse perspectives on translation. Considerable attention will be devoted to the translation of literary works, including discussion of the context of the original text’s creation and the context in which a
translation (or an entire series of translations) appears, as well as a comparative analysis of both texts. We will explore the “workshop” practices of well-known and popular translators. We will also discuss the most important translation theories and strategies.
Three lectures will be devoted to the history of translation: we will examine how approaches to translation evolved from Kievan Rus’ to contemporary Russia, and how the role of the Polish language has changed within this perspective.
The course will also address topics such as adaptations of literary works into film as translation; translation as a political phenomenon; the impact of censorship on the image of translation; the determinants of the central and peripheral position of translated literature; the role and position of the translator within a country; the role and position of the translator in intercultural communication; and the work of the translator in the context of war (translating during the Nuremberg Trials; translating in the process of applying for refugee status).
Workload: 50 hours — 30 contact hours (1 ECTS) plus 25 hours devoted to reading the required texts and preparing a paper.

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Classroom

Course coordinators

Józefina Piątkowska-Brzezińska

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE
 In-depth knowledge of various issues in the field of international literary (and, more broadly, cultural) relations (P6S_WG, K1_W10)
 Knowledge of basic translation traditions and strategies (P6S_WG, K1_W10)
 Knowledge of phenomena and issues related to the so-called “cultural turn” in translation studies (S1.1_W02)
 Knowledge of the history of translation in the cultural areas of Ruthenia and Russia, as well as “mutual” translations (P6S_WG, K1_W10, S1.1_W03)
 Awareness of the role of the Polish language and Polish literature in the polysystem of Russian literature (P6S_WG, K1_W10, S1.1_W03)
 Awareness of the role of translated works in the literary systems of various countries(P6S_WK)
 Knowledge of the biographies of various translators and their views on the art of translation (P6S_WK, S1.1_W05)
 Knowledge of the role of translation trends and norms, as well as political conditions, in shaping translators’ decisions in different eras (K1_W04, S1.1_W03)
 Knowledge of the role of the translator in critical situations of intercultural communication(e.g., the Nuremberg Trials) (K1_W11)
SKILLS
 Conducting a comparative analysis of the original text and its translation, identifying specific criteria for assessing equivalence (P6S_UW, K1_U01, K1_U02, S1.1_U01, S1.1_U02)
 Analyzing a film adaptation as a type of intersemiotic translation (P6S_UW, K1_U01, K1_U03, K1_U10, S1.1_U02)
 Ability to analyze a series of translations of a single work, identifying variations in translation norms (P6S_UW, K1_U01, K1_U02)
SOCIAL COMPETENCES
 Preparation for the critical evaluation of translations as elements of intercultural dialogue, with respect for diverse literary and cultural traditions (P6S_KK, K1_K01, K1_K02, S1.1_K04)
 Preparation for the role of a cultural mediator in the reception and evaluation of literary translations and their adaptations (P6S_KK, K1_K04, K1_K06, S1.1_K06)

 Preparation for the critical and ethical evaluation of the translator’s role in situations involving conflicts of values (fidelity, loyalty, institutional pressure) (P6S_KK, K1_K02, K1_K06)
 Preparation for participation in intercultural dialogue through reflection on translation as a form of mediation (P6S_KO, K1_K04, K1_K06)

Assessment criteria

METODY I KRYTERIA OCENIANIA:
- class attendance; the maximum number of unexcused absences is two; in the event of a higher number of absences, the lecturer will determine the form of assessment for the course material
in the form of a written or oral test.
- active participation during classes (participation in conversations/discussions/demonstrating knowledge of recommended reading);
- preparation of a paper on film adaptation as intersemiotic translation (taking into account cultural aspects);

Bibliography

During the classes we will discuss three texts in detail:
- Tuwim, Julian. Traduttore – traditore, in: Pegaz dęba, czyli panopticum literackie. Warsaw,
1950 (and subsequent editions).
- Barańczak, Stanisław. Mały, lecz maksymalistyczny manifest translatologiczny, in: Ocalone w
tłumaczeniu. Kraków, 1992 (and subsequent editions).
- Borges, Jorge Luis. Pierre Menard, autor Don Kichota, in: Fikcje, trans. A. Sobol-Jurczykowski.
Warsaw, 1972 (and subsequent editions).

Recommended bibliography
Biaduń-Grabarek, H., Grabarek, J. “Kilka uwag o przekładzie tytułów na podstawie tłumaczeń
niemiecko-polskich i polsko-niemieckich.” Rocznik Przekładoznawczy, 2012, no. 7, pp. 11–24.
Even-Zohar, Itamar. “Miejsce literatury tłumaczonej w polisystemie literackim” [1978], in:
Współczesne teorie przekładu. Antologia, ed. P. Bukowski, M. Heydel. Kraków: Znak, 2009, pp.
195–204.
Hermans, Theo (ed.). Manipulation of Literature. Studies in Literary Translation. London–New
York: Croom Helm, 1985.
Heydel, Magda. “Zwrot kulturowy w badaniach nad przekładem.” Teksty Drugie, 2009, no. 6, pp.
21–33.
Holmes, James S. “The Name and Nature of Translation Studies” [1978], in: The Translation
Studies Reader, ed. L. Venuti. New York–London: Routledge, 2007, pp. 180–183.
Jarniewicz, Jerzy. “Gdzie jest tłumacz? O współczesnej pozycji tłumacza literackiego w Polsce.”
Tygodnik Powszechny.
https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/gdzie-jest-tlumacz-17062
Sommer, Piotr (ed.). O nich tutaj. Książka o języku i przekładzie. Kraków–Warsaw: Instytut Książki
– Literatura na Świecie, 2016.
Mikoś, Michał. “Obecność literatury polskiej w Ameryce Północnej i Anglii (2012) – spojrzenie na
historię przekładu.” Postscriptum Polonistyczne, 2012, no. 2.
Pollack, Martin. O sytuacji tłumaczy (referat o sytuacji niemieckich tłumaczy literatury polskiej).
https://e-radar.online/pl/magazyn/14-2025/o,sytuacji,tlumaczy.html
Rzepa, J. “Literatura polska w przekładzie na język angielski (1999–2009).” Przekładaniec, 2010,
no. 24.
Simon, Sherry. Gender in Translation. Cultural Identity and the Politics of Transmission.
London–New York: Routledge, 1996.
Snell-Hornby, Mary; Jettmarová, Zuzana; Kaindl, Klaus (eds.). Translation as Intercultural
Communication. Selected Papers from the EST Congress, Prague 1995. Amsterdam–Philadelphia:
John Benjamins, 1997.
Tymoczko, Maria. “Literatura postkolonialna i przekład literacki” [1999], in: Współczesne teorie
przekładu, pp. 429–447.
Zajas, P. Etnografia produkcji przekładu. (Semi)peryferyjne literatury na niemieckim rynku książki.
https://rcin.org.pl/Content/59868/PDF/WA248_79675_P-I-2524_zajas-etnografia_o.pdf
Raport Stowarzyszenia Tłumaczy Literatury: Wynagrodzenia w branży tłumaczeń literackich w
latach 2023–2024 (badanie sytuacji zawodowej i warunków pracy).

https://stl.org.pl/baza-wiedzy/sytuacja-tlumacza/wynagrodzenia2023-2024/
Rozmowy z tłumaczami.
https://www.dwutygodnik.com/cykl/2

Additional information

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