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Literary translation B-A (English-Catalan)

Code: 101294 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500249 Translation and Interpreting OT 4

Contact

Name:
Judit Fontcuberta Famadas
Email:
judit.fontcuberta@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

At the beginning of the course students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the basic methodological principles governing translation, professional and instrumental aspects and the contrastive problems for this language combination.
  • Differentiate between literary genres and identify their specific features.
  • Apply strategies to further their literary knowledge to be able to translate.
  • Apply literary knowledge to be able to translate.
  • Demonstrate their knowledge about different cultural aspects of English.
  • Apply this knowledge to interpreting cultural references related to English.

 

 

 

Objectives and Contextualisation

The aim of this course is to develop problem-solving skills when translating literary texts reflectint different genres.

By the end of this course students should be able to: 

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the methodological principles governing the translation of literary texts, professional and instrumental aspects, and contrastive problems for this language combination.
  • Apply this knowledge to solving translation problems in classic and contemporary literary texts for genres such as prose, poetry, theatre.
  • Combine different areas of knowledge when making decisions about questions related to translating literary texts.
  • Convey information, ideas, problems and solutions related to translating literary texts.
  • Apply their skills so that they can work with greater autonomy in future specialised studies in translating literary texts.

 


Competences

  • Applying cultural knowledge in order to translate. 
  • Applying topic-based knowledge in order to translate.
  • Mastering the main methodological principles of translation. 
  • Mastering the professional aspects of translation.
  • Producing written texts in a foreign language in order to translate.
  • Producing written texts in language A in order to translate.
  • Solving translation problems from different specialisation fields (legal, financial, scientific, technical, literary, audiovisual texts, localization).
  • Solving translation problems of non-specialised texts.
  • Understanding written texts in a foreign language in order to translate.
  • Understanding written texts in language A in order to translate.
  • Using documentation resources in order to translate.
  • Using technological resources in order to translate.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying graphical, lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge.
  2. Applying technological resources in order to solve translation problems: Applying the technological resources in order to solve literary translation problems.
  3. Applying the documentation resources in order to solve translation problems: Applying the documentation resources in order to solve translation problems.
  4. Appropriately following the different phases for the creation of a translation and carrying out the assigned tasks: Appropriately following the different phases for the creation of a literary translation and carrying out the assigned tasks.
  5. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of written texts of several fields: Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of literary texts.
  6. Finding the most appropriate translation solution in each case: Finding the most appropriate translation solution for each case.
  7. Handling problems related to the practice of the profession of translator: Handling problems related to the practice of the profession of literary translator.
  8. Identifying the existing (digital and analogue) information sources in order to translate: Identifying the existing (digital and analogue) information sources in order to translate literary texts.
  9. Identifying the need to mobilise topic-based knowledge in order to translate: Identifying the need to mobilise topic-based knowledge in order to translate literary texts.
  10. Identifying the specific translation problems of each field: Identifying the specific translation problems of each field.
  11. Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts of different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce literary written texts with specific communicative purposes.
  12. Implementing strategies in order to understand written texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to comprehend literary texts.
  13. Implementing strategies to acquire topic-based knowledge in order to translate: Implementing strategies to acquire topic-based knowledge in order to translate literary texts.
  14. Incorporating cultural knowledge in order to solve translation problems: Incorporating cultural knowledge in order to solve literary translation problems.
  15. Incorporating topic-based knowledge in order to solve translation problems: Incorporating topic-based knowledge in order to solve translation problems.
  16. Possessing topic-based knowledge in order to translate: Possessing topic-based knowledge in order to translate literary texts.
  17. Producing written texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing literary written texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness.
  18. Solving interferences between the working languages: Solving interferences between the working languages.
  19. Students must demonstrate they know the different types of translation problems and errors: Students must demonstrate they know the different types of literary translation problems and errors.
  20. Students must demonstrate they know the functioning of the translation labour market: Students must demonstrate they know the functioning of the labour market of literary translation.
  21. Students must demonstrate they know the techniques and strategies needed to solve translation problems: Students must demonstrate they know the techniques and strategies needed to solve literary translation problems.
  22. Using the appropriate strategies and techniques in order to solve translation problems: Using the appropriate strategies and techniques in order to solve literary translation problems.

Content

  • Methodology of literary translation (basic norms of literary translation in the linguistic combination).
  • Solving translation problems of prose genres such as memoirs, stories, novel chapters, literary essays, letters, etc.
  • Solving text translation problems related to rhyme and metric structure such as poems, songs, etc.
  • Solving translation problems of dramatic genres such as plays, opera books, etc.
  • Solving translation problems of other literary genres such as comics, children's literature, aphorisms, etc.
  • Use of the technological tools and sources of specific documentation for literary translation
  • Use of dictionaries, glossaries, specialized databases and parallel texts suitable for literary translation.

