Studiegids

nl en

Cultural Translation

Vak
2015-2016

Tags

HD, HI

Admissions requirements

Art of Reading or What is Culture or permission of instructor

Description

Everybody knows translation as the activity of turning text into another language, e.g. Chinese into English (inter-lingual and inter-cultural translation). Sometimes, there is no exact equivalent for a word in another language, e.g. there is no English equivalent for Slavic “doček”.

Apart from inter-lingual translation, there are lots of other translational activities: what about the process of making a film version of a novel? (inter-medial translation) And if you talk to people outside academic a about your studies, you have to translate, even if the other person is speaking the same language; if a researcher has collected data, and s/he wants to write an academic publication about it, those data have to be translated into an academic narrative (intra-lingual and intra-cultural translation).

In this course we will investigate into various aspects/kinds of translation, also looking at theoretical approaches. It will address issues of (un)translatability, power, otherness, historicity, etc. Every lecture will start with a case study. Active participation is paramount.

Course objectives

This course will introduce students to major themes and methodologies in cultural translation. Upon completion of the course, students are able to:

  • demonstrate profound knowledge of major themes of cultural translation

  • identify, explain, and employ theoretical notions such as (un)translatability, power, otherness, historicity, etc.

  • devise and execute a well-argued research essay.

Timetable

Once available, timetables will be published here.

Mode of instruction

There will be two approximately 2-hour sessions per regular week, organized as a balance of seminar instruction, discussions, student-presentations, and guest lectures.

Assessment

  • Seminar participation: 20%
    Continuous assessment of your individual engagement with the course material and with the thoughts of your peers throughout the course

  • Oral presentations in class: 20%

  • Written analyses of up to 500 words in weeks 2-6: 30%
    You will be graded on this cumulative portfolio of 2000-2500 words over this period

  • Final Research Essay, 30%

Blackboard

There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.

Reading list

TBA on Blackboard.

Registration

This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.

Contact

a.visser@hum.leidenuniv.nl