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Translation Theory

Module description

Translation traces its roots back to the beginning of language and communication itself. In this module you will study key theoretical approaches that have become the basis for the academic discipline of Translation Studies and how they inform the practice of translation. In particular, you will focus on how notions of translation have changed over time and the ideas and concepts that have been recurrent in discourses on translation, from historical perspectives to cultural and critical trends in the field. You will learn to form your own theoretically-aware conclusion of the practice of translation, and how theory is of use to practising translators in the 21st century. You will also study how Translation Studies is an interdiscipline in that it both acquires from and disseminates to other disciplines (such as gender studies, postcolonial studies, sociology, cultural studies) knowledge, practices, and approaches to research. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to provide:

• An introduction to the key concepts, issues, and theories of translation, and how theory informs the praxis of translation
• A diachronic survey of theoretical approaches to translation
• A thorough grounding in the foundation of the discipline Translation Studies
• An overview of recent critical and cultural developments in the field

The module encourages you to become theoretically-informed and self-reflective in your own translation practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Demonstrate your familiarity with the body of theoretical literature on translation since the classical period and be able to place theoretical approaches to translation in a historical and socio-cultural context
• 2. Demonstrate acquisition of advanced research skills to summarise and synthesise theoretical perspectives
• 3. Critically evaluate the theories and their theoretical contexts both synchronically and diachronically

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 4. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the theoretical principles and issues that underlie the evaluation of translation quality
• 5. Analyse translations and specific translation strategies within a particular cultural context from a theoretically-informed position

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 6. Gain facility in formal analytical writing through both theoretically-informed research essays and critical reviews of primary and secondary texts on translation theory

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• The history of translation, prescientific models of translation theory
• Linguistic and functionalist approaches to translation
• Descriptive and systems theory
• The cultural turn
• Post-structuralist or philosophical approaches to translation
• Post-colonial approaches to translation
• Translation and ideology
• Feminist and queer approaches to translation
• Sociological approaches to translation

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

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

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment. 

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Mona Baker (ed.). Routledge Encyclopaedia of Translation Studies. London Routledge, 1998 (first edition) and 2009 (second edition)
• Lawrence Venuti. The Translation Studies Reader. London: Routledge, 2000 (first edition) and 2004 (second revised edition) and 2012 (third revised edition)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

•  ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/search.php?search=SMLM150

Key words search

Translation theory, theoretical approaches to translation