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Completion of translation tasks 38 1.52 1, 3, 2, 13, 12, 11, 5, 20, 19, 21, 7, 10, 9, 8, 14, 15, 17, 4, 18, 16, 6, 22
Resolution of exercises 15 0.6 1, 3, 2, 13, 12, 11, 5, 20, 19, 21, 7, 10, 9, 8, 14, 15, 17, 4, 18, 16, 6, 22
Type: Supervised      
Debates and reflectionactivities on relevant aspects of translation 10 0.4 20, 19, 21, 7
preparation of translations and papers 12 0.48 1, 3, 2, 13, 12, 11, 5, 20, 19, 21, 7, 10, 9, 8, 14, 15, 17, 4, 18, 16, 6, 22
Type: Autonomous      
Preparing exercises 12.5 0.5 1, 3, 2, 13, 12, 11, 5, 20, 19, 21, 7, 10, 9, 8, 14, 15, 17, 4, 18, 16, 6, 22
Preparing translations and projects 58 2.32 1, 3, 2, 13, 12, 11, 5, 20, 19, 21, 7, 10, 9, 8, 14, 15, 17, 4, 18, 16, 6, 22

An active methodology is used, with activities of various types.

 • Completion of translation tasks.

• Exercise resolution.

• Presentations of individual / group work.

• Debates (face to face or in forums).

• Cooperative learning techniques.

  

To achieve the established objectives, this subject mainly involves practical classes.

 Learning activities are organised into three categories based on the degree of student autonomy involved:

 Directed activities: carried out according to a set timetable and in the presence of a lecturer.

                Translation activities

                Exercises

 Supervised activities: carried out under the supervision of a lecturer or tutor.

                Attending talks

                Preparation of translations for assessment 

Autonomous activities: carried out by students without supervision, requiring them to organise their own time and work (either in groups or individually)

                Searching for documentation

                Preparation of translations and assignments

                Preparation of exercises

 

All activity deadlines are indicated in the subject's schedule (that will be available at the beggining of the course) and must be strictly adhered to.

 

The work students carry out mainly consists of:

- Individual/group presentations in class (or online)

- Debates and discussions (in class or online)

- Documentation searches

- Reading assignments

- Assignments to be performed outside class

- Exercises to be performed in class (or online)

- Translation exercises

- Preparation of translation tasks

- Preparation of translations and associated tasks

- Exam.

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exercice solving and tasks related with signifying aspects of translation 40% 1.5 0.06 1, 3, 2, 13, 12, 11, 5, 20, 19, 21, 7, 10, 9, 8, 14, 15, 17, 4, 18, 16, 6, 22
Oral presentation of a text related to translation or written summary of a text 30% 1.5 0.06 1, 3, 2, 13, 12, 11, 5, 9, 8, 14, 15, 17, 18, 16, 6
Translation activities 30% 1.5 0.06 1, 3, 2, 13, 12, 11, 5, 19, 21, 9, 8, 14, 15, 17, 18, 16

Continuous assessment

Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing tasks and tests.

Possible evaluation activities: 

• Translation of texts used during the course.

 • Translation of a text similar to the ones used during the course.

 • Reports / forums about translations or tasks related to relevant aspects of translation.

 • Diaries/ files / reflective reports on the learning process or on the process of drawing up translations.

 IMPORTANT:

If any student, for any justified reason, cannot follow the class, he/she should contact the teacher personally during the first weeks of the course.

The above information on assessment, assessment activities and their weighting is merely a guide. The subject's lecturer will provide full information when teaching begins.

Review

Students must arrange reviews in agreement with the lecturer.

Missed/failed assessment activities

Students may retake assessment activities they have failed or compensate for any they have missed, provided that those they have actually performed account for a minimum of 66.6% (two thirds) of the subject's final mark and that they have a weighted average mark of at least 3.5. Under no circumstances may an assessment activity worth 100% of the final mark be retaken or compensated for.

The lecturer will inform students of the procedure involved, in writing, when publishing final marks prior to recording them on transcripts. The lecturer may set one assignment per failed or missed assessment activity or a single assignment to cover a number of such activities.

Classification as "not assessable"

In the event ofthe assessment activities a student has performed accounting for just 25% or less of the subject's final mark, their work willbe classified as "not assessable" on their transcript.

