LN312 Translation and Translators in the Contemporary World
| Module Code: LN312 |
|---|
| Module Name: Translation and Translators in the Contemporary World |
| Module Coordinator: Dr Anna Lanfranchi |
| Term 2 |
| Module Credits: 15 |
Module Description
Please note that you do NOT need to have followed the SMLC Translation pathway to take this module; this module can be taken in either your intermediate or final year
All resources and further information are available on Moodle
This cross-SMLC module introduces students to translation as a specific set of skills. It situates the practice of translation within the context of relevant theories developed in the field of Translation Studies, and raises awareness of the role of translation and translators in contemporary society. Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective and integrating a linguistic approach with sociological and cultural theories, the module presents case studies related to the students’ language specialisms, which challenge a purely textual approach to translation.
By looking at the role of translators, as well as publishers and editors, students are encouraged to approach translation as a multifaceted cultural process involving several diverse agents and perspectives in both source and target culture.
The module aims to allow students to reflect upon their own reading of translations and their own translation practices in relation to cultural and sociological issues.
Module Aims:
- to enable students to critically reflect on the multifaceted concept of translation from a cultural, sociological and historical perspective, by analysing case studies related to their language specialism
- to encourage students to see the translation as a two-way process of cultural exchange, an understanding which can enrich their study of texts
- to allow students to strengthen their critical analysis of the relationship between text and culture by exploring translation not only from a linguistic perspective but also from a cultural perspective
- to enrich students’ perception of translation as both cultural process and cultural product through assessed work, aimed at raising awareness of (a) the need for a translation to fit publishing agendas; (b) the cultural and publishing constraints at stake when translating a text from a source to target culture
- to raise students’ awareness of the role of diverse agents, including translators, publishers and editors, in the process of translation, by means of assessed work, seminar discussions and group work
- to enhance students’ analytical and communicative skills through seminar presentations, and their critical approach through the translation project
Teaching Arrangements
Term 2, 2-hour sessions mixed lecture and seminar. Teaching Delivery is subject to Government and University Guidance
All resources and further information are available on MoodleLink opens in a new window
Module Outline (2024/25)
Week 1: Translation in theory and practice
The lecture and seminar will introduce the theory and practice of translation, in its multiple forms (ranging from literary translation to community interpreting).
Week 2: Translation and World Literature
This session will analyse the relationship between translation, national canons and world literature, examining the role of translation in the production, distribution and reception of cultural artefacts. The seminar will discuss in more detail translation in relation to world literature.
Week 3: Translation and Publishing
In this session, students will be introduced to the sociological theory of translation in relation to the publishing market. The lecture and seminars will prompt students to shift their focus from the concept of translation as a text to that of translation as a cultural product and process. The analysis of the publishing field at a national level will enhance a deeper understanding of cultural exchanges on a translational level.
Week 4: Translation and the Profession
The lecture will focus on Skopos theory and functionalism to understand how to implement the translation-oriented source-text analysis (TOSTA) model. The session will invite students to reflect upon the textual and extra-textual aspects that help translators make decisions when completing a translation task. The seminar will explore the opportunities and the challenges that AI poses for the profession.
Week 5: Translation and evaluation
This session will focus on evaluating translations considering the relationship between translators and readers. In this session, students will learn about rich points and how these can be analysed to understand the decision-making process of translators and the impact these could have on readers. Students will present and discuss case studies to become familiar with the model for translation analysis.
Week 6: Reading week
Week 7: Audio-visual Translation
The lecture and seminar will focus on how translation is used in the film industry throughout the world. The session will invite students to reflect upon the cultural, aesthetic, and operational aspects at play in the cultural transfer of subtitles and dubbing.
Week 8: Multimodal translation (TBC)
Week 9: Translation Project & Presentations I
Workshop for the design and fine-tuning of translation projects with practical examples. Student presentations.
Week 10: Translation Project & Presentations II
Workshop for the design and fine-tuning of translation projects with practical examples. Student presentations.
Assessment for the module
- Translation Portfolio Presentation (20%)
- Translation Portfolio (3,000 words; 80%)
The translation portfolio comprises the analysis (in English) of a published translation, a retranslation, and an analysis (in English) of this retranslation.