This module aims to present the nature and cultural role of the minority languages of Europe from the perspective of translation. It examines the specificity of minority languages, the politics and policies regarding their constitution and translation, their role in European culture and society and the parameters of their cultural and political dimensions, and the legal framework within which they exist.

On successful completion of the module a student will be able to:

- show awareness of the cultural dimensions involved in the translation process

- show ability to understand the specificity of minority languages

- show ability to evaluate the cultural and political challenges of translating minority languages

- show understanding of the role of translation in European culture.

How the module will be delivered

Five fortnightly, two-hour lectures/seminars in the second semester (Spring).

Semester week:

2: Welsh - Jeremy Evas

4: Welsh - Jeremy Evas

6: Irish - Diarmait Mac-Giolla Chriost

8: East European Minorities – Svetlana Skomorokhova

10: Catalan - Andrew Dowling

Skills that will be practised and developed

Intellectual Skills:

- demonstrate a high level of critical awareness, and an ability to develop and expound an argument in favour or against a given viewpoint, as appropriate to the module.

- show ability to present arguments in a structured, logical and coherent manner.

Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

- demonstrate a high level of intercultural awareness.

- critically assess positions of theory and criticism, as appropriate to the module.

- demonstrate capacity for analysing and interpreting complex cultural issues and socio-historical context in the field of study covered by the module, using appropriate terminology.

Transferable Skills:

- demonstrate organisational and research skills.

- demonstrate basic word-processing skills.

- enhance note-taking skills.

- engage with other people’s ideas in a critical and respectful way.

The opportunity for reassessment in this module

The essay can be resubmitted and a maximum mark of 40% awarded

Syllabus content

There are five sessions in total. Two cover Welsh and the cultural and sociolinguistic context of Wales; the other sessions address the same topics in relation to Irish, Catalan and Galician. Seminars consist of a presentation by the lecturer and a discussion session afterwards in which the issues addressed are explored on the basis of questions posed by students.

Colin BAKER, Aspects of Bilingualism in Wales, Clevedon, Multilangual Matters, 1985.

Michael Cronin, Altered States: Translation and Minority Languages (http//id.erudit.org/iderudit/037198ar)

Gabrielle HOGAN-BRUN and Stefan WOLFF, Minority Languages in Europe: Frameworks, Status, Prospects, New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2003

Mairéad NIC CRAITH, Europe and the Politics of Language, New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.