Glasgow in Translation: Exemplified by the Work of Alasdair Gray and James Kelman 3301-LB2067-2ST
During the course, in our translation (and translation studies)-oriented analysis we will focus on selected novels and short stories of Alasdair Gray and James Kelman, two major figures of the new Scottish renaissance of the late 20th century. Our goal is to explore the specificity of these authors as representatives of contemporary Scottish prose – and specifically Glasgow literature – and to concentrate on its key linguistic, cultural and formal aspects in the context of translating such writing into Polish.
We will discuss the following topics and texts:
1. The new Scottish renaissance of the 1980s and ‘90s – the historical context, main concepts, characteristics and authors, with particular emphasis on Glasgow writing
2-4. Alasdair Gray – Alasdair Gray, Lanark: A Life in Four Books (1981) – a portrait of the city
5-6. text and image; Poor Things (1992) versus Biedne Istoty (1997) – an examination of Gray’s novel and its translation by Ewa Horodyska
7-8. Alasdair Gray, 1982 Janine (1984) – experimenting with genre and typography
9-11. James Kelman - seeking and establishing identity in language; How Late It Was, How Late (1994) versus Jak późno było, jak późno (2011) - an analysis of Kelman’s novel and its translation by Jolanta Kozak
12-13. James Kelman, A Dissafection (1989) - authorial anti-authoritarianism
14-15. James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy (2008) - Glasgow as seen by a child
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes for students enrolled before 2022/2023:
During the course, students will become familiar with the work of two major authors of contemporary Scottish prose. They will also learn about the main mechanisms, strategies and theoretical issues within the field of translation studies that a translator of such literature should be taking into consideration in their work. Having completed the course, students will be able to assess and critically examine literary translations, taking into account the requirements of both source and target cultures, as well as be able to analyse source texts as translation material.
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.
Education at language level B2+
Learning outcomes for students enrolled in 2022/2023:
Knowledge
The graduate will be able to:
K_W01 Identify and characterize on an advanced level the place and status of literary translation, and especially translation of contemporary Scottish fiction (exemplified by the works of Alasdair Gray and James Kelman) within the humanities
K_W02 Describe on an advanced level the current trends in literary translation research, especially concerning contemporary Scottish fiction in translation (exemplified by the works of Alasdair Gray and James Kelman) within English studies
Abilities
The graduate is able to:
K_U01 Apply advanced terminology and notions pertinent to the analysis of literary translation and contemporary Scottish prose in translation
K_U03 Apply knowledge obtained during the course of studies to account for and solve a problem, thereby completing a research task related to translation of contemporary Scottish prose (exemplified by the works of Alasdair Gray and James Kelman)
K_U04 Analyze linguistic, literary and cultural phenomena related to translation of contemporary Scottish prose (exemplified by the works of Alasdair Gray and James Kelman), and draw generalizations on their basis in the context of societal, historical and economic factors on an advanced level
K_U05 Discern alternative methodological paradigms within literary translation and translation studies
K_U08 Participate in group projects, collaborate with others and be a team leader in conducting collaborative research, presentations and other tasks concerning contemporary Scottish prose as material for translation into Polish
K_U09 Present knowledge related to translation of contemporary Scottish prose into Polish in a coherent, precise and linguistically correct manner in English on level C2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, ensuring an appropriate register and form
Social competences
The graduate is ready to:
K_K02 Apply knowledge of literary translation and skills obtained during the course of studies to undertake lifelong learning, as well as personal and professional development
K_K03 Take responsibility for performing one’s professional duties, with due respect for the work of others, obey and develop the ethical norms in professional and academic settings related to literary translation and translation studies
K_K04 Assess critically one’s own knowledge and skills related to the analysis of contemporary Scottish prose in translation.
Assessment criteria
The final grade will be based on: 1) regular attendance and active participation in classes as well as the submission of short home assignments; 2) A written assignment: an analysis of a selected text by Alasdair Gray or James Kelman as material for translation into Polish, which will examine the difficulties that the translator of the given text would have to face, and propose concrete solutions.
Attendance - min. 80%
If the course is taught online, each student is expected to have a working web-cam and microphone.
Retake - rewriting the term paper, if the student has received an unsatisfactory grade. Completing additional written assignments, if the in-class work has been unsatisfactory.
Bibliography
Critical texts:
Bassnett, Susan (1991) Translation Studies, London: Routledge
Bassnett, Susan and André Lefevere (1998) Constructing Cultures. Essays on Literary Translation, Clevedon: Multilingual Matters
Bukowski, Piotr i Magda Heydel red. (2009) Współczesne teorie przekładu, Kraków: Znak
Brown, Ian and Alan Riach eds (2009) The Edinburgh Companion to Twentieth-century Scottish Literature, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Craig, Cairns (1999) The Modern Scottish Novel. Narrative and the National Imagination, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Hames, Scott (2010) The Edinburgh Companion to James Kelman, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Korzeniowska, Aniela (2008) Translating Scotland. Nation and Identity, Warsaw: University of Warsaw
Kozak, Jolanta (2009) Przekład literacki jako metafora. Miedzy logos a lexis, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN
Schoene, Berthold ed. (2007) The Edinburgh Companion to Contemporary Scottish Literature, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
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
Wallace, G. and R. Stevenson eds (1994) The Scottish Novel since the Seventies, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
The novels:
Gray, Alasdair (1981) Lanark: A Life in Four Books, Edinburgh: Canongate Books
Gray, Alasdair (1984) 1982, Janine, London: Penguin Books
Gray, Alasdair (1992) Poor Things, London: Bloomsbury Press
Kelman, James, Alasdair Gray and Agnes Owens (1985) Lean Tales, London: Jonathan Cape
Kelman, James (1989) A Disaffection, London: Vintage
Kelman, James (1994) How Late It Was, How Late, London: Vintage
Kelman, James (2008) Kieron Smith, Boy, London: Hamish Hamilton
Polish translations:
Gray, Alasdair (1997) Biedne istoty: sceny z wczesnych lat życia doktora Archibalda McCandlessa inspektora szkockiej służby zdrowia, trans. Ewa Horodyska, Warszawa: PIW
Kelman, James (2011) Jak późno było, jak późno, trans. Jolanta Kozak, Warszawa: PIW
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: