340221 SE Seminar Übersetzungswissenschaft: Fachübersetzen (2014W)

Weekly Syllabus
Each week will provide learning objectives and an outline of the activities for that week with a list of all deadlines and corresponding point values for assignments.

Readings
Readings will consist of articles and seminal textbooks. A short course, lasting four weeks, presupposes a more intensive mastery of the material, where reading volume could be doubled. Further, the texts are of a theoretical and practical nature. The theoretical nature of the texts presents two problems, mechanical and intellectual. First, in most cases it is impossible to skim or speed read the texts. Be sure to contextualize your readings.

Weekly Reaction Papers

A reaction paper is to be written on the assigned readings. A reaction paper should be two (2) pages long –approximately 500 to 750 words, typed, double-spaced and should contain headers in the upper left-hand corner with your name, instructor’s name, course number, date. For each reaction paper, provide a meaningful title which reflects the content/ideas expressed in it. DO NOT FORGET to number the pages. Also, REMEMBER that if you use other people’s ideas or examples to support your argument, you need to make sure to quote them and include a detailed list of references or sources at the end of your reaction paper. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN PLAGIARISM. A reaction paper is not a mere summary of the main points dealt with in an assigned reading. It’s important you tie what you read with the weekly material covered in class and the ensuing in-class and online discussions/reflection. Double-check the spelling and make sure the grammar is correct! Spelling mistakes and grammar errors will lower your grade.

Weekly Discussions
Every student will take responsibility for one or more class discussions based on the week’s assignments. A sign-up sheet will be provided on the first day of class. Discussions will focus on the case studies assigned for each week. Students must formulate a leading question, contextualize it, and then engage the class in substantive dialogue about the problems in question.

Final Course Project
Each student will write a research paper on a specific domain of specialized translation, drawing from the work done in class and independent research. The paper should include a comparative analysis of translations of a single text type (using parallel corpora) and should include a terminology analysis and a discussion of what types of tools might be appropriate to expedite the translations and why. If you choose to do a literary translation, please select a short story or collection of 2-5 poems. Your paper should give complete information about the author, the literary tradition the author writes in, a bibliography of the author’s work, information on (and comparison of) existing translations of the work, a discussion of questions of style, and commentary on the difficulties inherent in producing a translation of the work.

Grading
Attendance: 20 %
Reaction Papers: 20 %
Case Study: 20%
Discussion Leader: 20 %
Final Project: 20 %