This course is designed to introduce advanced German students to translation practices and theories, as well as to the business and advanced study of translation. In general, we orient ourselves around the professional standards and guidelines of the American Translators Association (ATA), so that students will receive direct experience with approaches to translation in a “real world” environment. The four primary learning goals of this course are:
- To develop and demonstrate an acceptable level of competence in translating texts from German to English in a variety of specialist fields, such as science/technology, business, literature / art, politics / journalistic prose / current events, and general (which may include song texts, advertisements, proverbs, euphemisms, historical texts, handwriting samples, short sample texts in Frakturschrift).
- To become adept at recognizing and properly translating register, that is, the level of formality of a source text (ST).
- To influence students to demonstrate proper command of English grammar and usage, as well as various linguistic aspects that are peculiar to the practice of translating German into English.
- To develop a practical, working understanding of the business of translation, as it is carried out by freelance translators and translation bureaus.
Course Requirements:
- Strong German skills, particularly in reading comprehension
- Strong English skills, particularly in writing, grammar, and proofreading
- Regular attendance and participation
- Successful completion of translation assignments
- Successful completion of the final translation project
- Acceptable performance on one ATA certification practice examination
- Adherence to the course’s honor code
Intended Audience:
Advanced German students.
Class Format:
In-person, seminar format. All translations are from German to English.