History and Theory of Translation
Objectives
1) To provide an overview of the main developments taking place in translation theory and practice in the Western World from Antiquity until the middle of the 20th century in both the secular and religious traditions.
2) To enable an understanding of the core precepts underpinning different theories of translation and how they have developed over time.
3) To enable an understanding of the role played by translation in the transmission of knowledge and ideologies across space and time, as well as in the development of languages, religions, cultures and literary systems.
4) To develop students' capacities for critical analysis and creative thought.
5) To develop academic skills such as the ability to conduct online and bibliographic research, participate in debates, produce high-quality written assignments and make oral presentations.
General characterization
Code
722101033
Credits
10.0
Responsible teacher
Karen Bennett
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - 280
Teaching language
English
Prerequisites
Bachelor's Degree and Grade C2 in English
Bibliography
1) Bassnett, S. (2002). Translation Studies, 3rd Edition. London/New York: Routledge.
2) Deslisle, J. & J. Woodsworth (eds.) (2012). Translators through History. Revised edition. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
3) Hayes, J. C. (2009). Translation, Subjectivity & Culture in France and England, 1600-1800. California: Stanford U.P.
4) Montgomery, S. (2000). Science in Translation: Movements of Knowledge through Cultures and Times. Chicago: Chicago U.P
5) Rener, F. (1989). Interpretatio: Language and Translation from Cicero to Tytler. Amsterdam/Atlanta: Rodopi
6) Steiner, G. (1998) After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation. Oxford/ New York: Oxford U.P.
7) Venuti, L. (1995). The Translator´s Invisibility: A History of Translation. London/New York: Routledge.
8) Weissbort, D. and A. Eysteinsson (eds.) (2006). Translation – Theory and Practice: A Historical Reader. Oxford: Oxford U.P.
Teaching method
Teaching is primarily student-oriented, organised around a series of seminar papers and debates led by students, but with brief expository introductions by the teacher. When time permits, there are also sessions devoted to practical translation criticism.
Evaluation method
Continuous Evaluation - Continuous assessment covering attendance, participation in class, and motivation (20%), Oral presentation on one of the topics from the course, which they prepare using a specialised bibliography and guidelines provided by the teacher(30%), Written paper of 3000 words on a topic of their choice (comparison of different historical translations or study of a translator)(50%)
Subject matter
1. The Bible
1.1. Bible Translations in Antiquity: Septuagint, Vulgate, Augustine
1.2. Early Modern Bibles: Wyclife, Erasmus, Luther, Tyndale
1.3. Evangelism and Reaction: Jesuit Missions, Colonial Bibles and Feminist Bibles
2. The Classical Heritage
2.1. Classical Heritage in Antiquity: Cicero, Horace, Jerome
2.2. Classical Heritage in Medieval and Early Modern Periods: Schools of Baghdad and Toledo, and Renaissance Humanism
2.3. Classical Heritage since 17th century: Neoclassicism in France and England
3. Nations and Vernaculars
3.1. Rise of the Nation State: Caxton and Standardization of English, Dolet, La Pléiade and Affirmation of French
3.2. German Romanticism: Schleiermacher, Herder, Goethe
4. Colonial Heritage
4.1. Orientalism: Thousand and One Nights; Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
4.2. Postcolonial Translation
5. Hermeneutic Tradition
5.1. Legacy of German Philosophy: Benjamin, Ortega y Gasset
5.2. 20th Century Manifestations: Derrida, Steiner, Untranslatables (Cassin, Apter)