Course 2024-2025

Literary text analysis: literary multilingualism and translation [LANGB307]

  • 7 credits
  • 30h+30h
  • 2nd quarter
Language of instruction: English

Learning outcomes

Give students a better understanding of "English" literature as a "world" literature and of the relative nature of "national" borders. Deepen their understanding of multilingualism as a social and a literary phenomenon. Further improve their knowledge of the English language in its many variants. Hep the students to achieve level C1 (ELP). Teach the basics of Translation Studies.

Objectives

See "Acquis".

Content

This course considers modern English literature fromt he viewpoint of multilingualism ("English literature and its other languages"). It presents translation as a carrier of literary influence and exchange, both enriching the repertoires of writing in English and exporting the latter to other languages and cultures.  The course predominantly focuses on multilingualism and translation as narrative and discursive devices within "English" texts. How are are foreign accents, foreign languages and interlingual exchanges represented in the text? What are the esthetic and political implications of this? The course will provide a descriptif model that is to be applied to one play, three novels, and a range of short stories.

Exercises description

Exercices are designed to coach students in their reading of the novels.


Teaching methods

Taught course with as much teacher-student interaction as possible.

Evaluations

Written exam (based on anonymised fragments). Reading test on the novels.

Recommended readings

Lecture notes: theoretical part; annotated anthology of short stories.

One play: Brian Friel, Translations (1980).

Two novels: (for example) Charlotte Brontë, The Professor (1845-6), J.S. Foer, Everything is Illuminated (2002).

 

Language of instruction

English

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté de philosophie et lettres
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree