translation test examples

[yank in the M20]

It's a bit early for me to be worrying about this, I guess, since I haven't gotten in anywhere yet, only heard from one of my seven schools, in fact, but I am taking a German class as a refresher and would like to practice doing the sort of translations that will be required to pass the language requirements for PhDs. It's a good way to distract myself from my decisions to come, at least. I know that language dictionaries are allowed, but what I'm curious about is what a typical translation piece might be--literature or theory? And what's a typical length and time limit? I know every school is different, of course. Also, can you take the translation test anytime or do you have to wait for set periods during your PhD? I'd like to get mine out of the way at the beginning of my PhD while my German's at it's strongest, of course.

[thestage]

I would bet just about my life savings (I guess I wouldn't be out much) that any German translation examination would at least include Goethe.

[yank in the M20]

I'm glad I posted this already because I hadn't even thought about that. But if it's likely to be a known author, then reading their English translations beforehand would really help with the language choices. If it's a choice of text strictly to judge reading comprehension, that's totally different. I have to say I'd take Goethe over one of the theorists any day. Those damn train-car constructed words in academic-speak. Again, if it's Marx or Benjamin, you'd have to know their work in English so that you translate their popular terms the way they've already been translated.

[anxious_aspirant]

I'm also worried about this to no end, also perhaps prematurely, but as an anxiety-ridden human being, I've clearly focused on my weakest point about these programs and blown it out of proportion. I posted this in another thread:

"To all you lucky folks out there (of whom I am infinitely jealous) -

Not sure if there have been posts about this before (couldn't find any good ones), but how do you guys expect to fare with your schools' foreign language requirements? They seem to vary school to school, and both of my advisor-type professors told me to pay no attention to language requirements. I took this to heart, since it worried me most about these programs. I'd have to add a second foreign language to my repertoire from scratch...

So, my question is, are you really all trilingual, or are you planning on meeting the requirement other ways? Any specific info about your school or info that they've provided to you about it? Figured it would be good to get perspectives from you guys, as the luckier applicants, who might be planning this sort of thing.

Thanks for any feedback. (& good luck being scholarly )"

So, in case people didn't see it because it was unrelated to the actual thread topic, I'll echo yank and implore you to share your advice/experiences/advice from other professors you've heard.

[Stately Plump]

The translation exams aren't that serious. Check it:

http://english.fas.harvard.edu/programs/graduate/current-graduate-students/samples-grad-students

There are some examples of past German exams.

Don't be worried about that stuff. We got this (<--- sunglasses to display sense of community while hoping can remember enough Italian to pass exam)

[Jbarks]

I think it varies. At my program, they required you to translate a three paragraph passage in two hours with the help of a dictionary. The PhD passage was a little more advanced than the MA. My language of choice was Classical or Koine Greek. I almost chose my other language, which isLatin, but I'm glad I didn't. I just had to translate three paragraphs of Revelations. I think I lucked out. I wouldn't worry too much. You typically get to use a dictionary, and they give you plenty of time.

Edited February 27, 2012 by Jbarks

[thestage]

Latin, for the record, seems to usually involve the Aeneid. At least I've had multiple professors in multiple fields indicate such.

[yank in the M20]

I had a flatmate doing her PhD at Princeton a few years ago and she said that the translation was mostly a joke. She had to do two languages, as a lot of schools now require, and she said she couldn't speak French or Spanish (her chosen languages). But of course you'd have to understand the grammar to get if something was written in the past tense and obviously the more you understand and don't have to use a language dictionary, the easier it would be. But I wouldn't worry that much--maybe take an intro class in one this summer or something. I also heard from a PhD student at UVa that she was funded to study French one summer in France to pass her language test. So perhaps that's what some people do--take a crash course to at least get the basics down.

[yank in the M20]

Three paragraphs in two hours? Okay, I'm not worried. Thanks for that. At least I can tell myself that I'll pass the translation test no problem if I can just get in somewhere...

[yank in the M20]

Thanks for the examples, Stately. I'm going to use them as practice--my German teacher will be thrilled, ha ha!