Misconduct in assessment activities

Students who engage in misconduct (plagiarism, copying,personation, etc.) in an assessment activity will receive a mark of “0” for the activity in question. In the case of misconduct in more than one assessment activity, the students involved will be given a final mark of “0” for the subject.

Students may not retake assessment activities in which they are found to have engaged in misconduct. Plagiarism is considered to mean presenting all or part of an author's work, whether published in print or in digital format, as one's own, i.e. without citing it. Copying is considered to mean reproducing all or a substantial part of another student's work. In cases of copying in which it is impossible to determine which of two students has copied the work of the other, both will be penalised.

Single assessment

This subject may be assessed under the single assessment system in accordance with the terms established in the academic regulations of the UAB and the assessment criteria of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting.

Students must make an online request within the period established by the faculty and send a copy to the lecturer responsible for the subject, for the record.

Single assessment will be carried out in person on one day during week 16 or 17 of the semester. The Academic Management Office will publish the exact date and time on the faculty website.

On the day of the single assessment, teaching staff will ask the student for identification, which should be presented as a valid identification document with a recent photograph (student card, DNI/NIE or passport).

Single assessment activities

Single assessment will include a minimum of three assessment activities of different types, as stated in the assessment guidelines.

Grade revision and retake procedures for the subject are the same as those for continual assessment. See the section above in this Study Guide.


Bibliography

1. Monolingual Catalan dictionaries

AA.DD. Diccionari de la llengua catalana. 4a ed. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana, 1998.

ALCOVER, Antoni M.; MOLL, Francesc de B. Diccionari català-valencià-balear. Palma de Mallorca: Moll, 1988.

COROMINES, Joan. Diccionari etimològic i complementari de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Curial, 1980.

FABRA, Pompeu. Diccionari general de la llengua catalana. 11a ed. Barcelona: Edhasa, 1980.

INSTITUT D’ESTUDIS CATALANS. Diccionari de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: 1995.

 

2. Monolingual English dictionaries

Chambers Twentieth Century DictionaryThe Collins Dictionary of the English Language

The Collins COBUILD English Language Dictionary

The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of current English

The New Oxford English Dictionary

The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary

Webster’s Third New International Dictionary

CHAPMAN, Robert L. New dictionary of American Slang

KIRKPATRICK, Betty [ed.]. Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases

PARTRIDGE, Eric. A Dictionary of Slang and unconventional English

 

3. Dictionaries of synonyms, set phrases, etc., in Catalan

Diccionari del català col·loquial. Dubtes davant del micròfon. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2009.

ESPINAL I FARRÉ, M. Teresa. Diccionari de sinònims de frases fetes. Bellaterra: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona: Barcelona: Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat: València: Universitat de València, 2004.

FRANQUESA, Manuel. Diccionari de sinònims. 6a ed. Barcelona: editorial Pòrtic, 1991.

PEY, Santiago. Diccionari de sinònims i antònims. 9a ed. Barcelona: Teide, 1986.

PIQUÉ, Ramon; VINYOLES IVIDAL, Joan. Diccionari eròtic i sexual. Barcelona: Edicions 62, 1989.

POMARES, Joaquim. Diccionari del català popular i de l’argot. Barcelona: Edicions 62, 1997.

RASPALL, Joana; MARTÍ, Joan. Diccionari de locucions i frases fetes. Barcelona: Edicions 62, 1984.

RIERA-EURES, Manel; SANJAUME, Margarida. Diccionari d’onomatopeies i mots de creació expressiva. Barcelona: Edicions 62, 2002.

VINYOLES I VIDAL, Joan. Vocabulari de l’argot de la delinqüència. Barcelona: Editorial Millà, 1978.

XURIGUERA, Joan Baptista. Els verbs catalans conjugats. 4a ed. Barcelona: Claret, 1977.

 

4. Grammars, handbooks and other reference works in Catalan

AINAUD, Jordi; ESPUNYA, Anna; PUJOL, Dídac. Manual de traducció anglès-català. Vic : Eumo, 2003.

AGOST, Rosa i MONZÓ, Esther, Teoria i pràctica de la traducció general espanyol-català. Castelló: Universitas / Universitat Jaume I, 8, 2001

BADIA I MARGARIT, Antoni M. Gramàtica de la llengua catalana. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana, 1994.

CAMPS, Oriol. Parlem del català. Barcelona: Empúries, 1994.

COROMINES, Joan. Lleures i converses d’un filòleg. Barcelona: Club editor, 1983.

