Literary translation in practice (Portuguese into English)

What is the course about?

Enhance your understanding of Portuguese language and culture and develop your English writing style by translating various texts and discussing the work that you and your classmates produce.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

This is primarily a practical translation course with a focus on literature. You will translate a range of short passages and discuss your work in class. We will also look at short extracts from published English translations alongside their Portuguese originals. Study materials will include flash fiction pieces and passages from short stories and novels by Brazilian, Portuguese, Angolan and Mozambican authors. Towards the end of the course, there will be a Q&A session with a renowned translator (guest translator: TBC). The course will be delivered in English by a Brazilian-British tutor.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- recognise a range of different writing styles in Portuguese and set about recreating them in English.
- interpret Portuguese writing with greater subtlety, and with enhanced knowledge of Portuguese-speaking cultures.
- write in English exploring different “voices”.
- understand the work of the professional literary translator in more depth.

There may be other outcomes, depending on the needs and interests of the group of students.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This class involves reading passages from a range of Portuguese literary texts and teasing out their subtleties in order to recreate them as closely as possible in English. Students should have at least a strong level B2 in Portuguese, be comfortable reading Portuguese literature and have a good knowledge of the Portuguese language and the cultures of Portuguese-speaking countries. They must be able to write fluent, idiomatic English (native or near-native speaker, C1 English as an absolute minimum) and be willing to explore different registers and styles.

You do not need to have any professional background in translation, but you may find the course useful if you have been thinking about doing translation professionally.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

This is a practical, participative course in which students will be required to prepare translations for discussion in class. Homework will be set every week, which students should be willing and able to do in order to benefit fully from the course.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Based on tutor's material.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

To be discussed with your tutor. You could also do another course related to Portuguese, or consider courses in creative writing, journalism, etc.