WOC207
Translation Workshop: The Reflection of Meaning ~ Duke Kunshan University
Class Notes and Homework Assignments
Tues. May 9
Discussion of Worksheet 2E
Discussion of Han Dong poem: image, metaphor, ambiguity
Intro to Christian Wiman poem, “Darkness Starts”
Homework
Work on final challenge
due 9am Thurs (China time): Translate “Darkness Starts”
Read and vote on translations of “Darkness Starts”
Read retranslations of “Stunt Pilot” and Ser Serpas review
Thurs. Apr. 27
Discussion of Challenges 2J and 2A
Homework
due Monday after vacation (at midnight):
Retranslate a passage from “Stunt Pilot” or Ser Serpas art review
due Tuesday before class:
Complete Challenge 2E worksheet
Retranslate a passage from the Bacheng tourism brochure
Read Han Dong poem (prepare to translate)
Tues. Apr. 25
Discussion: image and metaphor (Late Lights, Introduction to Poetry)
Discussion of challenge 2E (我的妈妈是精灵)
Review final challenge scenarios
Homework
due next class:
Read and be ready to discuss Challenges 2A and 2J
Write final challenge scenario and upload text (if you haven’t yet)
due after vacation (before Tuesday class)
Complete Challenge 2E worksheet
Read Han Dong poem (prepare to translate)
Thurs. Apr. 20
Share plans for final projects
Discuss Challenge 2F (Stunt Pilot)
Homework
due Sunday at midnight:
Translate “Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins
due before class on Tuesday:
Read and vote on poetry translations
Read “bouquet of poetry” and come with observations
Write scenario and upload text for final challenge
Read Challenge 2E text 《我的妈妈是精灵》and prepare for discussion
Supplemental reading: Bellos on style
Tues. Apr. 18
Go through 1C worksheet
Intro to image and metaphor
More on “voice”
Homework
due before class on Thursday:
Read instructions for final challenge, come to next class ready to share ideas
Retranslate passage from Challenge 1D
Translate “Late Lights in Minnesota” into Chinese
Read translation of Challenge 2F (“Stunt Pilot”), come ready to discuss
Thurs. Apr. 13
Continue discussion of “voice”
Discuss Challenge 1D
Homework
due before class on Tuesday:
Work through worksheet for Challenge 1C
Read Challenge 2 texts, think about “voice”
Read my comments on Challenge 1A and 1B
Start working on Challenge 2!
due before class next Thursday:
Retranslate passage from Challenge 1D
Tues. Apr. 11
Conclude discussion of journalistic style in English
Go through Challenge 1A worksheet
Discuss Challenge 1C (Pipilu)
Begin Challenge 1C worksheet
Introduction to “voice”
Homework
due before class on Thursday:
Note deadlines for Challenge 2, find a parallel text
Make edits to Challenge 1B
Look at “voice” handout
Read Challenge 1D
due before class next Tuesday:
Work through Challenge 1C worksheet
Fri. Apr. 7
Discuss of Eng-Ch translation challenge - news journalism
Share parallel texts for op-ed
Homework
due before class on Tuesday:
Do Challenge 1A worksheet, prepare to conclude discussion on English journalistic style
Read excerpts from The Phantom Tollbooth, prepare observations
Read Challenge 1C translation, prepare for discussion
Sign up for Challenge 2 (when posted)
due before class on Thursday:
Make edits to Challenge 1B
Tues. Apr. 4
New concept: register
Discussion of “Ad” translations and purpose
New concept: “nativization” vs. “foreignization”
Discussion of Ch-Eng translation challenge -news journalism
About translator’s notes
Homework
due before class on Friday:
Read results of surveys on museum placard translations
Read Challenge 1B translation, prepare for discussion
Find a parallel text for Challenge 1D
(Danqing and Mingyu) Write translator’s note
due before class on Tuesday:
Do Challenge 1A worksheet, prepare to conclude discussion on English journalistic style
Read excerpts from The Phantom Tollbooth, prepare observations
Thurs. Mar. 30
Discuss En-Ch museum placard translations
Discuss Chinese translations of “Ad”
Review: translating reality rather than words
Homework
Read and vote on Seneb statue translations (if you haven’t yet)
Read “scenario” for Ad poem translations and think about purpose
Read grading criteria and instructions for translator’s note
Begin work on Challenge 1! 1A due Monday; 1B due Tuesday
(on Tuesday) Read Challenge 1A translation before class
Tues. Mar. 28
Review: genre, style, parallel texts
Share experience asking informants about “Ad” poem
Discuss Ch-En museum placard translation
Intro to translation challenges
Homework
(ASAP) Sign up for translation challenges
(due Thurs. morning) translate “Ad”, then read classmates’ translations
Share examples of parallel texts for Chinese museum placards
Read Chinese museum placards, fill out survey
Read texts 1A and 1B, write observations about the style of journalism
Thurs. Mar. 23
Discuss ad slogan translations
Guess-the-genre exercise
Share observations on English-language museum placards
Share questions about “Ad”
Homework
Translate Chinese museum placard into English
Translate English museum placard into Chinese
Find an informant and ask them questions about “Ad”
Suggested readings: Bellos Chapters 6 and 7
Tues. Mar. 21
Self-introductions: What have you translated or might you translate?
Advertising slogans: intro to “genre”
What is this course about?
Vote on whether to hold Thursday discussions in Chinese
Homework
(by midnight) Vote on whether Thursday discussions should be in Chinese
Skim syllabus and read course handbook
Translate advertising slogans
Write observations about English-language museum placards
Read “ad” poem and prepare questions
Important Documents and Links
Library
A witty, discursive survey of all subjects translation-related by translator and scholar David Bellos.