508599 - SPANISH LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - A (C.P.)

courses
ID:
508599
Duration (hours):
36
CFU:
6
SSD:
LINGUA E TRADUZIONE - LINGUA SPAGNOLA
Year:
2025

Overview

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 22/05/2026)

Syllabus

Course Objectives

The aim of the course is to develop further the students’ prior knowledge of "La vida es sueño", as well as to offer the opportunity to study in detail the work of those who have tackled Calderón’s masterpiece in an attempt to present it to an Italian-speaking audience. At the end of the course, students will have deepened their knowledge of one of the most representative works in the history of Spanish literature, and improved their linguistic and translation skills through direct comparison with many of the different Italian versions of "La vida es sueño".

Course Prerequisites

Three years of Spanish language studies or an equivalent level of education.

Teaching Methods

Taught classes (not excluding the students’ participation) in Spanish, divided between the definition of the theoretical framework and the analysis of La vida es sueño’s Italian translations. The analysis will comprehend the use of corpora and dictionaries (CORDE, AUT), in order to make the students familiar with some of the fundamental tools in Hispanic studies.

Assessment Methods

Passing the preliminary written and oral tests of the practical exercises is propaedeutic for the exam. Once passed, the propaedeutic written test is valid for 13 months. Preliminary written test (2 hours): literary translation to Spanish of a passage from De Roberto’s "I Vicerè". The use of a dictionary is allowed. The results will be communicated to each candidate by email. Oral test: the level of spoken Spanish will be assessed in a few minutes of conversation on current affairs and cultural topics, which will take place prior to the written test for the teaching module. The assessment will be communicated to the student immediately and will be based on the following criteria: language proficiency, grammar mastery, ability to hold a short conversation based on readings and/or suggestions offered by the teacher. Exam: a written exam (in Spanish), lasting 2:30 hours, divided between two open questions related to the course topics and bibliography and the analysis of one or more translations of an excerpt from "La vida es sueño". Assessment will be based on the following criteria: knowledge of the course’s topics and bibliography; clarity in the presentation of the linguistic and translation concepts learned, also by means of the use of examples; practical application of the knowledge acquired in the analysis of the proposed text and its translation (or translations); command of language.

Texts

1. P. Calderón de la Barca, La vita è un sogno (ed. F. Antonucci), Venezia, Marsilio, 2009. 2. A selection of texts and additional bibliography, available on Kiro.

Contents

The Italian translations of "La vida es sueño" After a brief, theoretical introduction on the history of western Translation studies, the course will focus on "La vida es sueño": a critical approach to the "comedia" as a whole will be followed by the analysis of its Italian reception, from its 17th-century refundiciones to the first decade of our century. Particular attention will be given to the translations of Calderón’s masterpiece from the 20th century onwards.

Course Language

SPANISH

More information

Non-attending students are invited to contact the professor and will add an additional handout (available on Kiro) to the study of the adopted bibliography; their written examination will last 2:30 h, but will be readjusted on the basis of the aforementioned additions to the bibliography.

Degrees

People