Day 10
Thurs. APR. 20
Share plans for final projects
Discuss Challenge 2F (Stunt Pilot)
Challenge 2 deadlines
Upcoming individual deadlines
Don’t forget to keep track of the individual deadlines here for your challenges and translator’s notes!
Homework due SUNDAY at midnight
➤ translate “Introduction to poetry”
A bouquet of poetry
In my “bouquet of poetry” you’ll find a poem by Billy Collins called “Introduction to Poetry.” Please translate this into Chinese and submit it on Sakai.
As you translate, pay particular attention to images. This poem is basically a series of metaphors, each of which contains an image. Can you convey these images, and their metaphorical meanings, clearly in Chinese?
(Note: Please don’t consult any existing translations of this poem into Chinese, it will spoil the fun. Trust your own understanding and judgment.)
Homework due TUESDAY before class
➤ rEad and vote on poetry translations
Read your classmates’ translations of “Late Lights in Minnesota” and “Introduction to Poetry” and vote on your favorite. (Click the Qualtrics links below.)
Late Lights in Minnesota: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bf5XVd3dbLKHYmq
Introduction to Poetry: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9uBCcjx4QSQGpnw
➤ Read my “Bouquet of poetry” and come ready to share observations
Read this collection of modern English poems I’ve prepared. You don’t need to spend hours trying to understand them; just read them over and get an overall impression.
Come ready to make some general observations about these poems. What kind of language do they use, generally speaking — how would you describe the style? Are there there particular types of words that you often see, or don’t often see? What makes the language attractive, do you think — what makes it poetic?
Finally, come ready to share an example of an image from one of these poems that you find particularly striking, interesting, or beautiful. Tell us how you understand the image — what you see in your mind.
Final challenge instructions
➤ WRite scenario and upload text for final challenge
Upload the text you’re thinking of translating to the SharePoint folder called “Final challenge texts and scenarios” and, if you’re choosing your own text, type your 3-5 sentence scenario outlining the purpose of your translation directly onto this document.
Important notes:
You can change your plan for your final project at any time! If you do so, please message me and let me know, and change the text of your scenario accordingly.
If you’re not sure what you want to translate or would like help identifying a specific text to work on, please message me on WeChat and I would be more than happy to help you brainstorm or identify options.
➤ Read Challenge 2E, prepare for discussion
Read the Chinese original for Challenge 2E (“我的妈妈是精灵”）and its English translation (once it’s been posted on Sunday) and come to next class ready to share your thoughts on the following questions:
1) How would you describe the “voice” of the narrator in the Chinese original? What aspects of “voice” are important to get across in the English translation (do you think)? Come ready to share one sentence that gives you a strong sense of voice — of the narrator’s voice, or the voice of one of the characters.
2) Are there any images in the Chinese original that you think are particularly important? Are there any metaphors? If so, come ready to share a specific example or two.
3) Are there any cultural elements to this story that are significant? How important is it that this story is happening in Shanghai in the 21st century (and not someplace else, at some other time)?
➤ SUPPLEMENTARY READING (Optional)
Chapter 26 of Bellos (“Style and Translation'“) is very relevant to the idea of “voice” — how to reflect an individual writer’s style when translating. If you haven’t read it yet (or haven’t read it in its entirety) now might be a good time to.
