Time Schedule:
Cynthia Steele
SPAN 408
Seattle Campus
Intensive practice in translation to and from Spanish. Texts include literary prose, poetry, expository writing, newspaper and magazine articles. Problems of standard versus colloquial language, transposition of cultural references, concept of fidelity in translation. Prerequisite: either SPAN 303, SPAN 316, or SPAN 330; SPAN 323; recommended: SPAN 406.
Class description
Workshop on translating poetry, short fiction and nonfiction prose from Spanish to English. We will read essays on the theory and practice of translation, engage in close readings of the texts we will be translating, and undertake a variety of translation exercises. As a final project the class will collectively translate two books by Mexican author Elena Poniatowska: Las siete cabritas (Mexico City: Ediciones Era, 2000) and Rondas de la niña mala (Mexico City: Ediciones Era, 2008), as well as one book of poetry by Mexican poet José Emilio Pacheco, La arena errante (1999) and possibly submit them, or portions of them, for publication. Students must be fluent in both languages.
Texts Available from University BookStore:
Edith Grossman. Why Translation Matters. New Haven: Yale UP, 2010. 160 pp. $9.71. ISBN-10: 0300171307
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
