Translation History
Code
73217171
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Línguas, Culturas e Literaturas Modernas
Credits
12
Weekly hours
2
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
Students must get acquainted with basic problems of historiography in general,in order to be able to discuss to what extent they can apply to the objecttranslationand to become aware of how diversified the concept of translation has become in the 20thcentury.This will lead to a deep understanding of the reasons why the project of a history of translation has not yet been fulfilled.The next step will be the delimitation of the object,so that partial histories of translation may see the light of day.But this step also demands a good knowledge of the state of the art, i.e.what has been accomplished in the field to date,e.g.histories of translation based on the role of translators,restricted to a geopolitical area or to translation into one single language.The information about the state of the art will enable the discussion of different historiographical models which will be assessed according to its applicability to the Portuguese situation, which is the main goal of the present Seminar.
Prerequisites
Subject matter
0. History of translation: an incommensurable project?
1. Translation history and Translation Studies: a difficult relation
2. On the feasibility of a history of translation. Inclusions and exclusions
3. Object definition in translation history
4. The historiographical discourse on translation. Progress, evolution and change. Periodization.
5. Towards a history of translation in Portugal: missing, but possible
6. Why and how can it be carried out; urgent tasks and steps
Bibliography
Anthony Pym, Method in Translation History, St Jerome Publishing, Manchester, UK, 1998
Lieven Dhulst, «Translation History», in: Handbook of Translation Studies, John Benjamins Publishing
Company, 2010.
Henri van Hoof, Histoire de la traduction en Occident. Paris, Duculot, 1991
Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. Ed. Mona Baker and Gabriela Saldanha. London & New York, Routledge 2009
Translation, History, Culture. A Sourcebook. Ed. André Lefevere. London & New York, Routledge 1992
Translators through History. Ed. J. Delisle and J. Woodsworth. John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1995, rev. ed. 2012
Lawrence Venuti, The Translators Invisibility. A History of Translation. London and New York, Routledge, 1995
Jorge Pinho, O escritor invisível: A tradução tal como é vista pelos tradutores portugueses. Quidnovi, 2006
Teresa Seruya, Contributos para uma história da tradução em Portugal, in: Traduzir é preciso, Übersetzen tut not, Berlin, ed. tranvia, Walter Frey, 2013
Teaching method
This Seminar will start with a few theoretical lessons in order to raise and problematize the questions and
doubts in translation history. However, when it comes to illustrate them, students will be called upon to
collaborate by researching and presenting concrete cases. E.g. after the presentation of different
historiographical models each of them can be assessed and questioned as to its applicability to a certain item.
Students will also play an active role in the discussion of theoretical texts in class. Research competences will be trained and tested in relation both to research sources such as libraries, bibliographies, data bases, academic work, and to limited corora.
Evaluation method
Moreover students are to be engaged in ongoing projects in the three research centres collaborating in this PhD. Evaluation will consist of a final research work (45%), two oral presentations (35%) and active participation in discussions in class (20%).