AJ69012 Theory of Translation I

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2016
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Renata Kamenická, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Jana Chamonikolasová, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 9:10–10:45 G31
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Within the one-semester lecture course offered as a part of the Master's Diploma in Translation studies programme, students will become familar with the basic topics and issues in theory of translation. Firstly, students will get insights into the main tasks of theory of translation and the connections between translation theory and practice and then they will get knowledge of the maine milestones of history of translation and theory of translation. They will be initiated into the specifics of Czech and Slovak theories of translation (with focus on Levý and Popovič). In the rest of the course they will get a sense of the main trends in – especially contemporary – theory of translation. Since the studies programme has a strong practical focus, the requirements for successful completion of the course will include mastering the content of the course as presented in the lectures plus having read a selection of chapters from the literature recommended by the teacher during the semester. Credits will be granted upon passing a written exam.
Syllabus
  • (1) Theory of translation and relevance for translation practice, the tasks of theory of translation – J. Holmes, Chesterman. (2) Recurrent issues in theory of translation (source/target language/culture emphasis; equivalence; translatability vs. untranslatability; free vs. literal translation; re/writing vs. translation), memes (Chesterman); the issue of equivalence in translation theory. (3) A brief outline of history of translation, history of translation vs. contemporary translation theories. (4) Czech theories of translation: J. Levý and his position in translation theory in general, Czech structuralism and translation. (5) Slovak theories of translation: A. Popovič and Fr. Miko and their position in the context of theory of translation. (6) Linguistic approaches: Jakobson, Vinay and Darbelnet, Catford, Mounin. (7) Nida and the ‘science of translation’; a review and comparison of different models of the translation process (Levý, Popovič, Nida, Snell-Hornby, Delisle, Hewson and Martin etc.). (8) Descriptivism in translation theory: polysystem theory, norms and translation, translation studies, studying translations through corpora. (9) Functional approaches and skopos theory: Vermeer, Reiss, Nord; translation and theory of action. (10) Philosophical approaches: Steiner, Schleiermacher, Ezra Pound, Walter Benjamin, deconstructivism in theory of translation. (11) Translation and ideology: Venuti, translation and gender, translation in postcolonial context. (12) Theory of translation and cognitivism, studying translation as a process, TAPs. (13) Sociological approaches to translation: A. Pym; applications of theory by P. Bourdieu; topical issues in theory of translation: topics not covered yet (e.g. translation quality assessment). Note: The topic “Translation and discourse” will have been covered in text and Discourse analysis (AJ 29011).
Literature
  • BASSNETT, Susan. Translation studies. Rev. ed. London: Routledge, 1991, xxi, 168. ISBN 0415065283. info
  • CHESTERMAN, Andrew. Memes of translation : the spread of ideas in translation theory. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1997, vii, 219 s. ISBN 90-272-1625-8. info
  • GENTZLER, Edwin. Contemporary translation theories. 2nd rev. ed. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 2001, xiv, 232. ISBN 1853595136. info
  • HERMANS, Theo. Translation in Systems. Descriptive and System-oriented Approaches Explained. Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing, 1999, 197 pp. ISBN 900650-11-8. info
  • LEVÝ, Jiří. České teorie překladu : vývoj překladatelských teorií a metod v české literatuře. Edited by Jiří Honzík. Vyd. 2. (rozdělené do dvou. Praha: Ivo Železný, 1996, 273 s. ISBN 8023729527. info
  • LEVÝ, Jiří. Umění překladu. Edited by Karel Hausenblas. Vyd. 3., upr. a rozš. verze. Praha: Ivo Železný, 1998, 386 s. ISBN 802373539X. info
  • MUNDAY, Jeremy. Introducing translation studies : theories and applications. London: Routledge, 2001, xiv, 222. ISBN 0415229278. info
  • NIDA, Eugene A. Toward a science of translating. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1964, x, 331. info
  • NIDA, Eugene Albert and Charles R. TABER. The theory and practice of translation. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1982, viii, 218. ISBN 90-04-06550-4. info
  • NORD, Christiane. Translating as a Purposeful Activity: Fuctionalist Approaches Explained. Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing, 1997, 154 pp. ISBN 1900650029. info
  • POPOVIČ, Anton. Teória umeleckého prekladu : aspekty textu a literárnej metakomunikácie. 2. preprac. a rozš. vyd. Bratislava: Tatran, 1975, 293 s. info
  • SNELL-HORNBY, Mary. Translation studies : an integrated approach. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1988, viii, 163. ISBN 90-272-2060-3. info
  • After Babel : aspects of language and translation. Edited by George Steiner. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992, xviii, 538. ISBN 0192828746. info
  • TOURY, Gideon. Descriptive translation studies and beyond. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1995, viii, 311. ISBN 90-272-2145-6. info
  • VENUTI, Lawrence. The translator's invisibility : a history of translation. London: Routledge, 1995, xii, 353 s. ISBN 0-415-11537-X. info
  • Rethinking translation : discourse, subjectivity, ideology. Edited by Lawrence Venuti. London: Routledge, 1992, xi, 235 s. ISBN 0-415-06050-8. info
Teaching methods
Lectures with some degree of student input. Students are encouraged to adopt a personalized approach to translation theory and critical thinking. Immediate relevance to translation tasks in other courses and their translatorial work is emphasized.
Assessment methods
Written exam.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
Information about innovation of course.
This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

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The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2016, recent)
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