TRANSLATION AND MIGRATION

This course falls within the characterizing teachings of the courses in "Environmental Humanities" and "Language and Civilization of Asia and Mediterranean Africa".

The objectives of the course
In today’s globalized world, which is characterized by continuous migration movements, translation theories face a twofold situation. On the one hand, the practicing translators and translation studies scholars keep contributing to the advancement of the field both from linguistic and literary points of view. On the other hand, many scholars from such disciplines as migration studies, cultural studies, diaspora and memory studies, environmental studies, sociology and politics, have begun investigating translational phenomena giving birth to the field of Post-Translation Studies. Taking into consideration the unprecedented success that nowadays Translation studies are enjoying, the present course proposes an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teaching on translation theories in correlation with migration and environmental studies.

1. Knowledge and Understanding
Students will acquire a solid knowledge of basic translation studies terminology, understanding its role in intercultural mediation. They will be able to analyze the main components of language (morphology, syntax, semantics, etc.) and understand how they interact within translated texts, with particular attention to the relationship between language and culture.

2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding
Students will be able to correctly and consciously use specialist terminology to describe and analyze translation processes, identifying appropriate strategies based on the linguistic and cultural contexts of both source and target texts. Particular attention will be given to cultural translation, understood as a process of migrating meanings from one culture to another.

3. Making Judgements
Students will be able to make informed and well-reasoned translation choices, critically evaluating possible alternatives and reflecting on the cultural implications of their decisions. They will demonstrate sensitivity to the complexity of cultural concepts and the need to preserve or adapt them effectively in the transition between different languages.

4. Communication Skills
Students will develop the ability to clearly and rigorously communicate their translation choices using appropriate technical vocabulary. They will also interact respectfully and critically with instructors and peers, both in person and in virtual learning environments, showing awareness of the intercultural dynamics involved in translation work.

5. Learning Skills
Students will be able to independently manage their learning path through the informed use of bibliographic resources, note-taking, and collaborative material sharing. The course encourages continuous reflection on the evolution of the discipline and the ethics of linguistic and cultural mediation.

In summary, the course will also help students develop a deeper awareness of translation as an intercultural process, which involves the migration of meanings from one cultural space to another.

Language proficiency: B2 in English and B1 in Italian (CEFR). No prior background in Translation studies is required.

The course is articulated in two parts.
Part 1 covers theoretical issues, by exploring a myriad of topics within Translation studies theories, including Natural equivalence, Directional equivalence and Skopos theory. Part 2 addresses theories within the newly born Post-Translation Studies, including Eco-translation, Cultural Translation, Translation and Memory (Trauma Literature).

Bhabha, Homi (1994). The Location of Culture. London: Routledge Classics Edition.
Brodzki, Bella (2007). Can These Bones live? Translation, Survival, and Cultural Memory. Stanford University Press.
Cronin, Michael (2016). Eco -Translation: Translation and Ecology in the Age of the Anthropocene. Routledge.
Gentzler, Edwin (2016). Translation and Rewriting in the Age of Post-Translation Studies. Routledge.
Pym, Anthony (2010). Exploring Translation Theories. Routledge.
Further bibliographical references will be provided during the course.

The course includes readings, homework assignments, in-class exercises, and translation practice in both English and Italian.
Final exam is divided into two parts: a written paper and an oral exam.
The written paper will serve as a final project and should reflect the course content while integrating both theoretical and practical aspects. Students may choose among different approaches: an in-depth study of a topic covered in class, a critical reflection on their translation experience in light of the theories explored, or a comparative analysis of a translation in one or more languages (e.g., a novel), focusing on grammar, syntax, idiomatic expressions, etc.

The paper must follow a precise format:
Title title page with the student’s name, academic year, course name, and instructor’s name;
Table of contents;
Introduction (300–500 words);
Main body (approx. 2000 words, possibly divided into sections);
Conclusion (300–500 words);
Bibliography (with short references in the text or in footnotes, and complete entries in the bibliography).
Formal requirements: Garamond or Times New Roman font, size 12, 1.5 line spacing.
The paper must be submitted one week before the oral exam. The topic must be approved by the instructor by the end of the course, with a brief written description submitted for confirmation.

The oral exam will consist of a discussion of the written paper and the key topics covered throughout the course. It aims to assess the student’s ability for critical reflection, command of theoretical concepts, and awareness of translation as both a linguistic and cultural process.

written and oral

Evaluation grid:
28-30L: mastery of the topics covered in class and in the manuals;
26-27: good knowledge of the topics covered in class and, to a lesser extent, in the manuals; fair ability
in organizing information and presenting it orally;
24-25: not always in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in class and in the manuals; organized oral
presentation but with not always correct use of technical terminology;
22-23: often superficial knowledge of the topics covered in class and in the manuals; unclear oral
presentation and lacking in technical terminology;
18-21: knowledge of the topics covered in class and in the manuals is at times incomplete; confused oral
presentation, with little use of technical terminology.

Frontal/blended classes of translation theory and practice

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development