This course explores the relationship between language and culture, and its implications for translation. Special attention will be given to recent debates on the nature of language, culture and social life, to the interplay between diversity and universals, and to the issues of ‘translatability’ across languages and cultures.

Topics discussed will include language universals and ‘human nature’; translating political and emotion concepts across languages and cultures; different ways of thinking about space and the environment; folk taxonomies and principles of human categorization; the conceptualization of colours, and different ways of ‘seeing the world’; linked with different languages and cultures; and culture reflected in grammar. In particular, the course will deal with the issue of the hidden cultural legacy of English, and its implications for translation from and into English in the era of  ‘global English’.

On satisfying the requirements of the course, the students will be able to:

1. achieve a better understanding of the intrinsic links between language and culture, and the debates surrounding the issue of universality and cultural relativity;  

2. understand the links between culture and translation, and the limits of translatability related to cultural differences;

3. identify the challenges involved in translating from and into English in today’s world arising from different  ‘cultural worlds’ embedded in the meaning of linguistic expressions;

4. explain culture-specific meanings in simple and universal language. 

Tutorial participation (5%)  [LO 1, 3, 4]

In-class test (20%), [LO 1, 2, 3]

3,000 word essay (35%) [LO 1, 2, 3, 4]

Final examination (40%) [LO 1, 2, 3, 4]

10 hours of work per week: 3 weekly contact hours, plus 7 hours of regular work per week outside class.

Introduction to the Study of Language LING1001 or Cross-Cultural Communication LING1021 or Introducing Anthropology ANTH1002 or Global and Local ANTH1003, or with permission of Convenor.

LING2015, LANG2015

Wierzbicka, Anna, 2006. English: Meaning and culture, New York, OUP.