Module Content and Indicative Topics

This module introduces students who have attained a high degree of fluency in one mainland Scandinavian language to the practice of translating from all three Scandinavian languages into English. The module also introduces a range of key concepts in Translation Studies. These underpin students’ understanding of the process and practice of translation, and also inform the technique of annotating translations, which allows students to articulate the translation strategies they adopt when working on a range of text types. The module covers diverse text types and registers, such as literary texts, drama, poetry, academic prose, journalistic prose, instruction manuals, and web content.

The module will cover the following topics, which may be subject to variation depending on developments in academic research and the interests of the class:


	Key concepts in translation theory and practice (this block of five weeks is taught in term 1)
	

	Annotation of translations
	
	
	Translation of a range of text types from Danish into English (may be taught in term 1 or 2, depending on tutors’ timetables)
	
	
	Translation of a range of text types from Norwegian into English (may be taught in term 1 or 2, depending on tutors’ timetables)
	
	
	Translation of a range of text types from Swedish into English (may be taught in term 1 or 2, depending on tutors’ timetables)
	
Teaching Delivery

The module consists of one weekly seminar of one hour, and runs in both terms in order to provide ample time for familiarisation with the three languages. The first block of five weeks covers key concepts in translation theory, followed by three blocks of five weeks, each focusing on the translation of one language into English (the order varies according to tutor availability). The teaching style emphasises participation, collective learning, and creative responses to the texts. Students are expected to come to class prepared to share their draft translations of the set texts.

By the end of the module, you should be able to:


	Critically assess a range of text types, registers, styles and publication contexts, and design an appropriate translation strategy.
	

	Articulate your translation strategy in annotations, with support from translation theory and from examples in the text being translated.
	

	Translate from Danish, Norwegian and Swedish into English, finding an appropriate balance between accuracy and naturalness.
	

	Use a variety of online and print resources to identify semantically, pragmatically and contextually appropriate translation solutions.
	

	Translate from Danish, Norwegian and Swedish into English without a dictionary and under exam conditions.
	
Recommended Reading

In preparation for the module, we advise reading the following core texts. These are available as e-books in the UCL Library:


	Mona Baker, 2011, In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. London: Routledge.
	
	
	Lawrence Venuti (ed.) (2012), The Translation Studies Reader (3rd edition). London: Routledge.