German 461/561: The Task of the Translator
Prof. David Gramling
Office: LSB 316
Email: dgl@email.arizona.edu
Faculty Website: www.livelongday.info
Focus of the Course & Learning Objectives
This course will combine insights from Translation Studies, applied linguistics, and German
cultural / literary studies to help students develop skills, knowledge, and experience in
translating a number of literary and non-literary genres, including song texts, short essays,
advertising texts, everyday speech, and historical artifacts. We will learn about how to negotiate
literal and connotative meaning across codes, idioms, cultures, communities, and symbolic
systems. We will explore the idea of “being a translator” as an everyday social and cultural
practice. Questions we will pose together include:
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Is translating as easy as riding a bike?
Is anything by nature “untranslatable”?
Is translation itself a practice, a product, an experience, a task, an identity, a profession, a
coincidence, a burden, an art?
Can one translate within a language, or only across languages?
Who were the major translators in German cultural and literary history?
What kinds of translating do people do, as a matter of course, every day?
Co-Convened Course: 461 and 561
Because this is a co-convened course (i.e. for graduate students AND undergraduate students),
the grading rubric and expectations differ accordingly. (See “Grading” below.) Assessment for
graduate students will proceed in accordance with the professional standards of the MA / PhD
program in the Department of German Studies. For Graduate Students, your final project of a
5000-word translation should be a work of publishable quality. Please talk to me individually
early in the semester about your project ideas. You are additionally expected to serve as
informal mentors for your undergraduate colleagues.
For Undergraduate Students, this course will help you get to know what Graduate Studies is
like. You will be working alongside MA and PhD students on projects, who will offer you their
insights and assistance over the course of the semester. You are expected to produce work
consistent with the expectations of a 400-level, i.e. capstone-level course in the Department of
German Studies.
What you will need to do:
1. Join a translation agency in class: For some of our activities, our class will be
provisionally organized into 5 translation agencies, each focusing on one or more of the
ideals below. You get to choose which one best fits how you understand “the task of the
translator”. Once your agency staff is assembled, you will choose a company name that
highlights your particular agency’s commitments. If, at any time, you feel that you no
longer subscribe to that agency’s mission, you must write a letter of resignation to that
agency, explaining your reasoning. The translational ideals you can choose from are:
 Fidelity to the original text’s language, style, diction, mentality, etymology, and
syntax
 Beauty of the translation, even if it means sacrificing something from the original
 Exactness of information transfer, precise technical conveyance of the individual
words
 Readability and marketability in translation
 Providing adequate cultural context for nonnative readers via footnotes, annotation,
etc.
2. Do your homework on time. Your agency colleagues will be relying on you to do so. A
weekly schedule is below.
3. Complete a D2L midterm and final exam. These exams are not translations in
themselves; they are analyses of translations. That is, you will be given a source text and
its translation, and you will be asked to write a reflective analysis on that translation.
Weekly Schedule:
By Sunday midnight: Post your assigned translated passages to D2L, for your colleagues to
read.
By Tuesday in class: 1) Prepare readings from TGT (Thinking German Translation) and other
assigned readings; 2) be prepared to discuss your colleagues’ translations at your meeting.
By Tuesday midnight: Two colleagues per group volunteers to compile the results of your
discussion, edit the translation accordingly, and resubmit it to D2L so the whole class can read
the entire week’s work.
By Thursday in class: 1) Prepare other assigned homework from TGT; 2) be prepared to discuss
each agency’s edited translations (in consultation with the original text) and to reflect on which
ideals of translation (see #2 above) are reflected in their work.
Grading for Ger 461:
Participation
20 %: (Not just a buffer zone)
Translation Projects for Class
25 %
Midterm
20%
Final
20%
Translation Performance
7.5%
Translation Reflection
7.5%
Grading for Ger 561:
Participation
20 %: (Not just a buffer zone)
Translation Projects for Class
25 %
Midterm
20%
Final Project (5000 word translation)
35%
Things to bear in mind:
1. You will always be able to follow your grade on D2L. Consequently, there will be NO
EXTRA CREDIT at the end of the semester.
