SEL3341 : Old English: Texts and Translations
- Offered for Year: 2021/22
- Module Leader(s): Dr Adam Mearns
- Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
This module gives you the chance to develop skills in reading and translating Old English (OE), based on the foundation of an understanding of its grammar and vocabulary. Lecture materials introduce the main linguistic features of OE, while small group sessions and discussions focus on issues involved in the translation of texts, using knowledge of the linguistic features. We also make use of some online materials, including hypertext editions of OE texts, dictionaries, and the Thesaurus of Old English. The reading covers an interesting range of texts, providing insights into aspects of Anglo-Saxon life and culture, as well as the Old English language. Most of the texts are prose, but there are also extracts from the poetry, including Beowulf, where we compare the original text with a variety of different published translations.
Outline Of Syllabus
In support of the process of translating selected extracts of OE texts throughout the semester, the topics covered include: the origins and historical context of Old English (OE), and the sources of evidence available to us; OE orthography and phonology; OE morphology (inflections and case); OE syntax (clause elements and word order); spelling variation and sound changes in OE; nouns, adjectives and verbs in OE; OE vocabulary (semantics, word formation and loans); OE poetic style and diction; translation studies in general and approaches to translating OE in particular.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Introducing key concepts: the historical context; OE grammar and lexis; issues in translation |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | Preparation and completion of mid-module and end-of-semester assignments |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 33:00 | 33:00 | Independent study using reading lists and other online resources identified in module materials |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Small-group discussion of module materials, set text translations, and assessment |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 1 | 33:00 | 33:00 | Translation of extracts from set texts |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 41:00 | 41:00 | General reading and revision |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lecture materials introduce key concepts, themes, issues and resources related to: (a) the historical background of Old English (OE); (b) features of OE grammar; (c) the analysis and interpretation of OE lexis; and (d) approaches to translation, in relation to OE specifically, as well as in general.
The small group sessions will focus on discussion of: (a) issues and questions arising from lecture materials; (b) the translation and grammatical analysis of extracts from set texts; and (c) other issues related to the knowledge and skills that will be assessed in the module assignments.
In combination, the lecture materials and small group discussions will therefore focus at different points in the semester on the module’s four main topics, which link to the intended learning outcomes and are represented across the two assignments: (1) OE grammar; (2) OE lexis; (3) approaches to translation; and, informed by these three, (4) the critical evaluation of the process and practice of translating OE, in terms of both reflecting on our own translations and analysing previously published translations by others.
The guided independent study will involve: (a) following up on reading and other resources identified in the lecture materials; (b) translating extracts from the set texts (using online materials); and (c) other general reading and revision that will aid in preparation for the mid-module and end-of-semester assignments.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 20 | translation and grammatical analysis (equivalent to around 700-800 words) |
| Written exercise | 1 | A | 80 | 3200 words (details below) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Written Exercise 1 (mid-module, 20%) involves the translation and grammatical analysis of a short passage of Old English (OE). The analysis requires identification of morphological features and syntactic structures, together with brief comments on selected phonological features. This promotes and assesses learning of essential aspects of Old English grammar. In doing so, it also serves as useful preparation for the end-of-semester assignment.
Written Exercise 2 (end-of-semester, 80%, 3200 words in total) consists of:
(1) A reflective commentary on one of the set-text translations produced during the semester (c.1000 words). The commentary will discuss in detail the approach that has been taken in dealing with some of the specific linguistic features of the original text, both grammatical and lexical. This consolidates and assesses knowledge and understanding of the linguistic features of OE and of the issues involved in translating those features into Present-Day English.
(2) An analysis (c.2200 words) that focuses on EITHER: (a) a detailed comparison of two different published translations of a passage from an OE poem, exploring the different approaches and choices made by the translators in relation to the linguistic features of the original text; OR (b) a lexical study of a semantic field that examines the range of related words/concepts available to OE writers, exploring issues such as how the words have been defined in dictionaries of OE and how they have been handled by translators of OE poetry. In either case, the task calls for a careful understanding of the OE texts and their translations, taking into account issues of literary style and the impact of different approaches to translation, as well as requiring a strong grasp of linguistic detail.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL3341's Timetable