Literature and Translation: Arabic/English Perspectives and Practice

Module title	Literature and Translation: Arabic/English Perspectives and Practice
Module code	ARA3202
Academic year	2019/0
Credits	15
Module staff	Professor Christina Phillips (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	15

Module description

This module combines study of Arabic/English literary and cultural translation with hands-on translation practice. You will be introduced to key translation methods and explore the particular challenges posed by translation from Arabic into English. Focusing on literary texts, you will explore issues such as power, orientalism, gender, style and creativity in the context of translation, and how literature functions to translate culture and difference. Practical translation is an essential component of the module and you will practise translating across a variety of literary texts in class and for homework. Translation projects will be published online where possible.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to introduce you to the field of literary and cultural translation; to familiarise you with the challenges and pitfalls of literary translation from Arabic to English; to equip you with the tools to critically analyse a translation; and to give you basic practical training in literary translation.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Translate a literary text from Arabic to English and critically analyse the process
2. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and contextual understanding of Arabic/English literary translation

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Demonstrate sound knowledge of the methods and challenges of literary translation
4. Demonstrate nuanced and critical understanding of the intersections between translation, power, gender and creativity

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. demonstrate communication and presentation skills, the ability to work in groups, and competency in handling complex and varying material
6. work independently, retrieve, sift and integrate primary and secondary sources, construct coherent arguments, write lucidly, and apply research and bibliographic skills

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Arabic/English literary translation: survey of the field

The role of the translator

Methods and challenges

Orientalism and translation

Poetry and translation

Translation and gender

Cultural translation

Publishers, prizes and the politics of translation

Practice, practice, practice

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	22	11 x 2 hour classes
Guided independent study	64	Research and class prep
Guided independent study	64	Completing assignments

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Informal presentation of translation (individual or group)	15 mins	1-5	Verbal feedback from peers and teacher

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
90	0	10

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Portfolio of translation (Arabic-to-English) + critical analysis	90	3500 words (40/60% translation/analysis)	1-4, 6	Full written (verbal on request)
Seminar participation	10	11 x 2hr	1-5	Oral in class

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Portfolio of translation	Portfolio of translation (3500 words)	1-4, 6	Full written (verbal on request)
Seminar participation	See note	1-5	See note

Re-assessment notes

There is no reassessment for seminar participation: in the event of referral or deferral in the summative, the original mark for seminar participation is carried forward.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Useful texts

Baker, Mona. In Other Words (London: Routledge, 1992).

Translation and Conflict: A Narrative Account (London and New York: Routledge,2006).

Critical Readings in Translation Studies (London and New York: Routledge, 2010).

Cronin, Michael. Translation and Globalization (London: Routledge, 2003).

Dickins, James, et al. Thinking Arabic Translation (London: Routledge, 2002).

Hatim, Basil. English–Arabic–English Translation: A Practical Text-Linguistic Guide (London, 1997).

Husni Ronak, and Daniel L Newman, Arabic-English-Arabic Translation: Issues and Strategies (Routledge, 2015).

Landers, Clifford. Literary Translation, A Practical Guide (Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 2001).

Lefevere, André and Susan Bassnet, Translation, History, and Culture (Cassell, 1995)

Munday, Jeremy. Translation Studies: Theories and Application 4^th edn. (Routledge, 2016)

Simon, Sherry and Paul St Pierre,. Changing the Terms. Translating in the Postcolonial Era (Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press (2000).

Tymoczkom Maria and Edwin Gentzler (eds). Translation and Power (Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2002).

Weissbort, Daniel. Translating Poetry: The Double Labyrinth (Iowa: University of Iowa Press, 1989)

Wright, Chantal. Literary Translation. London and New York: Routledge, 2016.

Key words search

Literary translation; Arabic language; Arabic literature; literature and translation

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	ARA2139 Intermediate Arabic Language II or equivalent
Module co-requisites	none
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Last revision date	11/03/2019