FABRA, Pompeu. Converses filològiques. Barcelona: Edhasa, 1983 i 1984.

FABRA, Pompeu. Gramàtica catalana. 15a ed. Barcelona: Teide, 1991.

FERRATER, Gabriel. Sobre el llenguatge. Barcelona: Quaderns Crema, 1981.

JANÉ, Albert. El llenguatge. Problemes i aspectes d’avui. Barcelona: Edhasa, 1977-80. 4 vols.

LACREU, Josep. Manual d'ús de l'estàndard oral. 2a ed. València: Universitat de València, 1992.

LOPEZ GUIX, J. G.; MINETT, J. Manual de traducción inglés español. Barcelona: Gedisa, 1997.

MESTRES, JosepM.; COSTA, Joan; OLIVA, Mireia; FITÉ, Ricard. Manual d’estil. La redacció i l’edició de textos. Barcelona: Eumo, 1995.

RUAIX I VINYET, Josep. Diccionari auxiliar. Moià: J. Ruaix, 1996.

RUAIX I VINYET, Josep. Observacions crítiques i pràctiques sobre el català d’avui. Moià: J. Ruaix, 1994, vol. I.

RUAIX I VINYET, Josep. Punts conflictius del català. Barcelona: Barcanova, 1989.

SOLÀ, Joan. A l’entorn de la llengua. Barcelona: Laia, 1977.

SOLA, Joan; Rigau, Gemma [et al.]. Gramàtica del català contemporani. Barcelona: Empúries, 2002.

SOLÀ, Joan. Parlem-ne. Converses lingüístiques. Barcelona: Proa, 1998.

TELEVISIÓ DE CATALUNYA. Criteris lingüístics sobre traducció i doblatge. Barcelona: Edicions 62, 1997.

TORRENT, Anna M. La llengua de la publicitat. Barcelona: Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat, 1999.

VALOR, Enric. Millorem el llenguatge. València: 3 i 4, 1979, vol.II.

 

5. Grammars and dictionaries of English usage

AMMER, Christine. The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston, Nova York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1997.

BOATNER, Maxine Tull; GATES, J. Edward; A Dictionary of American Idioms. Woodbury, Nova York, Londres, Toronto, Sydney:  Barron’s , 1975.

Collins Cobuild English Grammar, Londres, HarperCollins, 2006, 2a ed. rev.

COWIE, A.; MACKIN, R. Oxford Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Òxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.

EASTWOOD, J.; MACKIN, R. A Basic English Grammar. Òxford: Oxford University Press, 1990.

HARRISON, Mark. Word Perfect. Vocabulary for fluency. Walton-on-Thames: Nelson, 1990.

HUDDLESTON, R.; PULLUM, G.K. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002.

LEECH, G. A Communicative Grammar of English. Londres:Longman, 1990.

MCARTHUR, T.; ATKINS, B. Dictionary of English Phrasal Verbs and their Idioms. Londres: Collins, 1990.

QUIRK, R.; GREENBAUM, S.; LEECH, G.; SVARTVIK, J. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Londres: Longman, 1985.

QUIRK, R.; GREENBAUM, S. A University Grammar of English. Londres: Longman, 1993.

SEILD, Jennifer, MCMORDIE, W. English Idioms and How to Use Them. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1978.

SWAN, M. Practical English Usage. Nova York: Òxford: Oxford University Press,1995.

THOMSON, A.J.; MARTINET, A.B. A Practical English Grammar. Òxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.

 

6. Bilingual dictionaries

Diccionari anglès-català (Enciclopèdia Catalana)

Diccionari català-anglès (Enciclopèdia Catalana)

Diccionari de paranys de traducció anglès-català (Enciclopèdia Catalana)

OLIVA, Salvador; BUXTON, Angela. Diccionari anglès-català, català-anglès. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2 v.

Diccionario Collins español-inglés / English-Spanish. Barcelona: Grijalbo, 2000.

Diccionario internacional Simon and Schuster inglés-español / español-inglés. Nova York: MacMillan, 1997.

Diccionario Oxford español-inglés / inglés-español. Madrid: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Gran diccionario Larousse español-inglés / English-Spanish. Barcelona: Larousse, 2004.

Diccionari castellà-català. Barcelona. Enciclopèdia Catalana: 1985.

Diccionari català-castellà. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana: 1987.

 

7. Manuals of translation theory and practice

Ainaud, J., A. Espunya i D. Pujol, Manual de traducció anglès-català, Vic, Eumo Editorial, 2003.

García Yebra, Valentín, Teoría y práctica de la traducción, Madrid, Gredos, 1982.

