Day 8
Thurs. Feb. 9
Discussion of translation of Deresiewicz article
Introduction to “voice”
Homework:
➤ Note deadlines for Challenge 2!
Note that the last two challenges (H and A) are due on the same date. This is not a mistake — this is intentional.
Click here to view the scenarios for the challenges.
Arthur and Hong Tu - Option E (Global Health article)
Translation due before class on Tuesday Feb 14
Discussion in class on Thursday Feb 16
Translator’s note Saturday Feb 18 @8pm
Yutong, Asmodeus, and Sadey - Option B (Yue Daiyun article)
Translation due Sunday Feb 19 @ 8pm
Discussion in class on Tuesday Feb 21
Translator’s note due before class on Thursday Feb 23
Lan Wei and Jiarui - Option H (Ways of Seeing)
Translation due before class on Tuesday Feb 21
Discussion in class on Thursday Feb 23
Translator’s note Saturday Feb 25 @8pm
Yifan and Xinyi - Option A (Bacheng tourism brochure)
Translation due before class on Tuesday Feb 21
Discussion in class on Thursday Feb 23
Translator’s note Saturday Feb 25 @8pm
➤ REad text for next challenge
Read the text for your next challenge. As you read, think about the question of voice. How would you describe the voice of the author (or narrator)? Are there other voices in the text besides the author’s/narrator’s voice? How important do you think the idea of “voice” is to translate this text effectively—very important? Somewhat important? Or not important at all?
➤ Find a text to serve as inspiration for your next challenge
Find a text in the target language (the language you’re translating into) whose style (or “voice”) is similar in some way to that of the text you’re translating.
Upload the text to the folder “Sample texts for inspiration” on SharePoint and come to next class ready to tell us why you picked this text and how it might serve as inspiration for you when translating.
➤ Find an informant, if necessary
If you think you will need to work with an English native speaker either to answer questions about the text (if the original is in English) or to offer feedback on your translation (if you’re translating into English) I’d recommend you start thinking about that, and make whatever advance plans are necessary. (Reminder: You can use WLS for this! You might want to make appointments now.)
➤ Important: Start thinking about final challenge, message me with your ideas!
Once you’ve had a chance to read your text for Challenge 2, I’d recommend you think ahead to your final challenge, for which you are free to choose your own text to translation, and for which you can work with anybody you wish (or individually). What text (or kind of text) do you think you’d like to translate for your final challenge? (Assume you’ll translate an excerpt of similar length to the ones for Challenge 1 and 2.)
Please message me on WeChat and tell me what you’re thinking you might like to do for your final challenge. If you have a specific text in mind, tell me what it is! If you don’t have a specific text in mind yet, tell me what direction might be interested in (English-Chinese or Chinese-English?) and what genre(s) you’re most attracted to. You don’t need to commit to anything right now — you can always change your mind later. But I want to make sure we start talking about this now so it doesn’t get left to the last minute.
➤ Supplementary Reading
Chapter 26 of Bellos (“Style and Translation'“) is very relevant to the idea of “voice” as well as style. If you haven’t read it yet (or haven’t read it in its entirety) now might be a good time to.
