Translation
Focusing on the main challenges involved in intercultural communication, this course will teach the foundations, principles, practical strategies, and methods of translation from French to English and English to French for a variety of professional, literary, and creative purposes. We will explore the strategies and tools that translators use when faced with challenging linguistic and cultural differences. We will also look at the artistic, ethical, and political implications of different approaches to translation. A wide variety of topics such as: fluency and transparency, register and tone, the author–translator–reader triangle, translating humorous verses, puns, and wordplays, what is lost and found in translation, and how translation shapes our lives and transforms the world will be examined and discussed through a list of selected exercises and readings to provide a foundational understanding of the crucial role that translation plays in so many facets of our lives.
We will work on:
- Recognizing different linguistic paradigms and stylistic features in French and English for translation of a variety of literary and non-literary texts
- Developing translation strategies to tackle different text types and at different textual and discourse levels in English and French
- Building awareness of cultural, ethical, and epistemological aspects of translation
Required readings:
- Christophe Gagne, Emilia Wilton-Godberfforde, English-French Translation: A Practical Manual. 1st Edition. Routledge, 2021.
- Michele H. Jones, The Beginning Translator’s Workbook, or the ABCs of French to English Translation. Revised edition. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2014.
Prerequisites: FREN 353 and one of FREN 225, FREN 402
Language of instruction: French and English