A study of the issues which arise in the process of translating literary texts. Various genres will be studied, including poetry and drama with their particular problems of cross-language and cross-cultural transfer. Using English as our working language, we shall investigate the linguistic process of translation, and examine and where possible compare renderings into English of well-known works of literature, while trying to establish criteria by which to appraise them. The School of Language Studies with the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies and the College of Asia and the Pacific together offer a wide range of languages, and some staff members who contribute to this course are well known as literary translators.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
On successful completion of this course, students will have enhanced their skills as translators of literary texts and their ability to evaluate texts which have been translated, as well heightened appreciation of the complex linguistic, literary and cultural problems which form part of the process.
Indicative Assessment
There is no exam in this course. Assessment is by means of two major assignments (1500 words and 2400 words) and participation in tutorials and seminars (10%). The latter may include a short presentation. The major assignments, due in Weeks 7 and 12, will together comprise the bulk of the weighting (45% each). Assignment work will be informed by reading in the field of Translation Studies.
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
33 contact hours. Hours of private study required will depend on the student's level of skill and command of languages at commencement, but may be expected to be in the range of 6 to 10 hours per week on average throughout the semester.
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
Jeremy Munday, Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications, London and New York, 2001/2008.
Preliminary Reading
Mona Baker (ed.), The Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, London, 1997: P306.E57 1998
E. Cary, Comment faut-il traduire, 1986: P306.C313 1985
Alexander Fraser Tytler, Essay on the Principles of Translation, New York, 1970: PN241.W6 1978
Basil Hatim and Ian Mason, The Translator as Communicator, London, 1997: P306.H38 1997
Eva Hoffman, Lost in translation: a life in a new language, New York, 1989: E184.J5H63 1989
Douglas R. Hofstadter, Le Ton beau de Marot: In Praise of the Music of Language, New York, 1997: P306 H63 1997
Meanjin, Vol. 64, No. 4, 2005 (Special translation issue). PR9600.M4
Georges Mounin, Les problèmes théoriques de la traduction, Paris, 1963: P306.M66
Jeremy Munday, Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications, London, 2001/2008: P305.M865 2001
Eugene A. Nida, The Theory and Practice of Translation, Leiden, 1969: BS450.N55
Peter Newmark, A Textbook of Translation, New York, 1988: P306.N474 1988
B. Raffel, The Art of Translating Poetry, Philadelphia, 1988: PN1059.T7 R34 1988
George Steiner, After Babel: Aspects of language and translation, 2nd ed., Oxford, 1992: P306.S7
Lawrence Venuti, The Translator's Invisibility: A history of translation, London & New York, 1995: P306.2.V46 1995
Assumed Knowledge
Adequate knowledge of one of the languages taught at ANU, or of a language not taught at ANU, with the approval of the Co-ordinator.
Majors
Minors
Specialisations
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $2604 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $3576 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French | ||||||
| 2509 | 16 Feb 2015 | 06 Mar 2015 | 31 Mar 2015 | 29 May 2015 | In Person | N/A |
| German | ||||||
| 2647 | 16 Feb 2015 | 06 Mar 2015 | 31 Mar 2015 | 29 May 2015 | In Person | N/A |
| Italian | ||||||
| 2648 | 16 Feb 2015 | 06 Mar 2015 | 31 Mar 2015 | 29 May 2015 | In Person | N/A |
| Spanish | ||||||
| 2649 | 16 Feb 2015 | 06 Mar 2015 | 31 Mar 2015 | 29 May 2015 | In Person | N/A |
| General | ||||||
| 2787 | 16 Feb 2015 | 06 Mar 2015 | 31 Mar 2015 | 29 May 2015 | In Person | N/A |
