History of translation, translation studies, and applied translation

History of translation

The aim will be to explore the history of translation from Antiquity to the emergence of Translation Studies, and to understand why the history of translation is of major significance to the field of Translation Studies.

We will examine some of the major approaches to translation, as well as some of the leading schools of thought and key controversies. We will also explore how translation has contributed to the construction of national identities and power relations.

Translation studies

The "Translation Studies" course introduces students to the main trends, concepts, and contemporary issues in the discipline. It offers a critical examination of translation practices and theories, while providing an overview of the primary sources and reference materials in the field. What does the "invisibility" of translation mean today? What is it to "translate the purpose" of a text? What remains "untranslatable" in the age of AI and the massive, international circulation of discourse and ideas? What does an ethical approach to translation entail? How do power relations between languages and cultures influence the work of translators?

Functionalist, descriptive, ethical, and cultural approaches to translation will shed light on these questions and enrich the practice in the "Translation Studies Applied to Translation" courses into French associated with this AA. The "Translation Studies" course thus aims to foster the integration of theoretical reflection and practical translation, encouraging students to apply the concepts and resources of translation studies to analyze their choices and develop a reflective stance toward their practice.

Translation studies applied to translation from English to French

Reflexive approach to the mechanisms and techniques of translation.
Emphasis on applying translation theories to actual translation and how they can be used to sharpen the students' analysis of their own tranlsating skills. 

Translation studies applied to translation from Spanish to French

As part of the course "Traductologie appliquée à la traduction de l'espagnol vers le français", students will translate texts from Spanish to French that illustrate the translation-related issues covered in the "Traductologie" course and apply the theoretical concepts discussed. The course will thus enable students to enhance their translation strategies from Spanish to French and to develop their ability to engage in metalinguistic reflection on their own practices.

History of translation

By the end of the course, students will be able to: - situate the major periods that have shaped the history of translation; - understand the key issues at stake; - conduct comparative analyses across different periods.

Translation studies

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• apply concepts from translation studies to develop and use a metalanguage suited to analyzing their own translation practice;
• identify and understand the main contemporary debates and issues in translation studies;
• to research, select, assimilate, and connect scholarly articles in the field of translation studies;
• to adopt a reflective stance toward their own translation practice, by applying theoretical insights from translation studies to concrete translation situations.

Translation studies applied to translation from English to French

The students will have developed and sharpened their theoretical reflection as well as their ability to write and structure translation commentaries on their own translation process of complex texts.

Translation studies applied to translation from Spanish to French

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Identify the translation challenges specific to the texts they are asked to translate;
• Apply the most appropriate translation strategies to the text at hand, drawing on relevant theoretical texts;
• Write translation commentaries by drawing on the sources consulted.

Translation studies

NA - 

Translation studies applied to translation from English to French

Excellent command of the English language. Perfect command of the target language, i.e. French. Intellectual curiosity and méthodological accuracy. 

Translation studies applied to translation from Spanish to French

Very good knowledge of Spanish and a perfect command of French.

History of translation

In-person course, two hours per week in the first term.

Translation studies

• A combination of seminars and lectures
• Reading and preparing scientific articles at home
• Watching videos and listening to podcasts at home
• Active participation in the conference organized as part of the course

Translation studies applied to translation from English to French

The students will be asked to apply theoretical concepts (covered in the "Traductologie" course) to their own translations as interpretive tools to sharpen their translating skills.

Translation studies applied to translation from Spanish to French

• Translation in class and at home, individually or in groups
• Sharing and discussing these translations
• Writing translation comments

History of translation

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Face-to-face course

Translation studies

Face-to-face course

Translation studies applied to translation from English to French

Face-to-face course

Translation studies applied to translation from Spanish to French

Face-to-face course


Further information:

The course is primarily taught in person. However, in exceptional cases, a session may be held remotely or replaced by an assignment to be completed independently by the students.

History of translation

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Course materials will be made available to students on e-Campus. Articles will be uploaded every week. All materials are part of the exam content.

Translation studies

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Students must purchase the following book, from which most of the required readings will be drawn:

Belleflamme, C., Coppin, D., Letawe, C., & Mergeai, M. (Eds.). (2027). Thinking About Translation: An Anthology of Translated Texts on Translation Studies. Liège, Belgium: Presses universitaires de Liège.

Course materials and other required readings will be made available to students on eCampus.

Translation studies applied to translation from English to French

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus

Translation studies applied to translation from Spanish to French

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Students must purchase the following book, from which most of the required readings will be drawn:
Belleflamme, C., Coppin, D., Letawe, C., & Mergeai, M. (Eds.). (2027). Penser la traduction. Anthologie de textes traductologiques traduits. Liège, Belgium: Presses universitaires de Liège. 

Course materials and other required readings will be made available to students on eCampus.

History of translation

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )


Further information:

The exam will be a written, in-person exam consisting of multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions.

Translation studies

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam


Further information:

10-minute oral exam (with 5 minutes of preparation time).

The exam will consist of two questions covering different aspects of the course. Students must demonstrate that they have mastered the concepts and topics covered in the course and developed a reflective approach to the practice of translation.

Students are required to review the ULiège charter on the use of AI: https://www.student.uliege.be/cms/c_19230399/fr/ faq-student-charte-uliege-d-utilisation-des-intelligences-artificielles-generatives-dans-les-travaux-universitaires. 

This course is subject to the "absorbing grade" principle, which means that if a grade lower than 8/20 is assigned to any of the learning activities (AA), that grade becomes the overall grade for the course. Only the exam for the failed AA may be retaken during the second exam session.

Translation studies applied to translation from English to French

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )


Further information:

This course accounts for 20% of the total mark (of the Unité d'enseignement). 

Written exam: translation of a text, along with 2 commentaries. 

Translation studies applied to translation from Spanish to French

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam


Further information:

Translation into French of a short, previously unseen text written in Spanish that raises questions similar to those discussed in class, and written commentary on this translation.

The exam, which lasts 3 hours, will be held in person. Students may consult their class notes and the theoretical texts they have used during the course.

The grade earned for this learning activity (AA) accounts for 20% of the total grade for the UE.

This course unit is subject to the "note absorbante" rule, which means that if a grade lower than 8/20 is assigned to any of the learning activities (AA), that grade becomes the overall grade for the course unit. Only the exam for the failed learning activity will be retaken during the second exam session.

Translation studies

A confernce will be held as part of the course. It is a required activity.

Translation studies applied to translation from Spanish to French

A conference will be held as part of the course. It is a mandatory activity.

History of translation

anne.debras@uliege.be

Translation studies

maud.gonne@uliege.be

 

Translation studies applied to translation from English to French

Valérie Bada

vbada@uliege.be

Translation studies applied to translation from Spanish to French

For further information, please contact c.belleflamme@uliege.be