Translation in Theory and Practice (Dutch/English)

Specialisation of: Linguistics
Degree: Master of Arts in Linguistics
Mode of Study: Full-time, part-time
Duration: 1 year (full-time); 1,5 year (part-time)
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 60815
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The aim of the master’s programme in Translation in Theory and Practice is to familiarize you with the many different challenges a translator faces and with the large variety of reference works, information sources and tools at the translator’s disposal.

In tutorials, you do not only discuss translation problems, you also look at the importance of semantics, pragmatics, stylistics and heuristics.
In addition, you study translation theories that may help you to make well-informed choices when translating or editing a variety of text types on a wide range of topics, both in Dutch and in English.
The master’s in Leiden provides you with an opportunity to focus on legal or literary translation.

Reasons to choose the specialisation Translation Dutch-English-Dutch in Leiden

  • Compared with other university Translation programmes in the Netherlands, the Leiden degree course is very much practice-oriented.
  • In Leiden, translation theory and practice are interwoven.
  • The Leiden Translation programme allows you to specialize in two fascinating areas of translation, legal and literary translation.
  • The Leiden teaching staff are themselves highly experienced translators with close contacts in the field.

What our students say

Bart van Lopik

“You are stimulated to find your own way, this makes it a lot more personal “

“In my opinion, one of the best things of this program, is that you are being stimulated to come up with new approach to a certain work even though many of the subjects have already been researched thousands of times. They really challenge you to find that new perspective on a certain subject or to find connections between the texts from different fields of expertise (for instance between Old-English texts and texts from the same period on the continent). Because so much has already been researched it really is a challenge to come up with something new that also makes sense, on which to write your paper.

In class there is lots of room to put your own ideas forward, and get them discussed by your fellow students and the professor. You are stimulated to find your own way within the massive amount of research that has already been done, so that you can focus on the aspects of the course that appeal to you the most. This is something I really like about this master, because it makes it a lot more personal, because you can just focus on what you find the most interesting on the subject of your course.

All the professors know their way around the material that has been already been published in their field of expertise and they are always aware of the latest developments regarding their subject. They are also very willing to answer your question and when you do not find the answer completely satisfactory, they will help you find the articles that go into the subject of your question more deeply.”

Bart van Lopik, MA English Language and Culture