typewriter desk bw.jpg

WOC207 Spring 2023 Session 4

Day 7

Tues. Apr. 11


  • Conclude discussion of journalistic style in English

  • Go through Challenge 1A worksheet

  • Discuss Challenge 1C (Pipilu)

  • Begin Challenge 1C worksheet

  • Introduction to “voice”


Challenge 2 deadlines

Homework due next class (THURS)

➤ Note deadlines for Challenge 2, find a parallel text

Now that you know your assignment for Challenge 2, you can start working on it! First off, note your deadlines for this challenge.

Second, find a piece of writing in the target language (the language you’re translating into) that could serve as a useful parallel text for your translation challenge. Upload that text (or paste a link into a Word document) in the SharePoint folder “Parallel texts for Challenge 2.” Leave a note in the document explaining why you think it could be a good parallel text.

➤ MAke edits to Challenge 1B

  • Please pick one place (a sentence or two) in the translation of Challenge 1B where you think the translation could be more readable — a place that tripped you up as you read or that you had to think about too hard about to understand. Rewrite the sentence(s) so it is more readable.

  • Please pick one place (a sentence or two) where you think register isn’t quite correct — where you think the word choice is either too formal or two colloquial. If it’s too formal, rewrite it so it’s more colloquial. If it’s too colloquial, rewrite it so it’s more formal.

Upload your edits to the folder “Edits to Challenge 1B.” Please use the template file I’ve provided in the folder to format your document.

➤ Read excerpts on Voice handout

Read the excerpts in my handout on the idea of “voice,” which we looked at briefly in class. For the two writers excerpted on page 2, ask yourself: What kind of person do I feel like the author is, based on the way they use words? Come to next class ready to share your observations. (Do not look these up online! It would ruin the whole point of the exercise.)

➤ Read Challenge 1D

Please prepare for next class by reading the article by Martha Gill (“Think women have it so good? You should take a look at medieval days”) and your classmates’ Chinese translation of it. As you read, think about these questions and come prepared to share your answers:

  • Is it readable? Are you able to follow the author’s logic? If there are any places where you can’t, come ready to point out those specific places.

  • How would you describe the style?

  • Based on reading the Chinese translation only, what kind of person do you feel like Gill is—what’s her personality like? (How would you describe her “voice”?) Come ready to give an example of a specific place where the language conveys a sense of “voice.”

Homework due before class on TUES next week

➤ Go through worksheet for challenge 1C

Do your best to work through the questions on the Challenge 1C worksheet. (Obviously I’m not going to check these, but please at least think about the questions and trying writing down some answers, so that you have something to share when we go over this worksheet in class on Tuesday.)

Austin Woerner