translation criteria

  • No computer or online digital assistance
  • True to diction, tone of voice, humor, nuances, symbols, in the original play-script
  • Respect for idioms, stock phrases, and authenticity of both languages;
  • Distinction between speech and writing
  • Integrity and coherence of style
  • Necessary annotations for words and phrases meaningless if translated literally
  • Short descriptions about the scenes in which conversations occur
  • A note from the translator (like the one here), no more than 200 words to provide such useful information as the biography of the author and/or director, cultural, social or historical context from which the text emerged, and issues being addressed.

Raise questions in class concerning the text and discuss the best rendition. Type your translation. For the one soliloquy you chose, edit you voice into the film using iMovie, with the soliloquies by others, as one group project. Submit the typed English text, making sure there are no errors in spelling, punctuation or inconsistency in pagination, fonts, margin, and names. The group project containing soliloquies by all of you should be submitted separately.

Like what people say about the Independent Study, what is important about this translation project is process rather than final product. It is a skill set you are expected to develop in this process: taking on the original material, asking questions in the target language, understanding language in its proper cultural and historical contexts, editing language material in digital forms. You receive a letter grade for your first literary translation job, 15% of your course grade.