INTL 282 - The Art of Translation

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

As citizens of the world, patrons of the arts, and professionals in all fields, we all depend on the too-often invisible work of translators. Their work provides access to a trove of books, articles, instruction manuals, legal documents, movies, social media outlets in a multitude of languages that no single individual can master. In this course, we shed light on this crucial human and increasingly AI-driven practice by looking at pivotal moments in the history of translation and the intellectual debate surrounding it. While providing theoretical insights into the larger social, cultural, and political ramifications of translation, in an age where language diversity is under peril, this class also offers moments of interaction with professional translators and hands-on, peer-to-peer practice sessions in the art of translation. For this reason, the course is open to students with a bi/multi-lingual background or who have studied any language at Vassar for at least four semesters (higher placement and/or study abroad included) or who are otherwise sufficiently fluent in another language, spoken or not spoken. Alberto Gelmi.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS