Translation Studies - MA Seminar 4 3301-JSS4KIZ
The seminar is devoted to analysing the most important issues within the field of translation studies. The classes explore such aspects as equivalence, translatability, translation units, factors influencing translators' choices and the quality of translation, possible solutions to potential translational problems. The course is going to broaden the participants' awareness of theoretical approaches to translation, mainly in relation to literary and audiovisual material, through reading, writing, and discussion.
The seminar explores the most significant issues within the field of translation studies and attempts to analyze their practical implications. The areas investigated include:
- problems connected with defining the term translation (what is and what is not a translation/what translation is and what it is not);
- types of translation and relations among them;
- the unit of translation;
- the notion of untranslatability;
- types, levels and degrees of translation equivalence;
- the cultural and linguistic factors in the translation process;
- translation strategies;
- translation techniques and procedures;
- translation errors;
- the quality of translation;
- text typology and translation;
- the role of the source text author, the translator, and the target recipient in the process of translation;
- the role of power in translation;
- the issue of manipulation in translation.
The first two semesters of the seminar are meant to introduce the participants to the theoretical approach to translation, which is going to be achieved through reading, writing and discussion, whereas the remaining two semesters will be devoted mainly to working on the MA theses.
As far as their content is concerned, the MA theses are expected to focus on discussing and evaluating theoretical views of translation, possibly providing practical illustrations of particular problems. The practical illustrations may take the form of:
- comparing originals and their existing translations;
- comparing two or more translations of the same original;
- commenting on the strategies employed by the translators;
- discussing possible translation(s) of a given text;
- comparing the two languages and/or cultures and analysing the impact of the differences/similarities on the process of translation.
Material for the analysis may include:
- literature (prose, poetry, drama);
- films and other audiovisuals;
- song lyrics;
- advertisements;
- titles of texts.
Type of course
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE:
The students:
- will learn/ broaden their knowledge about terminology used in linguistics, applied linguistics and translation studies;
- will learn/ broaden their knowledge about translation theories and about the complexity of the process of translation;
- will learn/ broaden their knowledge about research design in language studies, especially about problems, methods, techniques and research tools.
SKILLS:
The students:
- will be able to interpret, analyze, hierarchize and synthesize information and phenomena in the linguistic, cultural and social dimension;
- will be able to assess the usefulness of theoretical approaches for research purposes and for varying practical applications;
- will be able to analyze research results as well as define and carry out their own research tasks; will know how to formulate the research problem and adopt the right method.
SOCIAL COMPETENCES:
The students:
- will become aware of the social role of their knowledge, work and skills;
- will understand the significance of constant learning, realize the need for personal and professional development and be able to define the subsequent stages of this development;
- will feel the need to express themselves in a coherent, clear, logical and precise way in order to ensure effective communication with others.
Assessment criteria
Apart from attending the seminar meetings, preparing the requested home assignments and actively participating in class activities, the students are required to:
-in the first semester: write an essay on a topic of their own choice related to one of the theoretical issues discussed during the classes; formulate the topic of the MA thesis;
-in the second semester: prepare a presentation related to the topic of the thesis; write one complete chapter of the thesis;
-in the third semester: prepare the second chapter of the thesis;
-in the fourth semester: be ready with the final version of the thesis by the end of April.
Bibliography
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Pieńkos, Jerzy (2003) Podstawy przekładoznawstwa. Od teorii do praktyki. Kraków: Kantor Wydawniczy Zakamycze.
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Venuti, Lawrence (1998) The Scandals of Translation. London / New York: Routledge.
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Williams, Jenny and Andrew Chesterman (2002) The Map. A Beginner's Guide to Doing Research in Translation Studies. Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing.
Wojtasiewicz, Olgierd (1996) Wstęp do teorii tłumaczenia. 2nd ed. Warszawa: TEPIS.