Studying at York
Research Now: Translating Literature - ENG00166I
- Department: English and Related Literature
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
Module summary
Research Now gives you the chance to explore a cutting-edge specialist research area, while developing advanced skills for your own independent, extended research in the final stages of your degree.
In the first half of the module, you will tackle your ‘deep dive’ research area of Translating Literature. What do we talk about when we talk about translation? What do we mean by translation now? How do we read a translated text? How do we attend to cultural, historical, linguistic contexts as critical readers? How do we go about translating a text from one language into another? Translation, in its literal meaning from Latin, indicates a transfer of things from one place to another. But this sense of moving things across places has come to be associated with a movement of words and ideas from one language to another, and from one culture to another. This module will explore concepts, questions, and new areas of research in translation theory, translation practice, and world literature in translation. You will learn about what it means to read literature in English translation from across periods and geographies, and its connections to ideas of multilingualism, world literatures, and 'English' literature today. This deep dive will draw its texts from a diverse range of translators and translation theorists, across historical periods and languages, and beyond national borders. Topics may include translation theory, practice of literary translation (from medieval to contemporary), the politics of translation, translation history, and translated literature within the current publishing industry. You will hear from a range of lecturers, while collaborating in team-based workshops, in order to develop a team research project and presentation on the topic’s material.
The second half focuses on skills to take your research further: formulating comprehensive research proposals and questions; developing a clear methodology or research practice; working interdisciplinarily, across languages, and periods; and improving ways of presenting research both orally and in writing. Each week will introduce a new tool for developing your research, and will contribute to a portfolio that will also look ahead to your final-year dissertation project.
As a whole, the module gives you the chance to develop key employability strengths, including teamwork, creative and critical thinking, and problem-solving, while also developing the skills needed to embark on a longer research project by putting together an individual dissertation proposal.
Note: the ‘deep dive’ research area you choose for this module does not have to correspond with the subject area of your final year dissertation — you have the freedom here to explore new, innovative terrain.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
This module aims to introduce students to cutting-edge research and innovative approaches to research design and presentation. This module will encourage students to engage creatively with critical sources and texts, preparing students for the design of an extended dissertation project in the third year. The module will develop essential research techniques together with oral, written and digital skills that can be applied to individual and collaborative research projects.
Module learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module, you should be able to:
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Demonstrate an informed understanding of and engagement with the ‘deep dive’ research topic, the issues involved, and the critical debates surrounding the subject.
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Demonstrate an informed understanding of and engagement with research strategy through the development of a focused piece of research.
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Examine essential research approaches and techniques and apply those techniques in the development of a research proposal portfolio.
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Develop and successfully manage a collaborative project which demonstrates a proficiency in oral, written, performance and/or digital skills as appropriate.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 50 |
| Groupwork | 50 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 50 |
Module feedback
You will receive feedback on all assessed work within the University deadline, and will often receive it more quickly. The purpose of feedback is to inform your future work; it is designed to help you to improve your work, and the Department also offers you help in learning from your feedback. If you do not understand your feedback or want to talk about your ideas further you can discuss it with your tutor or your supervisor, during their Open Office Hours.
For more information about the feedback you will receive for your work, see the department's Guide to Assessment.
Indicative reading
Refer to mini-syllabus for ‘deep dive’ research topics.