The course trains students in translating literary texts from Greek into French, with an emphasis on drama, novel and epistolary writing. The texts belong to the 20th and 21st centuries and are organised into three units with a shared thematic and methodological approach. The extracts (200–300 words per class) are chosen so that their linguistic demands in French correspond to level B2.

For the weekly/ term assignments, if it is necessary, limited use of Machine Translation and Artificial Intelligence is allowed in order to look for specific terms or clarify any ambiguities, but not for translating the entire text. The use of MT and AI is strictly prohibited during exams.

Upon completing the course, students recognise the stylistic features of theatrical dialogue, novelistic narration and epistolary discourse. They learn to render orality, narrative voice and registers of style in French without word-for-word transfer. When translating novelistic discourse, they learn to use the narrative tense Passé Simple. They apply systematic source–target checking and document every translation choice on the basis of the original.

Week 1: Introduction to literary translation: the specific features and challenges of literary translation

Week 2: Theatre I: Dimitris Psathas, Ζητείται ψεύτης

Week 3: Theatre II: Iakovos Kambanellis, Η αυλή των θαυμάτων

Week 4: Theatre III: Loula Anagnostaki, Η νίκη 

Week 5: Theatre language workshop

Week 6: Novel I: Alki Zei, Το καπλάνι της βιτρίνας

Week 7:  Novel II: Konstantinos Christomanos, Η κερένια κούκλα

Week 8: Novel III: Comparative examination of the students’ translations and the French translation by Henri Tonnet

Week 9: Novel IV : Pantelis Prevelakis, Ο ήλιος του θανάτου

Week 10: Novel V: Comparative examination of the students’ translations and the French translation by Jacques Lacarrière

Week 11: Epistolary Writing I: Nikos Kazantzakis, «Επιστολές προς Γαλάτεια»

Week 12: Epistolary Writing II: Correspondence of G. Seferis – G. Theotokas

Week 13: Review

• Berman, A. (1999). La traduction et la lettre ou l’auberge du lointain. Paris : Seuil.
• Ladmiral, J.-R.(1994). Traduire : théorèmes pour la traduction. Paris : Gallimard.
• Venuti, L. (1995). The Translator’s Invisibility. London & New York: Routledge.
• Dimitroulia, T. & Kentrotis, G. (2015). Λογοτεχνική μετάφραση: θεωρία και πράξη. Athens: Kallipos.

The method is based on three steps: first close reading and stylistic analysis of the original, then translation; systematic line-by-line source–target comparison. The quality criterion is stylistic fidelity and naturalness, that is, the translation should read as an original. Where published French translations exist, they are examined comparatively only after the students’ versions have been submitted.

 Students keep a portfolio: each translation is submitted, revised after class discussion and resubmitted in its final form.

Use of ICT in teaching.

Translation portfolio with the revised versions from the semester accompanied by a short translation commentary (30%); final written exam: translation of an extract of a corresponding level with commentary on the choices (70%).