2. We will have a D2L comments and links page and a Facebook page “German 461/561:
The Task of the Translator” so that you can add any relevant links, photos, or
observations during non-class time. Contributing and constructively commenting on
these discussions online will improve your participation grade.
3. The total amount of secondary reading for each class period only rarely exceeds 15 pages
in German, or 50 pages in English. For each class period, I will give you one or two
general questions to think about and take notes on, in preparation for class.
4. You are expected to have all readings with you in class on the day on which they are
being discussed, either in e-format or on paper.
5. Unless otherwise indicated, the readings and other materials are available on D2L or via
e-Library.
6. The schedule of readings and assignments WILL inevitably change. Please keep up to
date with these changes via your D2L account.
7. No late assignments will be accepted for this course. If you are ill or otherwise need to
miss class, you can email your assignment and bring a hard copy on the day that you
return. Printers are available in the basement of the main university library.
University Policies:
Attendance: U of A absence policy
“Students are expected to be regular and punctual in class attendance. Excessive or extended
absence from class is sufficient reason for the instructor to recommend that the student be
administratively dropped from the course. If this action is filed…by the end of the fourth week
of classes, it will result in cancellation of registration in the course. An administrative drop in
weeks five through eight in Fall/Spring will result in the grade of W or E (F if the student is
enrolled in the class Pass/Fail). This grade is determined by the instructor. After the 8th week of
classes in Fall/Spring, administrative drops will not be processed.
Excused absences are documented cases of illness. Holidays or special events observed by
organized religions will be honored for those students who inform the instructor in advance
and who show affiliation with that particular religion. Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean
of Students (or Dean's designee) will be honored.
Five successive absences may result in an administrative drop before the 8th week of classes.
More than three absences, intermittently during the semester, will result in lowering the
student’s grade one percentage point for each absence. If you must miss a class, inform the
instructor. It is your responsibility to get homework assignments and make up the material that
you miss.
Other University Policies
UA's policy prohibits all forms of discriminatory harassment that are unlawful under applicable
local, state, and federal law or that violate UA policy. Other types of prohibited discrimination
include harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability,
veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Student Code of Conduct and Code of Academic Integrity
Integrity is expected of every student in all academic work. The guiding principle of academic
integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own. Students engaging in
academic dishonesty diminish their education and bring discredit to the academic community.
Students shall not violate the Code of Academic Integrity and shall avoid situations likely to
compromise academic integrity. Students shall observe the provisions of the Code. Failure of
faculty to prevent cheating does not excuse students from compliance with the Code. For the
complete Code, refer to
http://catalog.arizona.edu/policies/994/acacode.htm
and
http://studpubs. web.arizona.edu/policies/cacaint.htm
Ability Difference and Disability
If there is anything I can do, formally or informally to increase your access to the course and its
objectives, please let me know directly. Students with disabilities who require reasonable
accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements should
also register with the Disability Resource Center (Tel: 621-3268, web page:
http://drc.arizona.edu). If you qualify for services through DRC, please bring your letter of
accommodations to me as soon as possible.
Tentative Schedule of Readings
*The Abbreviation “TGT” stands for the book Michael Loughridge et al. Thinking German
Translation (2006), available at the U of A Bookstores.
15 und 17 Januar | Woche 2 | Einführung
So.
Di.
Do.
Lesen: Peter Waterhouse, “Das Klangtal” 2003 (66-73)
Praxis: Waterhouse 66-68 (1)
Lesen: Preliminaries to Translation as a Process, TGT, p. 9-15
Praxis: Vergleichen Sie die Übersetzungen unter Ihren Gruppenmitgliedern auf D2L
Lesen: Translation after 9/11, Emily Apter (D2)
Praxis: Aufgabe: TGI, p. 14-15, Dropbox auf D2L bis 11 Uhr morgens
Praxis: Lesen Sie die redigierten Übersetzungen von Dienstag auf D2L; seien Sie bereit
den anderen Agenturen Fragen zum Text zu stellen.
22 und 24 Januar | Woche 3 | Methodologische Prämisse
So.
Di.
Do.
