Lecture (LEC)

• COLL (CASE) A&H Breadth of Inq

• TOPIC : World Literature in Translation
• COLL (CASE) A&H Breadth of Inquiry credit

Topic: World lit and translation

In a world without translation, would there be literature? This class is devoted to the art of literary translation. We'll begin by rolling up our sleeves: every week students will bring their own translations of poems and prose, to be workshopped in a supportive environment. Our goal will be to improve our work, and to develop critical skills as readers and editors. We'll also spend time reading classic and contemporary translations in order to learn from their choices, the linguistic inventiveness and mental transformations that make them successful. By becoming more aware of language's inner workings, we can become better readers, and, it is hoped, better writers too. Finally, we will explore translation's role in creating world literature, and discuss the implications of this surprisingly controversial term. This class is perfect for language learners, heritage speakers, creative writers and international students. "English-only" students are especially welcome. Coursework will be adapted to help them understand the translation process without knowledge of a foreign language. The instructor is an experienced literary translator, whose work has been published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG), New York Review Books (NYRB), and Syracuse University Press.