Theory and Techniques of Russian Translation
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the students with some of the main issues in Translation Studies, in theoretical terms, but also in the specific Italian context, looking at their relevance to translating practice through the analysis of specific case studies and translation of selected literary texts.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will have developed a full awareness of the main issues in Translation Studies and of their practical relevance.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course, whose title is Theory and Techniques of Russian Literary Translation, consists of the following three units:
A: Contemporary translation theories and history of literary Russian translation in Italy (20 hours, 3 credits)
B: Translating Russian Literature (20 hours, 3 credits)
C: Translating Russian Literature (20 hours, 3 credits)
Students who want to acquire 6 credits should study units A and B; students intending to acquire 9 credits should study the whole program (units A, B and C).
Unit C will be taught in the second semester.
The course program is accepted until February 2022.
Unit A will provide an overview of the main contemporary theories on Translation Studies, with particular reference to the context of Russian Literary Translation in Italy, examining some specific case studies and comparing different translations.
Unit B and C will take into account the specific steps and skills required during the translation process: the preliminary work on different references, linguistic and cultural specific interrelation between Russian and Italian culture. Some specific information about publishing houses will be also considered. This work will stimulate a critical approach and a good methodological competence.
A: Contemporary translation theories and history of literary Russian translation in Italy (20 hours, 3 credits)
B: Translating Russian Literature (20 hours, 3 credits)
C: Translating Russian Literature (20 hours, 3 credits)
Students who want to acquire 6 credits should study units A and B; students intending to acquire 9 credits should study the whole program (units A, B and C).
Unit C will be taught in the second semester.
The course program is accepted until February 2022.
Unit A will provide an overview of the main contemporary theories on Translation Studies, with particular reference to the context of Russian Literary Translation in Italy, examining some specific case studies and comparing different translations.
Unit B and C will take into account the specific steps and skills required during the translation process: the preliminary work on different references, linguistic and cultural specific interrelation between Russian and Italian culture. Some specific information about publishing houses will be also considered. This work will stimulate a critical approach and a good methodological competence.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, taught in Italian and Russian, requires a B1 competence in Russian and C1 in Italian and a general knowledge of Russian Literature and culture (XIX - XX centuries).
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures, translation practical work, group reading and analysis of target texts.
Teaching Resources
The course has a website on the Ariel online teaching platform, on which students can find all the texts and materials provided during the lessons.
The following list contains the optional and compulsory bibliography for the three units of the course. Editions of reference are indicated.
Bibliography for attending students
Introductory texts about translation
Laura Salmon, Teoria della Traduzione (on line)
Pascale Casanova, La repubblica mondiale delle lettere, in particolare il capitolo "La tragedia degli uomini tradotti", nottetempo 2023.
Walter Benjamin, Il compito del traduttore, Mimesis 2023
Alessandro Niero, Tradurre poesia russa. Analisi e autoanalisi, Macerata, Quodlibet 2019.
Julia Dobrovolskaja, Il russo. L'abc della traduzione, Venezia, Cafoscarina 1997
Linda Torresin, Tradurre dal russo. Teoria e pratica per studenti italofoni, Milano, Hoepli 2022
Bibliography for each unit
(Unit A questa bibliografia, dato che non parleremo in maniera diretta di storia della traduzione in Italia, la eliminerei
- L. Béghin, Da Gobetti a Ginzburg. Diffusione e ricezione della cultura russa nella Torino del primo dopoguerra, Istituto Storico Belga, Roma, Bruxelles — Roma, 2007, pp. 9-121.
- Percorsi russi a Milano. La mediazione editoriale per la diffusione della letteratura russa nel Novecento, a cura di S. Mazzucchelli, serie Carte Raccontate, Fondazione Arnoldo e Alberto Mondadori, Milano 2013
- E. Garetto, Editoria milanese e letteratura russa, in: Milano città delle culture, a cura di Maria Vittoria Calvi e Emilia Perassi, Roma, Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura, 2015, pp. 271-280.)
Unit B
- M. Bricchi, La lingua è un'orchestra - Piccola grammatica italiana per traduttori (e scriventi), Il Saggiatore, 2018
Unit C
F. Cavagnoli, La voce del testo. L'arte e il mestiere di tradurre, Feltrinelli, 2012.
Non attending students are asked to read both the texts by B. Osimo and L. Salmon.
The following list contains the optional and compulsory bibliography for the three units of the course. Editions of reference are indicated.
Bibliography for attending students
Introductory texts about translation
Laura Salmon, Teoria della Traduzione (on line)
Pascale Casanova, La repubblica mondiale delle lettere, in particolare il capitolo "La tragedia degli uomini tradotti", nottetempo 2023.
Walter Benjamin, Il compito del traduttore, Mimesis 2023
Alessandro Niero, Tradurre poesia russa. Analisi e autoanalisi, Macerata, Quodlibet 2019.
Julia Dobrovolskaja, Il russo. L'abc della traduzione, Venezia, Cafoscarina 1997
Linda Torresin, Tradurre dal russo. Teoria e pratica per studenti italofoni, Milano, Hoepli 2022
Bibliography for each unit
(Unit A questa bibliografia, dato che non parleremo in maniera diretta di storia della traduzione in Italia, la eliminerei
- L. Béghin, Da Gobetti a Ginzburg. Diffusione e ricezione della cultura russa nella Torino del primo dopoguerra, Istituto Storico Belga, Roma, Bruxelles — Roma, 2007, pp. 9-121.
- Percorsi russi a Milano. La mediazione editoriale per la diffusione della letteratura russa nel Novecento, a cura di S. Mazzucchelli, serie Carte Raccontate, Fondazione Arnoldo e Alberto Mondadori, Milano 2013
- E. Garetto, Editoria milanese e letteratura russa, in: Milano città delle culture, a cura di Maria Vittoria Calvi e Emilia Perassi, Roma, Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura, 2015, pp. 271-280.)
Unit B
- M. Bricchi, La lingua è un'orchestra - Piccola grammatica italiana per traduttori (e scriventi), Il Saggiatore, 2018
Unit C
F. Cavagnoli, La voce del testo. L'arte e il mestiere di tradurre, Feltrinelli, 2012.
Non attending students are asked to read both the texts by B. Osimo and L. Salmon.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is made up of a preliminary written test (with a provisional grade assigned) and of an oral test (grading of which is combined with the written test mark for final grade). The written test consists of the translation of an excerpt from a literary text of about 800/1000 characters and a shorter excerpt from an essay or non literary text. The time allowed is 3 hours. Students can use their laptops or dictionaries - both bilingual
and monolingual. The oral test includes open questions , a critical discussion and analysis of one or more texts from the bibliography, an analysis of two translations. This part has a variable duration and is carried out in Italian.
and monolingual. The oral test includes open questions , a critical discussion and analysis of one or more texts from the bibliography, an analysis of two translations. This part has a variable duration and is carried out in Italian.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)