Class Description
In the act of writing, in any genre, we are constantly negotiating between experience and imagination in order to capture both through language. Writers work as much between languages as translators do. While the writer works between the language of silence and what comes after it, the translator works in the opposite direction, from utterance toward the silence from which the original author began. In both cases, the writing process is one of discovery, of stringing, to borrow from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “the best words in the best order,” and each skill only enriches the other. If you’ve been curious about what literary translation is, or if you’re already familiar with it but are looking for new challenges and practice on the subject, or if you’re interested in learning how it can make you a better writer and creative writing workshop participant, then this class is for you!
We will compare various English translations of the same text to evaluate diction. We will translate a text from a language of your choice and/or translate a text from a language you're not familiar with, and we will then workshop one of the translations you complete. Knowledge of a second language is preferred, but not required.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. Please visit the Resources tab to access the video-conference link.
Zoom Participation:
Students are not required to turn their camera on, but are encouraged to participate any way they feel comfortable through functions such as the live chat, emoji reactions, and unmuting the microphone. Learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
We ask that instructors enable closed captioning and send a transcript of the session after class. You can also enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting. If your instructor forgets to send the transcript, just send ’em an email!