Specialisation seminar I: Introduction to literary translation

The course will discuss distinctive features of literary translation as challenges demanding research skills (to understand and interpret the source text) and creativity (to compensate for literary effects lost in the process of translation). The course will cover:

- Bilingual competence versus extralinguistic and strategic competence in literary translation

- Pre-translation analysis and interpretation of a literary text; comprehension and terminological mistakes in literary translation

- Translation shifts and deformations; compensation in literary translation

- Stylistic analysis and imitation; target culture norms and stereotypes of literariness

- Stylized language and non-standard language varieties; archaic and colloquial language; translation of dialogues and forms of address

- Culture-specific items; domestication and foreignization in literary translation

- Translation of wordplays; the notion of untranslatability; the ethics of literary translation

The scope and range of topics may be changed in response to student needs and interests.

Assessment methods:

- translation and review homeworks - K_W02, K_W13, K_U02, K_U11, K_U18 (80%)

- in-class activity (discussions, in-class assignments, group work) - K_W03, K_W08, K_U10, K_K01, K_K04, K_K07 (20%)

2 - below 55%

3 – 55-69 %

3+ – 70-74 %

4 – 75-84 %

4+ - 85-89%

5 – 90-100%