Lesen: Waterhouse 73-80
Praxis: Waterhouse 68-69 (2)
Lesen: Preliminaries to Translation as a Product, TGI, p. 16-27
Praxis: Vergleichen Sie die Übersetzungen unter Ihren Gruppenmitgliedern auf D2L
Praxis: Aufgabe: TGI, p. 27-30, Dropbox auf D2L bis 11 Uhr morgens
Praxis: Lesen Sie die redigierten Übersetzungen von Dienstag auf D2L; seien Sie bereit
den anderen Agenturen Fragen zum Text zu stellen.
Quiz 1 auf D2L
29 und 31 Januar | Woche 4 | Kultur und Übersetzung
So.
Di.
Do.
Praxis: Waterhouse 70-72 (3)
Lesen: Cultural Issues in Translation, TGI, p. 31-39
Praxis: Vergleichen Sie die Übersetzungen unter Ihren Gruppenmitgliedern auf D2L
Praxis: Aufgabe: TGI, p. 14-15, Dropbox auf D2L bis 11 Uhr morgens
Vergleichen sie den kurzen Text „Christian F“ (Marlene Streeruwitz) und die englische
Übersetzung von Prof. Barbara Kosta
Praxis: Lesen Sie die redigierten Übersetzungen von Dienstag auf D2L; seien Sie bereit
den anderen Agenturen Fragen zum Text zu stellen.
5 und 7 Februar | Woche 5 | Die feinen Unterschiede
So.
Di.
Do.
Praxis: Waterhouse 72-74 (4)
Lesen: TGT, p. 188-209
Praxis: Vergleichen Sie die Übersetzungen unter Ihren Gruppenmitgliedern auf D2L
Praxis: Aufgabe: TGT 188, 198, 209, Dropbox auf D2L bis 11 Uhr morgens
Quiz 2 auf D2L
Praxis: Lesen Sie die redigierten Übersetzungen von Dienstag auf D2L; seien Sie bereit
den anderen Agenturen Fragen zum Text zu stellen.
12 und 14 Februar | Woche 6 | Abgleich und andere Metaphern
So.
Di.
Do.
Lesen: Robin Queen, „Du hast jar keene Ahnung’: African American English dubbed into
German“
Praxis: Waterhouse 74-76 (5)
Lesen: Compensation, TGI, p. 40-51
Praxis: Vergleichen Sie die Übersetzungen unter Ihren Gruppenmitgliedern auf D2L
Praxis: Aufgabe: TGT 49-51, Dropbox auf D2L bis 11 Uhr morgens
Praxis: Lesen Sie die redigierten Übersetzungen von Dienstag auf D2L; seien Sie bereit
den anderen Agenturen Fragen zum Text zu stellen.
19 und 21 Februar | Woche 7 | Die Frage der Übersetzbarkeit
So.
Di.
Lesen: “Islam übersetzen,” Zafer Şenocak 2006
Praxis: Waterhouse 76-78 (6)
Lesen: Textual Genre and Translation Issues, TGI, p. 52-62
Praxis: Vergleichen Sie die Übersetzungen unter Ihren Gruppenmitgliedern auf D2L
Do.
Praxis: Aufgabe: TGT 61-62, Dropbox auf D2L bis 11 Uhr morgens
Praxis: Lesen Sie die redigierten Übersetzungen von Dienstag auf D2L; seien Sie bereit
den anderen Agenturen Fragen zum Text zu stellen.
26 und 28 Februar | Woche 8 | Metaphern der Übertragung
So:
Di.
Do.
Lesen: „Ich wollte keine Brücke schlagen,“ Yoko Tawada
Praxis: Waterhouse 78-80 (7)
Lesen: TGT, Phonic / Graphic and prosodic issues in translation, p. 65-77
Praxis: Vergleichen Sie die Übersetzungen unter Ihren Gruppenmitgliedern auf D2L
Lesen: Friedrich Schleiermacher, „Über die verschiedenen Methoden des Übersetzen“ 1813
Praxis: Aufgabe: TGT 76-77
Praxis: Lesen Sie die redigierten Übersetzungen von Dienstag auf D2L; seien Sie bereit
den anderen Agenturen Fragen zum Text zu stellen.
5 und 7 März | Woche 9 | Zwischen den Sprachen
Di.
Do.
Dramatische Vorlesung von „Klangtal“
Midterm auf D2L (bis Freitag fällig)