2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GERM2081 Translating German-Speaking Cultures: The German Language in Intercultural Relations

15 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Anne Buckley
Email: A.Buckley@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisites

GERM1010

German Language Awareness and Skills

This module is mutually exclusive with

GERM2080

Translating German-Speaking Cultures: The German Language in

Module replaces

GERM2041

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module combines interdisciplinary theoretical insights into German-language culture with practical experience in a range of translation types. It is designed to develop students’ research skills and critical thinking, as well as their sensitivity to nuance in German and their mastery of the art of translation.

Objectives

The module aims to develop students’ understanding of German-speaking cultures through an exploration of their connections and interactions with the rest of the world. Through a combination of cultural and intercultural theories with a practical translation component, students will not only refine their skills as researchers exploring the interculturality of the German language but will also improve their skill in translation as a key method of negotiating intercultural relationships.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module students should be able to:

1. understand the transnational and intercultural status of the German language and the countries where it is spoken
2. reflect on this with the help of relevant theoretical concepts in cultural studies, intercultural theory and translation studies.
3. demonstrate familiarity with a range of relevant primary and secondary texts, by enabling students to identifying, selecting and evaluating how these might contribute to an essay (demonstrated in the literature review).
4. apply their understanding of theoretical questions to the practical task of translation through negotiation of the structures and registers of the target language and demonstration of cultural sensitivity.
5. reflect on their translation work in the form of a self-titled essay, with the help of relevant theoretical concepts in cultural studies, intercultural theory and translation studies.

Skills outcomes
Translation skills
German language skills (comprehension)
Preparation for the Final-Year Project

Syllabus

The first part of this module, ‘Researching German Interculturality’, will begin by covering some general theoretical principles for the analysis of intercultural identities (e.g. theories of diaspora, hybridity, nation). It will then move on to explore theoretical perspectives and key primary texts that enable students to deepen their understanding of specifically German-speaking cultures as embedded in their exchanges with other language cultures, and to develop their skills as researchers in this area. Perspectives covered might include but are not limited to:

• Interculturality within ‘German’: linguistic and cultural difference between German-speaking nations;
• Hybrid German-language culture: intercultural hybridity within German-speaking cultures;
• Distinctive German-language literary forms and their impact on a concept of world literature;
• Key German-language contributions to cinema and their national/international reception.

The second part, ‘Negotiating German Interculturality’, will focus on how the insights developed in the first semester can contribute to sensitivity and understanding in the negotiation of cultural and/or linguistic difference. The focus here is on translation as an act of cultural exchange, and students will be able to demonstrate their understanding and application of key theories and ideas through the assessed group translation and accompanying individual essay. Types of translation covered might include:

• Tourist texts
• Literary texts
• Website content
• Public relations texts
• Political speeches

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminars	15	1.50	22.50
Private study hours			127.50
Total Contact hours			22.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Preparation for seminars through set and further reading
Completion of the group translation
Completion of the essay
Completion of formative assessments

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

• Seminar discussions;
• Students will submit a Literature review (750 words) as preparation for the self-titled essay task;
• Individual consultation with module tutor when constructing a title for the essay task;
• Peer and tutor feedback on translation work submitted as fair copies for seminar discussion.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	1,500 words	60.00
Group Project	Translation: 750-1,250 words	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Translation resit would have to be completed as an individual task, with word count set as a proportion of the total for the group task. The formative literature review is compulsory and designed to prepare students for the self-designed essay question as well as for the Final Year Project.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/05/2024

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