DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
MA in Translation, Writing and Cultural Difference
German optional core module (Term 1, 2014-15)
DEPARTMENT OF GERMAN STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
MA in Translation, Writing and Cultural Difference
German optional core module (Term 1)
The aims of the module
This module addresses a series of issues relating to translation as that which
mediates between different cultures, with specific reference to translation between
German and English / German-language and English-language cultural environments.
The aim is to sensitise students to aspects of cultural as well as linguistic difference
and the impact of cultural and historical context on what literary and related texts
get translated and why and how. Seminars will focus on structural issues to do with
language and language transfer:
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problems of differing syntactical and vocabulary structures
conveying idiosyncratic authorial styles in literary translation
the formal challenges of translating poetry
strategies for communicating the different cultural and social histories
carried by language
But we also investigate the parameters for translation which are set by patterns of
reception between cultures:
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images of the other culture and how these influence literary markets
the impact of markets on what texts are selected for translation
how a text is translated and how it is received
how different historical contexts generate different translations
The module is explicitly aimed at both English native speakers with advanced
competence in German and German native-speakers with advanced competence in
English, and will therefore consider both English-German and German-English
translation.
Module tutors
The module is taught by a range of different tutors within the Department of
German Studies, selected according to their specific expertise in the area covered by
the seminar.
Workshops
In addition to the weekly seminars, it is planned to schedule in occasional workshops
with guest lecturers on specific wider aspects of translating between different
cultures and media.
Module assessment
Assessment is by a portfolio of 3 study tasks, totalling max. 6000 words, selected from a
list including:
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practical translation work plus commentary on methodology
critical commentary on published translations
case-study research into the selection, marketing and reception of specific
translations
comparative analysis of translations produced under differing cultural/
historical/ theoretical circumstances
Module bibliography (selected titles)
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S. Budick and W. Iser, The Translatability of Cultures. Figurations of the Space
Between (Stanford, 1996)
P. France (ed.), The Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation (Oxford, 2000)
Theo Hermans (ed.), The Manipulation of Literature (Sydney, 1985)
S. Hervey and I. Higgins, Thinking Translation: A Course in Translation Method
(Routledge, 1992)
André Lefevere (ed.), Translation/History/Culture: A Sourcebook (Routledge, 1992)
Katharina Reiß, Hans J. Vermeer, Grundlagen einer allgemeinen Translationstheorie
(2nd edition, Tübingen, 1991
George Steiner, After Babel: Aspects of language and translation (3rd edition, OUP,
1998)
Lawrence Venuti, The Scandals of Translation: Towards an Ethics of Difference
(Routledge, 1998)
L. Venuti and M. Baker (eds.), The Translation Studies Reader (Routledge, 2000),
especially chapters 4, (Schleiermacher) ,14 (Reiss) and 19 (Vermeer).
Daniel Weissbort, Translating Poetry: the double labyrinth (Basingstoke, 1989)
MA in Translation, Writing and Cultural Difference.
German Module (R2P4). Convener: Dr JR Hodkinson
Syllabus and Teaching Plan: Term 1 2014/15.
Author/ Text
1
Various texts (distributed in seminar)
Module Topic
Introduction to
translation/
cultural difference
(German/ English)
Specific Foci
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2
5
Various texts (distributed in seminar)
Translatability/
problem solving
Module Map
Outlining and
exemplifying forms of
cultural-linguistic
specificity
Translation examples
3
Theoretical approaches to translation
4
Theory into Practice I: Shakespearean sonnet
‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’
(various versions, English and German)
Translation
theories and
practice
Theory into Practice II: D.H Lawrence’s short stories
into German
Translation
theories and
Applying differing models of
translation theory to literary
Tutor to deliver
Dr James Hodkinson
--
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Practical guide to
linguistic and cultural
difference in translation
 Non-fictional translation
(travel literature)
Exploring different models of
translation
theory
(Luther,
Schleiermacher,
Reiss
and
Vermeer et al.)
Applying differing models of
translation theory to literary
texts (poetry).
Cultural
knowledge and
transfer
Assessed
work
potential
Dr James Hodkinson
--
Translation
and
commentary
Andrea Klaus MA
Translation
and
commentary,
comparative
analysis
Translation
and
Andrea Klaus MA
Andrea Klaus MA
practice
6
7
Franz Kafka,
Der Prozess
8
Emine Sevgi Özdamar
Das Leben ist eine Karawanserei,
9
Brecht, Das Leben des Galilei
texts (prose).
Reading Week
Translating literary
texts 1: Structural
challenges and
authorial voice
Translating literary
texts 3
Translating nonstandard usage.
Translating for the
stage: translating
versus adapting.
The language of
uncertainty: metaphors,
subjunctives and
qualifiers
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Rendering the dialect of
specific social and
ethnic groupings
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The Brecht ‘market’ and
receptions of Brecht
Critique of differing
Brecht translations
(adaptations or
translations?)
Writing text to be
spoken on stage
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10
Portfolio Workshop
Commentary and
analysis: writing
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Portfolio preparation
commentary,
comparative
analysis
Translation
and
commentary,
Comparative
analysis,
Case study
research into
market
Translation
and
commentary
Dr James Hodkinson
Translation
and
commentary,
comparative
analysis,
case study
and market
Mr Steve Lamb
Portfolio
Dr James Hodkinson
Dr Jim Jordan