Students

TRAN824 – Literary Translation

2017 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Ilija Casule
Contact via 9850 8660
C5A554
by appointment
Administrator
Xufang Wu
Contact via 9850 6782
Faculty Student Office Linguistics
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
TRAN877 or TRAN816 or admission to MAdvTrans
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit explores the creativity, techniques and strategies involved in translating literary texts and their complex and multi-layer stylistic structure. Students will analyse the art of aesthetic translation and the ways stylistic and symbolic equivalents between the original literary work and the translation can be achieved.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literary translation.
  • Demonstrate awareness of strategies, procedures and principles in transposing literary works from one linguistic and literary system to another.
  • Apply knowledge, skills and techniques to poetic translations
  • Apply a critical analysis to retranslations in their assessment of the aesthetic worth of a translation.

General Assessment Information

ONLINE SUBMISSIONS

Only online submissions through the TRAN824 iLearn website will be accepted. No emailed or hard copy versions will be marked.

EXTENSIONS FOR LATE WORK

Where a student knows ON or BEFORE THE DUE DATE that he/she cannot submit the assignment on the due date because of illness or other certified personal difficulties, the student is entitled to ask for an extension for that piece of work. The extension means that no marks will be deducted for lateness.  In order to receive an extension, we ask students to email a scanned copy of their medical certificate or counselor’s letter to the convener via the Dialogue part of the online unit. In these cases, the student is only entitled to an extension for the period mentioned in the certificate or letter.

LATE SUBMISSIONS:

To help students submit their work in a timely fashion, assignment details are available at least three weeks before the submission date.

If the convener has not granted an extension due to certificated medical problems or to 'unavoidable disruption' prior to the day of submission, a late submission will mean that there will be a 5% deduction per day.  Weekends and public holidays are included.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Group oral presentations 35% No Week 7
Literature review 25% No Week 10
Major essay 40% No Week 13

Group oral presentations

Due: Week 7
Weighting: 35%

Assignment 1.

Each group of five students will select a poem (not smaller than 15 lines) in their first language and every member of the group will translate it individually into English – giving an interlinear translation, a literal translation and a literary translation. Through discussion and comparison the group will identify the major difficulties (this needs to be specific and in direct reference to the source text) and the possible reasons for the variation. As a next step every student will also produce a back translation into the source language and compare it with the original text. The group will then organise an oral presentation in class to discuss their findings. It will prepare a handout with the original poem, the different translations as well as the specific findings. (If there is an existing published translation of the poem it should be consulted and discussed only after the whole translation process has been completed.) As a rough guide, each student will speak for 3-4 minutes.

 

***Students will be assessed 20% individually and 15% as a group


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literary translation.
  • Apply knowledge, skills and techniques to poetic translations
  • Apply a critical analysis to retranslations in their assessment of the aesthetic worth of a translation.

Literature review

Due: Week 10
Weighting: 25%

                       

Choose two scholarly articles from the area of literary translation, summarise them, discuss their findings and relevance and relate them to the issues we have discussed. Assess their contribution to a better understanding of the art of literary translation. Choose articles that are of a more specific nature and involve a translation analysis.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literary translation.
  • Demonstrate awareness of strategies, procedures and principles in transposing literary works from one linguistic and literary system to another.

Major essay

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 40%

Write an essay of approximately 1500 words on one of these topics:

  1. The translatability of poetry.
  2. The (in)visibility of the literary translator.
  3. The translation of metaphor.
  4. The role of translated literature in the literary development in the target language.

On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literary translation.
  • Demonstrate awareness of strategies, procedures and principles in transposing literary works from one linguistic and literary system to another.
  • Apply knowledge, skills and techniques to poetic translations
  • Apply a critical analysis to retranslations in their assessment of the aesthetic worth of a translation.

Delivery and Resources

TECHNOLOGIES REQUIRED

The unit is taught in 12 two hour seminars; each aimed at assisting students’ skills and knowledge acquisition. Attendance is expected but there will be online opportunities to make up missed classes. Each week, students can access content from the iLearn TRAN 824 unit and prepare for the class activities each week.

Unit Schedule

Week

Topic

Reading(s)

1

Introduction. Translatability of literature.

Unit notes. 1-8, 14

2

Literary and non-literary texts.

Newmark 1988:39-171

Lefevere 1992. Ch. 1-3

3

Translation of poetry. 1.

Bassnett 2002: 80-145

4

Translation of poetry 2.

Unit notes.

5

Re-translation of literature.

Guest lecturer.

6

Foreignisation and domestication in literary translation

Guest lecturer.

Mid-semester break

7

Group poetry translation presentations. 1.

 

8

Group poetry translation presentations. 2.

 

9

Translation of drama.

Zuber-Skerritt 1988.

10

Translation of novel and short story.

Bassnett 1988, 1997.

Schulte, Biguenet 1992.

11

Cultural issues in literary translation.

Bassnett 1998

12

The text in the target language literary system. Polysystems theory.

Even-Zohar 2000.

Munday 2001, Ch 7

13

Presentations

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literary translation.
  • Apply knowledge, skills and techniques to poetic translations

Assessment tasks

  • Group oral presentations
  • Major essay

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literary translation.
  • Demonstrate awareness of strategies, procedures and principles in transposing literary works from one linguistic and literary system to another.
  • Apply knowledge, skills and techniques to poetic translations
  • Apply a critical analysis to retranslations in their assessment of the aesthetic worth of a translation.

Assessment tasks

  • Group oral presentations
  • Literature review
  • Major essay

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literary translation.
  • Demonstrate awareness of strategies, procedures and principles in transposing literary works from one linguistic and literary system to another.
  • Apply knowledge, skills and techniques to poetic translations
  • Apply a critical analysis to retranslations in their assessment of the aesthetic worth of a translation.

Assessment tasks

  • Group oral presentations
  • Literature review
  • Major essay

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate awareness of strategies, procedures and principles in transposing literary works from one linguistic and literary system to another.
  • Apply knowledge, skills and techniques to poetic translations
  • Apply a critical analysis to retranslations in their assessment of the aesthetic worth of a translation.

Assessment tasks

  • Group oral presentations
  • Literature review
  • Major essay

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literary translation.
  • Demonstrate awareness of strategies, procedures and principles in transposing literary works from one linguistic and literary system to another.
  • Apply knowledge, skills and techniques to poetic translations

Assessment tasks

  • Group oral presentations
  • Major essay

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of literary translation.
  • Demonstrate awareness of strategies, procedures and principles in transposing literary works from one linguistic and literary system to another.
  • Apply knowledge, skills and techniques to poetic translations

Assessment tasks

  • Group oral presentations
  • Major essay