MA in TRANSLATION STUDIES

SMLM 156 Translation as Literary and Creative Practice (15 credits)

Summative assignment— Extended Project

You may have 1/2 hour of supervision for this extended translation.
The Extended translation will be due on the Monday of Week 1 of Term 3 at 12:00 pm

Translation (750 words)

Please choose a literary text comprising 750 words (or ca. 60 lines of verse, if poetry) to be translated.

Pitch (750 words)

Your pitch should take the form of an actual letter and proposal to a publisher that you have identified as
a potential place for publishing your translation. Please examine all of the resources for how to craft a
pitch on the ELE site.

You will want to make sure that the following items are included in your pitch (slightly modified from
http://www.translatorsbase.com/articles/29.aspx):

1.  A short COVER LETTER briefly introducing the author and the book and explaining your project. [The
cover letter is not counted in the word count]. If you have identified a specific press, please include where
it’s located (address) and if available, the name of the acquisitions editor.
2.  A TRANSLATION PROPOSAL, including:
 A brief author biography and an introduction to the author and his work, which should list
principal publications, previous translations into English or other languages, and any literary
prizes or honors received.
 A synopsis of the book with a statement explaining the work's literary and cultural significance.
What is your ST? Has it been translated before? (If so, why does it merit retranslation?)
 Reviews of this book and any others by the author, particularly in English, that seem relevant.
You may also be asked to provide translations of reviews of the original work; e.g., a selection of
reviews from the most reputable Japanese literary magazines and journals, for a work from Japan.
 A discussion of how your TT fits within the United Kingdom and/or English-language market.
Who is the likely audience for your TT? Although a book may have done very well in its country
of origin, here it is much more critical to explain its value for an English-language audience. You
may wish to state whether the translation rights are available or not.
 A discussion of why (and how) you are the best person to do this translation. What
experience/skills/credentials do you have? (You may use #6 to support your thorough knowledge
of the field of translation.)
 A discussion of your approach. Students are encouraged to engage with a theoretical approach or
concept explored in SMLM 150 or SMLM 156.What approach are you taking to the translation?
What is special about your approach?
 A bibliography, including the author's books and all literature cited in the proposal. [not counted
in the word count]