Translation Shifts 3301-JS1810
The course is concerned with translation shifts, i.e. changes that take place in the translation process at various levels (not only of words and phrases, but also text, genre and discourse). It presents models for systematic analysis of these changes from both linguistic and literary perspectives. The notion of translation shifts is linked with a number of other concepts in Translation Studies and the course covers them as well, as far as they are relevant to the topic. The theoretical issues discussed will be accompanied by more practical tasks, with students analyzing translations along with their source texts and doing their own translations. Despite the fact that translation shifts are not in the mainstream of contemporary Translation Studies and that the literature of the subject discussed during the course is rather part of the discipline's history, this topic is still relevant for future translators and might be helpful in their work.
The course will cover the following topics:
1. The translation unit as a prelude to the analysis of translation shifts; the lexicological unit and the unit of thought.
2. Translation shifts vs. systemic differences between source and target languages and cultures.
3. The concept of an invariant (tertium comparationis); prescriptive vs. descriptive understanding of invariance; the negative and positive attitude to shifts.
4. Catford's description and taxonomy of shifts within the framework of his linguistic theory of translation; shifts on the grammatical and lexical level; formal correspondence vs. textual equivalence; level shifts and category shifts.
5. Vinay and Darbelnet's taxonomy of translation procedures, especially transposition and modulation; option and servitude (or obligatory and optional shifts).
6. Popovič's constitutive vs. individual shifts; shifts as a stylistic category with style as an invariant for comparing source and target language texts.
7. Toury's move away from a search for shifts as errors and departures from the original; the concept of norms and acceptability.
8. Van Leuven-Zwart's methodology for the analysis of microstructural and macrostructural shifts and relating the latter to discourse and narratological considerations; transeme and architranseme; modulation, modification and mutation.
Type of course
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE
1. gain / broaden their knowledge of the terminology used in Translation Studies
2. gain / broaden their knowledge of translation theories and the complexity of the translation process
SKILLS
1. acquire / develop an ability to use translation terminology appropriate for English philology
2. are able to use basic / detailed methodologies in Translation Studies
SOCIAL ATTITUDES
1. appreciate the nature of dilemmas, problems and conflicts, and look for optimal solutions
2. appreciate the usefulness of their knowledge and skills in building community bonds
Language instruction at B2+ level.
Assessment criteria
Credit will be given on the basis of a final test.
Bibliography
1. Baker, Mona (1992) In Other Words. A Coursebook on Translation, London and New York: Routledge.
2. Bakker, Matthijs, Cees Koster and Kitty van Leuven-Zwart (1998) "Shifts of Translation", Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, Mona Baker (ed.), London and New York: Routledge.
3. Catford, John (1965) A Linguistic Theory of Translation, London: Oxford University Press.
4. Hatim, Basil and Jeremy Munday (2004) Translation. An advanced resource book, London and New York: Routledge.
5. Leuven-Zwart, K, van (1989 and 1990) "Translation and original: similarities and dissimilarities, I and II", Target 1.2, pp. 151-81 and Target 2.1, pp. 69-95.
6. Miko, František (1970) "La théorie de l'expression et la traduction", Holmes, F. de Haan and A. Popovič (eds) The Nature of Translation. Essays on the Theory and Practice of Literary Translation, The Hague: Mouton, pp. 61-77.
7. Munday, Jeremy (2001) Introducing Translation Studies, London: Routledge.
10. Popovič, Anton (1970) "The Concept 'Shift of Expression' in Translation Analysis", J. Holmes, F. de Haan and A. Popovič (eds) The Nature of Translation. Essays on the Theory and Practice of Literary Translation, The Hague: Mouton, pp. 78-87.
11. Vinay, J.-P. and J. Darbelnet (1995) Comparative Stylistics of French and English: A Methodology for Translation, trans. Juan Sager and M.-J. Hamel, Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.