070213 UE Fremdsprachen in der Geschichtswissenschaft - Arbeit: Probleme des Übersetzens (2019S)

“Translating Work and Labour”

This course will address problems of translation, taking English and German as languages, but also referring to other languages according to the participants. Translation not only requires language skills but equally involves reflections about the different historical, cultural and epistemological contexts in which people have developed different terms to express and denominate things. Often there is no direct correspondence between two languages and it becomes necessary to find appropriate proxies and circumscriptions. Looking for terms leads to reflections about the different historical backgrounds, social structures and ways of thinking.

The examples will come from a thematic field related to work and labour. Komlosy will approach the field as a historian specializing on global labour history, Watson is a translator with specific experience in translating historical social sciences.

The course will combine theoretical reflections with practical opportunities to work with texts and explore the problems that arise in the process of translation from German to English and from English to German, and whichever other languages that you bring to the course.

Language requirements: Excellent skills in either German or English, good skills in the other language