Newmark, Peter, A Textbook of Translation, Londres/Nova York, Prentice Hall International Ltd, 1987.

 

8. On Translation

Ayala, Francisco, «Breve teoría de la traducción» (1946), en La estructura narrativa, Barcelona, Crítica, 1984.

Bacardí, Montserrat; Fontcuberta, Joan; Parcerisas, Francesc [eds.]. Cent anys de traducció al català (1891-1990). Antologia. Vic: Eumo Editorial, 1998.

Bacardí, Montserrat; Godayol, Pilar. Diccionari de la Traducció Catalana. Vic: Eumo Editorial, 2011.

Bassnett, Susan y Peter Bush, The Translator as Writer, Nova York, Continuum, 2007.

Bellos, David, Is That a Fish in your Ear?, Londres, Faber & Faber, 2011.

Borges, Jorge Luis, «Las versiones homéricas» (1932), dins Obras completas, Barcelona, Emecé, 1989.

—, «Los traductores de las 1001 noches» (1936), ibíd.

—, «Piere Menard, autor de El Quijote» (1939), ibíd.

—, «La busca de Averroes» (1947), ibíd.

Catelli, Nora, y Marietta Gargatagli, El tabaco que fumaba Plinio, Barcelona, Serbal, 1998.

Coseriu, Eugenio, «Lo erróneo y lo acertado en la teoría de la traducción», dins El hombre y su lenguaje, Madrid, Gredos, 1977.

Fontcuberta, Joan. <spanstyle="font-size: medium;">Tots els colors del camaleó. Tarragona: Arola Editors, 2008.

Larbaud, Valéry, Sous l'invocation de Saint Jérome, París, Gallimard, 1946.

Mallafrè, Joaquim, Llengua de tribu i llengua de polis: bases d'una traducció literària, Barcelona, Quaderns Crema, 1991.

Marco Borillo, Josep, El Fil d'Ariadna: anàlisi estilística i traducció literària, Vic: EUMO Editorial, 1992.

—, (ed.) La traducció literària, Castelló de la Plana, Publicacions de la Universitat Jaume I, DL 1995.

Marías, Javier, «Ausencia y memoria en la traducción poética» (1980), dins Literatura y fantasma, Madrid, Siruela, 1993.

—, «La traducción como fingimiento y representación» (1982), ibíd.

Monterroso, Augusto, «Llorar a orillas del río Mapocho» (1983), dins La palabra mágica, Barcelona, Anagrama, 1996.

Ortega y Gasset, José, «Miseria y esplendor de la traducción» (1937), dins Obras completas, Madrid, Alianza, 1983, t. V.

Parcerisas, Francesc. Traducció, edició, ideologia: aspectes sociològics de les traduccions de la Bíblia i de l'Odissea al català. Vic: Eumo, 2009.

Paz, Octavio, Traducción: literatura y literalidad, Barcelona, Tusquets, 1971, 1990.

 

Various authors: De traduir (poesia), Balbec, 2014.

Eco, Umberto, Decir casi lo mismo, trad. Helena Lozano, Barcelona, Lumen, 2008.

García Yebra, Valentín, En torno a la traducción. Teoría, crítica, historia, Madrid, Gredos, 1983.

—, Traducción: teoría y práctica, Madrid, Gredos, 1994.

Gentzler, Edwin,Contemporary Translation Theories, Londres/Nova York, Routledge, 1993.

Grossmann, Edith, Why Translation Matters, New Haven, Yale University Press, 2011.

 

Online resources

Biblioteca d'Humanitats (blog de traducció i interpretació)

http://blogs.uab.cat/bhtraduccio

Catàleg Col·lectiu d’Universitats de Catalunya

http://ccuc.cbuc.cat

Criteria. Espai web de correcció de l'IEC

http://criteria.espais.iec.cat

Diccionari català-valencià-balear

http://dcvb.iecat.net

Diccionari de l’Institut d’Estudis Catalans

http://dlc.iec.cat

Enciclopèdia Catalana

http://www.enciclopedia.cat

IATE (Terminologia interactiva per a Europa)

http://iate.europa.eu

ISBN

www.mcu.es/bases/spa/isbn/ISBN.html

Merrian-Webster

http://www.merriam-webster.com

One Look

http://www.onelook.com

Optimot

http://www14.gencat.cat/llc/AppJava/index.jsp

Portal lingüístic de la Corporació Catalana dels Mitjans Audiovisuals

http://esadir.cat

Termcat

www.termcat.net

 

 


Software

Text processors

Search engines


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed