In this course we examine issues related to translation as a text science and its association with linguistics (text linguistics and sociolinguistics mainly) and the philosophy of language; issues related to terminology used internationally and the concepts of equivalence and synonymity are studied. We investigate the origins of translation as a cognitive process in Plato’s Cratylus, Aristotle’s Peri Ermineias (On Interpretation), in Dionysius of Halicarnassus’ Περί συνθέσεως ονομάτων (On the Arrangement of Words) and in Cicero’s De Oratore. Artificial intelligence and/or machine translation are not used in the teaching and/or assessment of the course.

Students:

• Will gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of translation, both as a branch of linguistics and as a field of research within the language philosophy.
• Will become familiar with fundamental concepts of translation theory, such as the role of equivalence and synonymity, the notions of "overt" and "covert" translations, and the semantic and nominal nature of the translation process.
• Recognize the international terminology.
• Will have approached the field of translation from a theoretical and critical perspective, engaging with seminal theoretical, philosophical and metalinguistic texts, which will have provided students with a robust and solid theoretical foundation to support them throughout their professional careers as translators.
• Will be aware of the secret nuances of translation process. 

Week 1: Presentation of the course structure and discussion regarding the intended objectives and learning outcomes. What does theory and practice of translation is.

Week 2: Translation competence – Translation as an art and craft.

Week 3: Translation and equivalence Ι.

Week 4: Classification of translations based on their purpose, the type of text being translated and the target audience. – The translated text.

Week 5: The Science of Translation and Linguistics.

Week 6: Language and cognition in relation to translation: Johann Gottfried von Herder and Wilhelm von Humboldt.

Week 7: Language and cognition in relation to translation: Edward Sapir, Benjamin Lee Whorf and Noam Chomsky.

Week 8: The use of synonymity in translation.  

Week 9: Translation and equivalence ΙΙ.

Week 10: Plato Cratylus.

Week 11: Aristotle On Interpretation.

Week 12: Dionysius of Halicarnassus On the Arrangement of Words.

Week 13: Cicero De Oratore.

Suggested reading:

Selected excerpts from the works taught in class,

Κεντρωτής, Γ. (1997) Θεωρία και πράξη της μετάφρασης. Αθήνα: Δίαυλος

Κεντρωτής, Γ. (2021) Ποδήλατα και ποδηλάτες. Αθήνα: Gutenberg

Steiner, G. (1998) After Babel. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Face-to-face/ Lecture. Discussion on the examined theories. Essays.

Use of ICT in teaching.

Written exams.