Course Summary
This is a basic course, which will introduce students to key theories, models and approaches in Translation Studies relevant to contemporary research and practice in the field. The students would be studying statements from linguists, theologians, and writers to examine and recognize the value of the diversity with which translation has been appreciated and practiced throughout the ages. They will be able to analyse the traditional understanding of the link between the original and translated text, between author and translator, the source and target languages and cultures.
Course Aims
To enable students to interact critically and productively with examples of translation from various languages and to introduce students to some of the theoretical aspects of translation studies.
Learning Outcomes
Translation is one of the biggest new sectors opening up in literary studies. This course together with the companion course taught at the master’s level aims to take advantage of India’s multilinguism to raise the quality of translation to levels that may not be possible in monolingual countries.
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Interact critically and productively with translated texts, would be able to see some of the theoretical implications of translation without producing hasty judgements, comprehend and examine the basic skills in translating
Curriculum Content
Lectures, discussions, and practical work, Translation Project, Student Practice Lecture, short term paper, Group work
WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
Modules Weeks Topics Explorations
Module 1
Week 1- week- 8 Introduction, Definition, History of Translation and Translation Studies
From Classical Period and Middle Ages. Cicero, St. Jerome,
Roman Jakobson, Jean-Paul Vinay and Jean Darbelnet, Peter Newmark,
Werner Koller, Eugene Nida, Andre Lefevre, Itamar Even-Zohar, Lawrence Venuti, Susan Bassenet, Hans Vermeer Videos; Hands on practice; In-Class-Activities – all are graded.
In-Class Discussion and short write-up (400-500 words): Letters of St. Jerome; Letter 57 -- To Pammachius on the Best Method of Translating;
In-Class-Activities x4 – all are graded.
Linguistic approach; Machine Translation; Translation: process and product, Techniques, strategies, and procedures in translation In-Class-Activities [graded] - Rapid fire questions to be translated - activity
Module 2
Week 9- 11 Module 2
Student led Discussions followed by Response Papers
A Survey of Different Approaches in Translation Studies:
Functional
Systems
Individual Student Practice Lecture (not a presentation) on a specified topic
Week 8-11:
In-Class Discussion and short write-up (400-500 words): The Task Of The Translator by Walter Benjamin.
In-Class Discussion and short write-up (400-500 words): The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Poly-system by Even Zohar
In-Class Discussion and short write-up (400-500 words): The Priority of Purpose (Skopos theory) by Vermeer
In-Class Discussion and short write-up (400-500 words): The Hermeneutic Motion by George Steiner
In-Class Discussion and short write-up (400-500 words): English Translation of Marcel Proust “Swann’s Way’
Submission of Topics for Student Practice Lecture
Module 3 Week 12 - 14
Module 3
The video assignment presentation by each group - to be shown and presented in the class for peer assessment.
Translation Studies and Other Disciplines
Cultural turn; cultural studies; gender studies– feminist translation theory
Simon, Sherry
Postcolonial translation theory
Translation Project: (40%) – Translation Project should be worked in two sections:
1. Section A: Translated text into TL – English
2. Section B: Critical commentary on the translated text by the student. [Guidelines would be on Blackboard]
The videos uploaded by students to be shown in the class for peer assessment.
In-Class Discussion and short write-up (400-500 words): English Translation of ‘Siddhartha’ by Herman Hesse.
In-Class Discussion and short write-up (400-500 words): Guido’s Relations by Ezra Pound
In-Class Discussion and short write-up (400-500 words): The Politics of Translation by Spivak Gayatri Chakravorty;
Translation Project: (40%)
A. Submission of Topic for: One 1500 words Long Term Paper
B. Draft #1 –
C. Draft #2 –
D. Final submission on Blackboard
- All are graded.
Teaching and Learning Strategy
(Teaching methods and tools, use of LMS, software used or taught, external visits, workshops)
Teaching and Learning Strategy Description of Work Class Hours Out-of-Class Hours
Lectures and discussion Lectures 45 45
Practical work 15
ASSSESSMENT
Assessment Strategy
Formative assessment and feedback to student, Summary assessment at the end of the course. Weightage to be given for active class participation. 85% Attendance is mandatory.
Formative Assessment:
a) Student led Discussions
b) Response Paper
c) Individual Student Lecture Session
d) Assignment
e) Final Long Term-Paper
f) Class Participation
2. Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy
Assessment Scheme
Type of Assessment Description Percentage
Class Attendance, Discussion and Written Essays. Marks for attendance + Student led Discussions in class for all the essays
To asses and demontrate the ability to assess and deploy critical thinking 25%
Group Presentation on video presentation made on Translation Errors To demonstrate the viewpoint about a given idea, topic or theme 15%
Individual Student Lecture Sessions To analyze and demonstrate critical thinking 20%
Final Research Translation Project
[First Draft
Second Draft
Final submission] To analyse and write critical interpretation and assessment 40%
Reference Books, Essays and Articles
Munday Jeremy; 2008; Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications; Taylor & Francis;
Susan Bassnett, 2002, Translation Studies, 3rd edition
The Routledge Encyclopaedia of Translation Studies (eds. Baker and Saldanha, 2nd edition, 2009
John Biguenet and Rainer Schulte, eds., The Craft of Translation
The Letters of St. Jerome; Letter 57 -- To Pammachius on the Best Method Of Translating; English Translation
Vermeer Hans J, The Priority of Purpose (Skopos theory)
George Steiner: The Translation Studies Reader.
Even-Zohar Itamar, 1990, The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Poly-system.
Simon, Sherry; Gender in Translation - Cultural Identity and the Politics of Transmission. 1996.New York: Routledge.
Tejaswini Niranjana; Siting Translation: History, Post-Structuralism and the Colonial Context
Spivak Gayatri Chakravorty; The Politics of Translation.
Benjamin Walter,The Task Of The Translator,
Pound Ezra, Guid
Primary Texts
Munday Jeremy; 2008; Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications; Taylor & Francis; ISBN: 0415396948, 9780415396943
Susan Bassnett, ed. Translating Literature
John Biguenet and Rainer Schulte, eds., The Craft of Translation
The Letters of St. Jerome; Letter 57 -- To Pammachius On The Best Method Of Translating; English Translation: Fremantle, pp. 112-119
Vermeer Hans J.;1996; “Skopos and Commission in Translational Action
George Steiner: The Translation Studies Reader. 2000. (Ed) Lawrence Venuti. Routledge
Itamar Even-Zohar: "The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem." Poetics Today 11:1 (1990), pp. 45-51.
Simon, Sherry; Gender in Trans-lation — Cultural Identity and the Politics of Transmission. 1996. New York: Routledge
Tejaswini Niranjana; Siting Translation: History, Post-Structuralism and the Colonial Context
Spivak Gayatri Chakravorty; ‘The Politics of Translation’. In The Translation Studies Reader. 2000. (Ed) Lawrence Venuti. Routledge
