typewriter desk bw.jpg

WOC207 Spring 2023 Session 4

Day 11

Tues. Apr. 25


  • Discussion: image and metaphor (Late Lights, Introduction to Poetry)

  • Discussion of challenge 2E (我的妈妈是精灵)

  • Review final challenge scenarios


Challenge 2 deadlines

Upcoming individual deadlines

  • Don’t forget to keep track of the individual deadlines here for your challenges and translator’s notes!

Homework due next class

➤ READ CLASSMATES’ CHALLENGES (2 GROUPS)

Read Challenge 2J (Ser Serpas art review and artist’s statement) and Challenge 2A (Bacheng tourism pamphlet 《微游巴城》) and be ready to talk about these next class. (In the first half of class we’ll talk about Challenge 2J in Chinese; in the second half of class we’ll talk about Challenge 2A in English.)

As you read, think about these questions:

Challenge 2J:

  • How readable is the Chinese translation? How readable is the English original? Can you understand it? Does it make sense to apply the idea of “readability” to a text like this?

  • How would you describe the style of the English original? How would you describe the style of the Chinese translation?

  • What is the purpose of this text? How does the style relate to the purpose? (Why is it written in this kind of style?)

  • Find an example of an image or metaphor that seems important to you. Is the translation successful at capturing the image and/or conveying the logic of the metaphor? Come ready to tell us your thoughts.

Challenge 2A:

  • What is the genre of the original Chinese text? (Is it one genre or are there several different genres here?)

  • How would you describe the style of the original Chinese text? (And is the style the same throughout, or does it vary?)

  • Find an example of an image or metaphor that seems important to you. Is the translation successful at capturing the image and/or conveying the logic of the metaphor? Come ready to tell us your thoughts.

Final challenge instructions

➤ WRite scenario and upload text for final challenge

If you haven’t done so yet, upload the text you’re thinking of translating to the SharePoint folder called “Final challenge texts and scenarios” and, if you’re choosing your own text, type your 3-5 sentence scenario outlining the purpose of your translation directly onto this document.

Remember:

  • You can change your plan for your final project at any time! If you do so, please message me and let me know, and change the text of your scenario accordingly.

  • If you’re not sure what you want to translate or would like help identifying a specific text to work on, please message me on WeChat and I would be more than happy to help you brainstorm or identify options.

Homework due TUESDAY after vacation

➤ Complete Worksheet 2E

Complete the worksheet for Challenge 2E. (Actually do the worksheet, don’t just think about it. Upload your version to the folder “15-Challenge 2E worksheet.”

➤ Read Han Dong poem, prepare to discuss

Read the poem by 韩东 called 《致某人或一个时代》and think about images and metaphors. What images do you see in your mind as you read this poem? What scenes do you imagine? Come ready to talk about the poem in preparation for translating it into English.

Austin Woerner