FREN 350 Theory and Practice of Translation (Thème et Version)

An introduction to the theory and practice of translation from English to French ("thème"), and French to English ("version"), as both a craft and an art, with its codes and principles. Although emphasis is placed on practice, the course examines important theoretical questions, such as translation as both a product and as a process. With some attention to the difference between "literal" and "free" translation, the course explores the lexical and semantic strategies that translators employ. The course begins with the smallest "unit of translation," and progresses to consider a wide variety of texts: fiction; poetry (song lyrics); advertisements, televisual and filmic. Students may choose to translate a business, technical, legal, medical, or literary text as part of their final project.