Comp. Lit. 406
Translation
Spring 2006
Office: Busch Hall 121
E-mail: fatemeh@artsci.wustl.edu
Tel: 935-5156
Description
The act of
translation, its
function in bringing distant cultures within reach, its role in
enhancing our
communication skills, and the transformation that it brings to texts
while
transferring them from language to language has been subject of debate
for a
long time. Should we make “foreign” texts fully ours, or should we let
them
enrich our tradition with their “foreignness? “How important is
“loyalty” to
the original text? Should a translator be a scholar as well? Are all
subject
matters fairly similar when it comes to translating them? Why do we
need to
theorize about of translation anyway? Isn’t every act of communication
a form
of translation, after all?
This course examines
the above
questions and many more that arise in discussions of practice and
theory of
literary translation. We will explore the literary and linguistic
processes
involved in translating texts. At the
same time, successful translation requires in-depth knowledge of the
socio-cultural conditions in which the original text has been produced.
The
expectations of the readers of the translated version play an equally
important
role. We will discuss the cultural significance of translation in our
increasingly interconnected world and the intricate role translated
works play
in presenting the rest of the world to us.
Goals & Methods
The readings are not overwhelming in quantity but rather rich with debate generating points. I expect every member of the class to have read the reading of the day and selected at least three such points before coming to class. I will not ask you to hand in a list of these points but instead want you to be ready to contribute them to our class discussion as the occasion arises. Instead of long lectures on theoretical points, I will provide my own discussion generating points in intervals of ten minutes or so. I will do my best to illustrate these points with examples when possible.
You will hand in a sample weekly translation on Thursdays (with the exception of the first week). I would expect this to be a paragraph (not longer than two paragraphs if one paragraph is too short for your specific purpose). Be prepared to talk about your translations and discuss the difficulties as well as the pleasures of translating them. That is why knowing a language in addition to English is a requirement for the course. The class readings will provide you with a large number of translation-related issues to guide you in discussing your translation sample with the class. It does not matter if the language you translate from is not known by the class. Many of the issues involved in translation are common to the process regardless of the language.
In addition, you will have two (approximately 15 minutes) opportunities to generate discussion about the significant/interesting/problematic points in the reading assigned for the class in question.
Because practical aspects of translation are as important to us as theoretical ones, translators will be invited to the class to speak about their published works. At the same time, we will get a chance to test some of our theoretical learning in the exchange that we will have with these translators.
Rainer Schulte & John Biguenet ed., Theories of Translation: An Anthology of Essays from Dryden to Derrida (Chicago & London: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1992).
Robert Wechsler, Performing Without A Stage: The Art of Literary Translation (North Haven, CT: Catbird Press, 1998).
Susan Bassnett & Harish Trivedi ed., Post-Colonial Translation: Theory and Practice (London & New York: Routledge, 1999).
John
Biguenet & Rainer Schulte, The Craft
of Translation (Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press,
1989).
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Reading Mystical Lyric: The Case of Jalal al-Din Rumi (South Carolina University Press, 1998). Selections from the text. Handout.
Lawrence
Venuti ed., The Translation Studies
Reader. 2nd. Ed (
Evaluation
No prerequisites; the requirements include:
Regular attendance & participation 10%
Sample weekly translations
due Thursdays 40%
Two oral presentations 15%
Final translation project 35%
Weekly Schedule
Week 1 (Jan. 18-20)
Introducing the course, and going over the
syllabus.
The goals, methods, and strategies.
Introduction to the craft of translation.
Week 2 (Jan. 25-27)
Varieties, Aspects, and Difficulties of
Translation.
Week 3 (Feb. 1-3)
Guest Translator
Literary Translation
Week 4 (Feb.8-10)
Literary Translation
Week 5 (Feb.15-17)
Literary Translation
Week 6 (Feb. 22-24)
Film: Love’s Confusing Joy. Coleman Barks on Rumi.
A comparison between approaches to Rumi
Week 7 (March 1-3)
Translating the Other
Film: Poetry as
translation, translating anger into…, composing the other
Spring Break, March 7-13
Week 8 (March 15-17)
Translating the Other
Week 9 (March 22-24)
Guest Translator
Translation as Reconstruction
Reading: The Craft of Translation, vii-69
Week 10 (March 29-31)
Translation as Reconstruction
Guest Translator
Week 11 (April 5-7)
The Politics of Translation
Handout
Week 12 (April 12-13)
The Relevance of Translation
The Translation
Studies Reader, 423-502.
Handout
Week 13 (April 19-21)
Translating for performing arts
Guest Translator
Week 14 (April 26-28)
Presentations
Concluding Remarks
Final Translation
Project due