Mar 28, 2024  
Course Catalog 2022-2023 
    
Course Catalog 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Literary Translation Minor


The minor consists of a minimum of 5 full courses (or the equivalent).

Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the minor.


Literary translation is an essential human activity, necessary and central to almost every world culture. It is a complex activity that both invites and defies the grasp of many disciplines: computer science, linguistics, philosophy, politics, economics, sociology, and cultural history, to name but a few. Oberlin students minoring in literary translation will study the history and theory of literary translation, analyze specific cases and practical problems, and develop their own extended translation projects. As they gain in-depth knowledge of foreign languages, as well as of the many contexts that shape the production of literature in those languages, students will learn to negotiate different perspectives while remaining mindful of cultural, social, political, and linguistic implications in both the original languages and in English.

The minor in literary translation draws on Oberlin’s strengths in many areas and is thus inherently interdisciplinary, as befits our liberal arts philosophy. Students pursuing this minor will become familiar with the history of literary translation, with key theoretical texts and approaches in Translation Studies, and develop and complete their own projects in literary translation in the language(s) of their interest. Students will also acquire advanced knowledge of a foreign language and learn to understand the literary production of that language within its particular cultural, historical, political, and linguistic contexts. As a result, students will develop their own informed and theory-based approach to translating works from one or more literary genres (such as poetry, prose, drama) and will complete a literary translation project as their capstone for the minor.

arrow Visit the Literary Translation webpage for more information.


Students planning to declare the literary translation minor should consult with their advisor or a member of the minor advisory group and complete the Interdivisional or Arts & Sciences Minor form. The form requires the signature of one of the minor co-chairs.

Co-Chairs
Stiliana Milkova (Comparative Literature, Italian)
Kirk Ormand (Classics)

arrow See the full list of Literary Translation Minor Advisory Group Members

Summary of Requirements


Notes:

  • A course cannot count for more than one requirement. For example, if a student takes a 300-level Greek course, it can count as either an advanced language course or an advanced course in translation, but not both.
  • Many LxC courses appear as a one-half (0.5) FC with a linked full (1.0) FC course. Students who take both sections of such courses may count both in the category of Advanced Courses in Translation, for a total of one and one-half (1.5) FC. Students who take only the one-half (0.5) FC LxC section may count only one-half (0.5) FC.

Literary Translation Minor Course Lists


Advanced Translation Courses


Return to the summary of requirements.

Foreign Literature Courses Taught in the Original Language


Return to the summary of requirements.

Capstone Course


Return to the summary of requirements.

A capstone (or Honors) project focusing on translation in any department is required. A faculty member from any department with experience in translation should be first or second reader for the project.

Literary Translation Minor Advisory Group Members


Stiliana Milkova (Comparative Literature, Italian), co-chair
Kirk Ormand (Classics), co-chair
Hsiu-Chuang Deppman (Chinese, Cinema Studies)
Sergio Gutiérrez Negrón, Assistant Professor of Hispanic Studies
DeSales Harrison (English)
Benjamin Lee (Classics)
Anna Levett (Comparative Literature, French) *Fall 2022 only
Claire Solomon (Hispanic Studies, Comparative Literature)
Sheera Talpaz (Comparative Literature, Jewish Studies)