Seminar : Theory and Practice of Literary Translation (applied to Ancient Languages) [ LGLOR2204 ]

On the iCampus server.

Knowledge of ancient languages, particularly Latin.
A basic knowledge of the scanning of the hexameter and the pentameter.

A training in literary translation.

The seminar sketches a panorama of the principal theories in the domain of literary translation. It offers a series of concrete tools for undertaking a translation.

At the end of this seminar, the student will be capable of a critical reflection on the undertaking of, and the stakes involved in the translation of literary texts, in particular those in Greek and Latin. He will be able to carry out, on his own, translations that go further than the stage of a literal transfer, working within a theoretical framework and giving reasons for his choice.

The final mark is based on :
- Little homeworks once a week (10%
- A written work (around twelve pages) consisting of a literary translation of a Latin text (70%)
- A written exam consisting of a peer-revieuwing of students translations (20%)
 

The seminar offers a series of lecturers, in which the active participation of the students will be encouraged, as well as practical exercises.

The seminar proposes a historical overview of the main tendencies in the translation of literary texts (from "elegant but not faithful" to "literary literal"). It presents a seris of texts by theorists of translation (Antoine Berman, Umberto Eco, François Ost, Georges Mounin, Danica Seleskovitch, Efim Etkind, Paul Ricoeur,...) or by literary translators (Marguerite Yourcenar, Philippe Brunet, Marcel Pagnol,...) whose proposals are pertinent for the translation of classical texts.
The practical exercises allow students to practise the literary translation of Latin texts, by testing various methods and approaches.
 

The theoretical texts dealt whith in the seminar are available on the iCampus server.

The seminar is accessible to LAFR students.