The module aims to give a survey of the main theoretical approaches to translation and the influential concepts that have been used to reflect on translation practice. You will learn about historical figures who pioneered the Western reflection on translation and often played a pivotal role in the cultural, intellectual and political events of their time, as well as key thinkers who developed contemporary translation theory, drawing on several academic disciplines. Following the ideas of the key thinkers, you will explore translation from a linguistic, philosophical, cultural and ideological perspective.

• Have an understanding of the use of theory for translation;

• Have a knowledge of the main theoretical approaches to translation;

• Show ability to analyse the nature and relevance of various theoretical arguments with regard to translation practice.

• We will provide 20 lectures and 5 seminars totalling 25 hours of classroom instruction. This will be supplemented by your homework tasks and reading.
• There will be an essay writing class and a revision/exam strategy session to prepare you for the assessment. There will also be revision consultation sessions at the end of the module in which members of the teaching team will be available in their offices.

• Lectures will develop your capacity to absorb information and apply relevant concepts to analyse language and translation-related problems.

• Seminars will develop the capacity to read critically and present your views to a group or class.

• Through independent learning, essay and exam preparation you will practise and develop research skills and the capacity to deploy information in well-constructed arguments.

• The essay coursework will also enable you to practise and develop written presentation and ICT (Informationommunications Technology) skills.

Coursework (Essay) - 50% - end of Autumn semester

2 hour written exam - 50% - Spring exam period

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

Students who do not gain an overall pass in the module will be able to re-submit a written project in the August re-sit period. This will comprise 100% of the mark. 

Autumn Semester

Lectures:

Week 1 (CSM)
Introduction/History

Week 2 (CSM)
History 1

Week 3 (CSM)
History 2

Week 4 (DG)
The Linguistic Turn 1

Week 5 (DG)
The Linguistic Turn 2

Week 6
Reading Week (no class)

Week 7 (DG)
The Linguistic Turn 3

Week 8 (DG)
Translation and Society 1

Week 9 (DG)
Translation and Society 2

Week 10 (DG)
Translation and Society 3

Week 11 (tbc)
Essay Writing Class

Seminars:

Week 5 (DG)
The Linguistic Turn

Week 9 (DG)
Translation and Society

 

Spring Semester

Lectures:

Week 1 (DG)
Translation and Society 4

Week 2 (KSG)
The Functionalists 1

Week 3  (KSG)
The Functionalists 2

Week 4 (KSG)
The Functionalists 3

Week 5 (KSG)
The Functionalists 4

Week 6
Reading Week (no class)

Week 7 (KSG)
The Cultural Turn 1

Week 8 (KSG)
The Cultural Turn 2

Week 9 (KSG)
The Cultural Turn 3

Week 10 (KSG)
The Cultural Turn 4

Week 11 KSG
Exam Techniques

Seminars:

Week 3 (KSG)
The Functionalists

Week 8 (KSG)
The Cultural Turn

Week 10 (KSG)
Revision Session

Essential Reading and Resource List

General Reading:

Baker, M. and Saldanha, G. (eds.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies (London: Routledge, 2009)

Munday, J., Introducing Translation Studies (London: Routledge, 2001)

Shuttleworth, M. and M. Cowie, Dictionary of Translation Studies (Manchester: St Jerome, 1997)

Venuti, L. (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader (London: Routledge, any edition)

The History of Translation:

Bassnett, Susan, Translation Studies (London: Routledge, 1980) [Chapters 1 and 2]

Bassnett, Susan, ‘The Meek or the Mighty: Reappraising the Role of the Translator’. In R. A. and M. C.-A. Vidal (eds.), Translation Power Subversion (Clevedon, Philadelphia, Adelaide: Multilingual Matters, 1996), pp. 10-24

Dryden, John, ‘From the Preface to Ovid’s Epistles’ in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader (London: Routledge, 2002), pp. 38-42

Jerome, ‘Letter to Pammachius’ in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader (London: Routledge 2002), pp. 21-30

Munday, Jeremy, Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications (London: Routledge, 2008)

Schleiermacher, Friedrich, ‘On the different methods of translating’, in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader (London: Routledge, 2002), pp.43-63

Steiner, George, After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation (Oxford: OUP, 1998)

Venuti, Lawrence, The Translator’s Invisibility (London: Routledge, 1994), Chapters 2 and 3

The Linguistic Turn

Fawcett, Peter, Translation and Language. Linguistic Theories Explained (Manchester: St. Jerome, 1997)

Jakobson, Roman, ‘On Linguistic Aspects of Translation’, in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader, 2^nd Edition (London: Routledge, 2004), pp. 138-43

Nida, Eugene, ‘Principles of Correspondence’ in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader, 2^nd Edition (London: Routledge, 2004), pp. 153-67

Nida, Eugene, Language structure and translation: essays (Stanford: Stanford University

          Press, 1975)

Robinson, Douglas, Becoming a Translator (London: Routledge, 2012), Chapter 7

Vinay, Jean-Paul and Jean Darbelnet, ‘A Methodology for Translation’, trans. by Juan C. Sagar and M.-J. Hamel, in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader, 2^nd Edition (London: Routledge, 2004), pp. 128-37

Translation and Society

Cronin, Michael, ‘The Cracked Looking Glass of Servants: Translation and Minority Languages in a Global Age’, in M. Baker (ed.) Critical Readings in Translation Studies (London & New York: Routledge, 2010), pp 247-62

Davidson, Brad, ‘The Interpreter as Institutional Gatekeeper: The Social-linguistic Role of Interpreters in Spanish-English Medical Discourse’, in M. Baker (ed.), Critical Readings in Translation Studies (London & New York: Routledge, 2010), pp. 152-73

Even-Zohar, Itamar, ‘The Position of Translated Literature Within the Literary Polysystem’, in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader, 2nd Edition (London: Routledge, 2004), pp. 199-204

Hermans, Theo, Translation in Systems: Descriptive and Systemic Approaches Explained (Manchester: St. Jerome, 1999), Chapters 8 and 9

Robinson, Douglas, Becoming a Translator (London: Routledge, 2012), Chapter 8

Toury, Gideon, ‘The Nature and Role of Norms in Translation’, in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader, 2nd Edition (London: Routledge, 2004), pp. 205-18

Functionalism:

Gutt, E., Translation and Relevance: cognition and context (Oxford: Blackwell, 1991)

Hatim, B., Discourse and the Translator (London: Longman 2010)

Nord, C., Translating as a Purposeful Activity: Functionalist Approaches Explained (Manchester: St. Jerome, 1997)

Reiss, K., ‘Type, kind and individuality of text: Decision making in translation’, in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader. 2^nd Edition (London: Routledge, 2004), pp. 168-79

Reiss, K. & H. Vermeer, Towards a General Theory of Translational Action: Skopos Theory Explained (Manchester: St. Jerome, 2013)

Snell-Hornby, M., The turns of translation studies: new paradigms or shifting viewpoints? (Amsterdam: Benjamins, 2006)

The Cultural Turn:

Bassnett, S. and A. Lefevere, Constructing Cultures (Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 1998)

Bassnett, S. & H. Trivedi (eds.) Postcolonial Translation: Theory and Practice (London: Routledge, 1999)

Chamberlain, L. ‘Gender and the Metaphorics of Translation’, in L. Venuti (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader. 2nd Edition (London: Routledge, 2004).

Lefevere, A., Translation, Rewriting & the Manipulation of Literary Fame (New York & London: Routledge, 1992)

Robinson, D. Translation and Empire (Manchester: St. Jerome, 1997)

Simon, S. Gender in Translation (London & New York: Routledge, 1996)