Course Catalogue

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This course explores self-translation as a form of creative writing and as a multifaceted political practice with decolonising intent. Through close reading of self-translated texts and paratexts (authors' introductions, afterwards, interviews), it discusses different types of self-translation (from and into minoritised, migrant and hegemonic languages), the reasons that drive authors to self-translate, the connection between self-translation and migration, the connotation of the self-translated text as a dynamic, fluid text, and the political meaning that self-translation acquires in an increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse landscape. 

20 x 1 hour seminar sessions  

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into Italian, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Presentation (8 minutes) 20%

■ Reflective Journal (800 words) 20%

■ Essay (2400 words) 60%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ Recorded presentation (audio or video) and slideshow with substantial presentation notes as alternative to the presentation.

■ There is no alternative to the reflective journal and essay, but an extension to the deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor. 

This course aims to:

■ examine self-translation as a creative and political practice

■ discuss the role of self-translation as a tool of inclusion in an increasingly diverse literary landscape

■ reflect on translation flows from and into minoritised languages, unequal power relations between languages, and the decolonising agenda of the self-translations examined

■ encourage students to examine paratexts as part of textual analysis and to engage in close reading and comparisons of self-translated texts

■ increase students' employability by strengthening their intercultural skills and honing their ability to analyse translations

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ question traditional notions of translation as interlingual transposition

■ evaluate the ideological and sociological meaning of translating from and into minoritised languages, and from and into English

■ undertake a close reading of the studied texts in relation to their paratexts (translator introductions, afterwards, interviews, etc)

■ undertake independent research, engage with secondary sources, and apply critical tools to the analysis of primary texts

■ effectively communicate their understanding of the works analysed, both orally and in writing, and reflect critically on their learning