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Department of the Study of Religions

Independent Translation of Buddhist Texts

Course Code:
15PSRH016
Status:
Course Not Running 2012/2013
Unit value:
0.5
Year of study:
Any
Taught in:
Full Year
The independent translation project can be undertaken by students who possess good working knowledge of one or more of the languages employed by various Buddhist traditions of Asia, namely Sanskrit, Pali, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Sinhalese, Thai, Burmese, or Vietnamese.

Students competent in any of the above languages are encouraged to perfect their skills in translating and annotating texts which already exist in edited form, or in both editing and translating texts. The texts should be selected from among the texts which do not exist in English translation; exceptions may be made in the case of badly edited or poorly translated texts. All selections must be approved by the convenor and individual supervisors.

If a particular text selected for translation is already well edited, the student is expected to translate and annotate a chapter or a section of approximately 6,000 words. However, should the text require to be edited from manuscripts, or re-edited, then the student is expected to produce a critical edition and an English translation of a section of approximately 5,000 or less, depending on the gravity of editorial work involved. The student receives general guidance and supervision from individual members of staff competent in the language mentioned above.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the course

This independent research project is primarily intended to provide students with an opportunity to develop and strengthen research skills and methods, and to explore specific areas of Buddhist studies which are of particular interest. Upon the completion of the project, the student should have gained a good command of research methods, and deepened their knowledge of the explored area of Buddhist Studies.

Method of assessment

Coursework: 6,000 word annotated translation, one oral examination (30 minutes). Assessment: annotated translation 80%, oral examination 20%.