The Translation Studies program has its own list of courses, taught by Center faculty and School for Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics faculty. Translation students may also apply credits from courses taken in their major department, in the School and in other colleges and units on campus. For specific days and times or more information about these courses, please reference the Course Catalog.
TRST 201 Intro to Translation Studies
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a Literature and the Arts course.
Introduction to translation as an academic discipline and professional field through a series of texts in translation. Explores the ways in which texts, images, and ideas move across cultures, across time, across languages, and through different art forms; to elevate the students' appreciation of literature and other art forms; and get acquainted with the complexities of a work of art as a cultural manifestation and with the ways in which various artists, writers and translators have attempted to recreate these complexities in other languages and cultures. Prerequisite: Students must have met the University of Illinois foreign language requirement.
3 undergraduate hours.
TRST 400 Translation in the European Union (currently LAS 490)
This course focuses on language policy and the role of the translator as mediator and communicator in Europe's multilingual and multicultural societies. It is open to students interested in how translation is done in EU institutions and other international organizations. It seeks to answer the question of how multi-lingual individuals are trained and how they apply their skills to ensure that the EU multicultural project will flourish thanks to this diversity. The course is open to all undergraduate and graduate students and will be of particular interest to students in foreign languages, cultures, and linguistics, political science, international studies, European Union Studies, law and business. The course counts as an elective toward the Certificate in Translation Studies. It is a preparatory course for the 2-4 week summer study abroad course - can be taken whether or not you take the study abroad trip.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
TRST 401 Translation Study Abroad (currently LAS 490)
This two to four week intensive course in the European Union that studies the dynamics of language and language policy in the the European Union and provides hands-on experience with the translator's role and responsibility as mediator and communicator in today's European multi-lingual and multi-cultural societies.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
Prerequisite: Students must have met the University of Illinois foreign language requirement. Departmental approval.
TRST 404 Bilingualism and Translation
Studies selected writings by authors published bilingually to reflect on the ways in which the practice of translation may be informed by self-translation, and to encounter biographical aspect of bilingualism that directly relates to translators' self-perception and the experience of translation. The emphasis is on how authors' strategies in self-translation compare with the strategies of a translator and how bilingualism relates to self, creativity, national identity, and politics.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
Prerequisite: Students must have met the University of Illinois foreign language requirement.
TRST 405 Commercial and Technical Translation
Theoretical and practical aspects of commercial and technical translation resulting in a portfolio of business and technical documents relating to a fictional business.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
Prerequisite: Departmental approval. Six semesters of foreign language study.
TRST 406 Translation for the Professions
Develop the practice of "instrumental" translation skills in a variety of technical domains, including translation for new media, medical and legal translation, and localization. Focuses on the technical, cultural and terminological problems that characterize localization and globalization as governing criteria of translation in today's knowledge economy.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
Prerequisite: Departmental approval. Six semesters of foreign language study.
TRST 407 Terminology and Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)
The theoretical and practical aspects of terminology studies, as well as the computer skills required of a translator in today's Language Service Provider (LSP) environment, mastery of a variety of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and the SDL Trados suite. Practical applications of terminology work include advanced Internet research for translation work, terminology "mining" exercises, construction of terminology databases and management of those databases. Terminology theory is situation within the field of translation studies as derived from the discipline of linguistics.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
Prerequisite: Departmental approval. Six semesters of foreign language study.
TRST 410 Translation Theory and Practice
Study of the history, theory and methods of literary translation and the practice of literary translation as we engaged in our own work as translators. Examines the growing importance of translation studies as a rapidly expanding field which examines the close relationships between language and culture, language and art, and broad questions of intercultural exchange.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
TRST 412 Spanish/English Translation
Review of current translation theory and analysis and practice of the translation from Spanish to English (and vice versa) of a variety of text types, ranging from short literary texts to everyday commercial discourse such as that found on product labels. Emphasis on linguistic and cultural aspect of literary discourses as well as non-literary texts. Conducted in Spanish. Same as SPAN 410.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
Prerequisite: SPAN 250, SPAN 252, and SPAN 254; or consent of instructor.
TRST 420 Translation Practice
Introduction to a variety of issues focused on how to approach translation projects including a study of text types and genres, the formal properties of texts, grammatical and syntactical issues of translating, questions of linguistic register, considerations of the target audience, the meaning of "localization", cultural and ethical concerns and strategies of compensation. The importance of studying a text and making strategic decisions before starting a translation will be emphasized and discussed, as well as the crucial step of revising and editing the translated text.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
Prerequisite: Departmental approval. Six semesters of foreign language study.
TRST 430 Chinese Poetry and Translation
A critical introduction to major Chinese poetic genres and an in depth examination of various translation strategies used in the translation of Chinese poetry. The poetry component acquaints students with essential aspects of Chinese language and poetry and thus enables them to evaluate the translated texts from the perspectives of both an insider and outsider. The translation component entails both the evaluation of existing translations and practice by the students. Same as EALC 425.
TRST 431 History of Translation
Examines the historical development of translation ideas and practices in Europe and in particular cases across major global regions through the lens of contemporary theories of translation. Reading and analysis of key texts in the development of translation theory and case studies of practices and roles played by translation. Theory and case studies from non-European literatures, such as Asian, Latin American, and African. Same as SLAV 430.
TRST 432 Translation of Religious Texts
(in development)
TRST 440 Translation Studies Capstone
Capstone project in translation done under the supervision of a mentor or instructor in a specialized area of translation according to the student's area of interest and language pair. Possible specializations include literary, technical, commercial, legal, medical, or translation for new media. The student may combine the project with an internship or apprenticeship in an appropriate organization, such as a health center, courthouse, international corporation, government or non-governmental agency, or a publishing house. Students must complete a contract with the instructor or mentor prior to initiating the project and meet with the advisor weekly.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
Prerequisite: TRST 410 and TRST 407. Six semesters of foreign language study.
TRST 474 The Practice of Russian Translation (currently LAS 490)
This course is for professionally-oriented students who are interested in academic, government, NGO, or private sector careers and/or who are planning to be in contact with Russian-speaking countries or use Russian in the course of their careers. The students will enhance their professional skills by learning to translate in workshop format primarily into their native language. The students will also work with documents that are vital for their career development and relevant for their field of study, such as CVs, business letters, academic articles, government documents, manuals, etc. The students will explore cultural, linguistic and technical differences in a number of written discourses in commercial, literary, political or technical idioms. Instruction will be differentiated for native Russian, heritage Russian, and American Russian language learners. Three real-life translation assignments and daily translation exercises. Conducted in English and Russian. Meets with RUSS 474, REES 496, and REES 596.
3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
TRST 501 Applied Literary Translation
Two-semester course to provide practical translation and editorial experience to beginning translators (graduate students or post-baccalaureate) who have not yet published a book-length translation. Offered in collaboration with The Dalkey Archive Press, the course will focus on translation editing and the mechanics of writing reader reports, cover letters to editors, queries to publishers and agents, grant proposals, and other secondary documents necessary to professional translators. Research skills for translation purposes will be addressed.
Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 8 hours.
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
Translation Courses in the School of Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics
FR 419-421 Techniques in French Translation
FR 443 Commercial and Technical Translation
GER 403 Translation Theory and Practice
GER 588 Seminar in Second Language Learning: Culture in Communication
JAPN 409 Social Science Reading in Japanese
JAPN 408 Readings in Classical Japanese
EALC 531 Chinese Poetry and Translation
EALC 531 Seminar in Japanese Literature
SLAV 430 History of Translation
RUSS 474 Russian Literary Translation
SPAN 410 Spanish/English Translation