Vertalen Engels-Nederlands

A language degree does not prepare you for a job as a translator, a fact unknown to graduates and their clients. Perhaps just as well, because many language graduates do become translators. The first translation concoctions are the result of blood, sweat and tears, but after a few years of experience most translators produce pretty decent translations and they may even enjoy their work.

We at Leiden's English Department believe that it is better for students to enter the translation profession with some preparation. This is why this minor offers you the opportunity to become acquainted with translation, in many respects an exciting and challenging discipline. A good translator needs thorough knowledge of at least two languages, with all their lexical and grammatical nuances. In addition, the translator has an intimate knowledge of the cultures that are inextricably connected to the source and target languages. In other words, translators are mediators between cultures. Finally, professional translators have been taught to reflect on what it means to do translation and to work as a translator. This means that they have a knowledge of translation strategies and procedures, that they have thought about what it means to do a "literal" or "free" translation, and that they are aware of ethical and practical issues. All of these aspects of translation are addressed in the English-to-Dutch-to-English translation minor.

NB: The minor translation offers two (extra) elective courses. These courses are open for all who are interested. These courses are: Multilingual to Dutch Translation and Multilingual to English Translation. If you wish to take one or both of these courses, you do not need to register for the minor. In this case, please contact the coordinator of studies.

Maximum amount of participants: 40
Study programme: 5000MENENN
Study acitivty number: 1040
Language: English