ABSTRACT

Thinking German Translation is a comprehensive practical course in translation for advanced undergraduate students of German and postgraduate students embarking on Master’s translation programmes. Now in its third edition, this course focuses on translation as a decision-making process, covering all stages of the translation process from research, to the ‘rewriting’ of the source text in the language of translation, to the final revision process.

This third edition brings the course up to date, referencing relevant research sources in Translation Studies and technological developments as appropriate, and balancing the coverage of subject matter with examples and varied exercises in a wide range of genres from both literary and specialised material. All chapters from the second edition have been extensively revised and, in many cases, restructured; new chapters have been added—literary translation; research and resources—as well as suggestions for further reading. Offering around 50 practical exercises, the course features material from a wide range of sources, including:

  • business, economics and politics
  • advertising, marketing and consumer texts
  • tourism
  • science and engineering
  • modern literary texts and popular song
  • the literary canon, including poetry

A variety of translation issues are addressed, among them cultural differences, genre conventions, the difficult concept of equivalence, as well as some of the key differences between English and German linguistic and textual features.

Thinking German Translation is essential reading for all students seriously interested in improving their translation skills. It is also an excellent foundation for those considering a career in translation.

A Tutor’s Handbook offers comments and notes on the exercises for each chapter, including not only translations but also a range of other tasks, as well as some specimen answers. It is available to download from www.routledge.com/9781138920989.

chapter |3 pages

Introduction

section Section A|35 pages

Overview and basic concepts

chapter 1|12 pages

Translation

A decision-making process

chapter 2|8 pages

Translation methods

Decisions about ‘closeness’

chapter 3|13 pages

Equivalence and non-equivalence

section Section B|47 pages

Some key issues

chapter 4|20 pages

Textual genre and translation issues

chapter 5|13 pages

Cultural issues in translation

chapter 6|12 pages

Compensation

section Section C|65 pages

Formal properties of texts

chapter 7|15 pages

Meaning and translation

chapter 8|15 pages

Text-related issues in translation

chapter 9|9 pages

Sentential issues in translation

chapter 10|13 pages

Grammatical issues in translation

chapter 11|11 pages

Phonological issues in translation

section Section D|96 pages

The translation process and translation specialisms

chapter 12|24 pages

Research and resources for translation

chapter 13|17 pages

Translating consumer-oriented texts

chapter 14|15 pages

Translating scientific and technical texts

chapter 15|14 pages

Translating literary texts

chapter 16|18 pages

Revising, reviewing and proofing TTs

chapter |6 pages

Postscript

A career in translation?*