Course description

The course further develops the translation skills introduced in Translation Greek–English I and approaches translation as a purposeful communicative act, a form of intercultural mediation and the production of a text for a specific purpose and audience.

Students analyse and translate longer texts with a higher degree of specialisation and cultural specificity, sourced from British, Irish and American websites. In their analysis, they identify and compare the linguistic, textual and cultural conventions of English and Greek. In their translation work, they take into account the instructions accompanying each text and apply appropriate translation conventions and strategies.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• analyse longer and more complex texts, identifying their linguistic, textual and cultural features;
• select translation approaches and strategies based on the purpose of the text, the translation brief and the intended audience;
• investigate lexical and terminological issues using appropriate resources, tools and glossaries;
• render the different dimensions of meaning in the source text into the target language, taking its context and cultural references into account;
• recognise the role of translation choices in mediating between languages and cultures;
• produce and revise translations to ensure accuracy, coherence and naturalness in the target language;
• justify their translation choices with reference to the features of the text and the requirements of the translation brief.

Course content

Week 1 — Dimensions of meaning
Logical-propositional, expressive, contextual and evocative meaning. The role of context in understanding and conveying meaning. Practical translation of short texts, focusing on different dimensions of meaning.

Week 2 — Style and linguistic choices in translation
Register, tone and the selection of linguistic resources when translating from Greek into English. Practical translation of texts with different stylistic features.

Week 3 — Textual analysis and text organisation
Structure, cohesion and coherence. How differences between Greek and English affect the organisation and translation of a text. Practical text analysis and translation.

Week 4 — Research and solving translation problems
Finding and evaluating appropriate sources and tools. Comparing possible solutions and justifying translation choices. Practical translation using relevant sources and tools.

Week 5 — Lexical and phraseological choices
Conveying the meaning of words and phrases in context. Collocations, naturalness and idiomaticity in the target language. Practical translation and discussion of alternative solutions.

Week 6 — Translation strategies and translator visibility
The concept of translator visibility and Venuti’s foreignizing and domesticating translation strategies. Practical translation of a general-interest text and discussion of the strategies selected.

Week 7 — Style and expressivity in translation
Rendering style, tone and expressivity in general-interest texts. Practical translation and comparison of alternative renderings.

Week 8 — The purpose and function of translation
Functionalist approaches and the role of purpose and target audience. Introduction to transcreation and adapting a message to different communicative contexts. Practical translation based on a specific translation brief.

Week 9 — Translating promotional material
Practical translation of promotional and advertising material, using tourism as an example. Discussion and justification of translation choices.

Week 10 — Translating for different audiences
Practical translation of general-interest texts, adapting linguistic choices to the purpose and intended audience.

Week 11 — Group project: promotional material
Group translation and commentary on promotional material from the cultural sector. Presentation and discussion of translation choices.

Week 12 — Group project: general-interest text
Group translation and commentary on a general-interest text, focusing on its style, context and translation choices.

Week 13 — Review and practical application
Review of the main course topics, practical translation and discussion of questions or issues raised during the semester.

Baker, M., and H. Jones. 2025. In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. 4th ed. Routledge.

Benjamin, W. 2000 [1923]. “The Task of the Translator: An Introduction to the Translation of Baudelaire’s Tableaux Parisiens.” Translated by H. Zohn. In The Translation Studies Reader, edited by L. Venuti, 15–25. Routledge.

Berman, A. 2000 [1985]. “Translation and the Trials of the Foreign.” Translated by L. Venuti. In The Translation Studies Reader, edited by L. Venuti, 284–297. Routledge.

Grammenidis, S., X. Dimitroulia, E. Kourdis, E. Loupaki, and G. Floros. 2015. Διεπιστημονικές προσεγγίσεις της μετάφρασης. Kallipos, Open Academic Editions. https://doi.org/10.57713/kallipos-623.

Hatim, B., and I. Mason. 1990. Discourse and the Translator. Longman.

Kentrotis, G. 1996. Θεωρία και πράξη της μετάφρασης. Δίαυλος.

Munday, J., S. Ramos Pinto, and J. Blakesley. 2022. Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications. 5th ed. Routledge.

Newmark, P. 1988. A Textbook of Translation. Prentice-Hall International.

Nord, C. 1997. Translating as a Purposeful Activity: Functionalist Approaches Explained. St. Jerome Publishing.

Pym, A. 2023. Exploring Translation Theories. 3rd ed. Routledge.

Venuti, L., ed. 2000. The Translation Studies Reader. Routledge.

Venuti, L. 2008. The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation. 2nd ed. Routledge.

Συμπληρωματική βιβλιογραφία

Baker, M. 2010. Critical Readings in Translation Studies. Routledge.

Baker, M., and G. Saldanha, eds. 2009. Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. 2nd ed. Routledge.

Gentzler, E. 2001. Contemporary Translation Theories. 2nd rev. ed. Multilingual Matters.

Teaching methods

The course is taught face to face and has an interactive, workshop-based format. Short theoretical presentations are accompanied by discussion and practical translation exercises using texts on a range of topics and in different styles. In each class, students work on translation tasks, examine the challenges that arise, and discuss and justify their choices with reference to the theoretical approaches introduced.

Visual teaching aids are used to support instruction. Course materials for independent study and coverage of the syllabus are made available through the e-class platform.

Support for the learning process through the e-class online platform.

Uploading course materials (notes, lecture slides, exercises, etc.) to the e-class e-learning platform.

Teaching is supported by the use of online dictionaries, digital encyclopaedias, online sources and translation tools. Students use these resources to research and justify their translation choices and to compare alternative renderings.

Assessment is based on a final written examination and, optionally, a written translation assignment. The examination involves translating a text of approximately 300 words. Students may use general and specialised monolingual, bilingual and multilingual dictionaries. For students who complete the optional assignment, it accounts for 30% of the final grade, while the final examination accounts for 70%. For students who do not choose to complete the assignment, the final grade is based entirely on the examination.