Ιn this semester we investigate the translation of literature, working with texts by predominantly contemporary Greek authors. Students are asked to prepare literary translations every week. We also collaborate in producing translations in the classroom, collectively examining the lexical, stylistic and other issues involved, the range of issues and difficulties posed by each text; as well as discuss and compare existing translations. This approach is combined with readings in translation theory and the study of relevant perspectives from literary or cultural studies, aiming towards an understanding of the close relationships between theory and practice.

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

• understand the specific settings in which the literary translator works when dealing with two literary traditions
• identify the specific features of the main forms of literary expression
• understand the complex nature and the difficulties of literary translation, as well as the literary translator’s ability of creative text rendering
• produce paratexts that usually accompany literary translations and understand the close relationships between theory and practice, as well as between reception and criticism
• translate from English into Greek literary texts of medium difficulty taking into account the special characteristics of the text, the style, the publication period as well as the literary movement to which the original text belongs
• effectively deal with the challenges relating to dialects, wordplays and culture-specific elements

Week 1: Translation and literature: contact points

Week 2: Text, textuality, tradition

Week 3: The process (and experience) of literary translation

Week 4: Circling the translated text: reception and criticism

Week 5: Identifying the author and the translator

Week 6: Research/Assignments seminar, I

Week 7: Between life and literature 

Week 8: Translating prose, I: short stories

Week 9: Translating prose, II: the novel

Week 10: Translating prose, III: the novel

Week 11: Translating literature for children and young adults, I

Week 12: Translating literature for children and young adults, II

Week 13: Research/Assignments seminar, II

Eco, Umberto (2003) Εμπειρίες Μετάφρασης (μτφ. Έφη Καλλιφατίδη). Αθήνα: Ελληνικά Γράμματα.

France, Peter (ed.) (2000) The Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Schulte, Rainer and Biguenet, John (eds) (1992) Theories of Translation: An Anthology of Essays from Dryden to Derrida. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Landers, Clifford (2001) Literary Translation: A Practical Guide. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Face-to-face/Guided, collaborative translating in class (students first prepare translations at home), working with texts of increasing difficulty and length, and across several genres. In parallel, we engage with several critical and theoretical texts in translation studies and comparative literature, while also investigating thoroughly a range of paratexts produced by the literary translator (introductions, biographical notes, afterwords, etc). Study material and updates are further provided through the Department’s e-class platform.

Use of ICT in teaching

In addition to weekly literary translation tasks, students are asked to submit a semester assignment, consisting of translation and a commentary focusing on problems encountered during the process, and further addressing productive relationships between the theory and practice of (literary) translation.