Fall 2005

PRS 380C • Seminar/workshop in Persian Literature and Translation

Course Description

This course is essentially designed to familiarize students with the practice of translation. Questions pertaining to creativity and losses in rendering a text and the pitfalls or desirability of literal and free translation methods are addressed. Following a survey of common literary translation theories and an examination of samples of published literary translations, initially participants in the seminar/workshop translate a number of short literary passages from Persian into English. These translatations are discussed and evaluated by all participants. The students then undertake the translation of a longer literary work, also as a group project. The final version of this project will be edited by all participants as a text prepared for publication.

Grading Policy

Completion of weekly assignments 30% Completion of longer project 70%

Texts

M.R. Ghanoonparvar, Translating the Garden (University of Texas Press: 2002). Other material will be available in photocopies.

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