Dear students,
we are pleased to announce that the course in Literary Translation (6 CFU) will be offered again this academic year. The course is jointly taught by Professors Václav Paris and Rocco Coronato and explores key principles, practices, and challenges in translating literary texts.
You can find the full syllabus here:
https://en.didattica.unipd.it/off/2024/LM/SU/LE0613/004PD/SUQ1097207/N0
The Moodle page for course materials and updates is here:
https://ssu.elearning.unipd.it/course/view.php?id=19655
Divided into two halves, this course explores literary translation as both a theoretical concern and a creative practice in the present day. In the first half of the course, led by Václav Paris, we will approach literary translation as a conceptual and imaginative act, paying attention to the role of translation in shaping new literature. Beginning with Walter Benjamin’s “The Task of the Translator,” we’ll explore modernist and avant-garde approaches to translation, reflect on the colonial and anti-colonial stakes of translation, and consider recent debates around its place in world literature and the contemporary novel. Rather than offering a survey, this part of the course focuses on provocative and unconventional engagements with translation across the 20th and 21st centuries.
The second part of the course, which will be taught by Rocco Coronato, is designed to be interactive and hands-on, allowing students to apply their learning in practical settings. It will focus on British Romantic poets. Its approach will integrate AI as a tool for bridging English and students’ diverse native languages. This workshop-style course is designed to foster practical skills in literary translation. Participants will explore the nuances of translating poetry, considering cultural, linguistic, and stylistic elements, while leveraging AI to enhance their understanding and creativity. The course objectives will be:
- gain practical experience in translating literary texts from English into various languages.
- utilise AI tools to assist in the translation process, exploring their benefits and limitations.
- cultivate skills in creative expression, style, and voice through translation exercises.
- engage in collaborative learning through peer feedback and workshops.
By the end of the course, participants will have enhanced their translation skills and gained insights into the creative process of adapting poetic language across cultures.