Instructions for the Final Project
1. Choose a text, 250-300 words, on a subject of interest to you. (No poetry, please. May be fiction or non-fiction.) Do your best to make sure there is no existing English version UNLESS you intend to show that you can translate it better. Check with the professor first.
2. If you’re not sure whether your text is acceptable, check with the professor.
3. Translate your text.
4. One week before your presentation date, email the source text and your translation to the professor and to your classmates.
5. On the day of your presentation, you will tell us a little about the text, why you chose it, and any special problems you had. Then you will go through the text with the class, and your classmates will ask questions, critique your translation, and make suggestions for improvement.
6. You will chair the session, so use your time wisely. You will have about 55 minutes.
7. Students who are not presenting are expected to read the source text and your translation BEFORE class and be ready to comment during your presentation.
8. Students who are absent the day of a presentation MUST send a brief critique (200 words) within ONE WEEK. Email to the presenter and to the professor.
9. No later than the date of the final exam, you will email the professor a final, polished version of your translation. (You don’t have to share this with the class.)
Your grade for the final project will reflect how well you used the comments in class to improve your translation (as well as other factors).
2. If you’re not sure whether your text is acceptable, check with the professor.
3. Translate your text.
4. One week before your presentation date, email the source text and your translation to the professor and to your classmates.
5. On the day of your presentation, you will tell us a little about the text, why you chose it, and any special problems you had. Then you will go through the text with the class, and your classmates will ask questions, critique your translation, and make suggestions for improvement.
6. You will chair the session, so use your time wisely. You will have about 55 minutes.
7. Students who are not presenting are expected to read the source text and your translation BEFORE class and be ready to comment during your presentation.
8. Students who are absent the day of a presentation MUST send a brief critique (200 words) within ONE WEEK. Email to the presenter and to the professor.
9. No later than the date of the final exam, you will email the professor a final, polished version of your translation. (You don’t have to share this with the class.)
Your grade for the final project will reflect how well you used the comments in class to improve your translation (as well as other factors).
Which or That?
From Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage, p 895, following a lengthy account of the history of restrictive and non-restrictive usage:
“We conclude that at the end of the 20th century, the usage of which and that—at least in prose—has pretty much settled down. You can use either which or that to introduce a restrictive clause—the grounds for your choice should be stylistic—and which to introduce a nonrestrictive clause. A number of commentators raise the additional question of the relative formality of that and which. If you read many of them, you will find their observations contradictory. Formality does not seem to be much of a consideration in the choice of that or which.”
Note: One of the “stylistic” reasons cited for using which instead of that to introduce a restrictive clause is a “a succession of thats.” Unfortunately, no example is given.
Jane Ramírez’s rule: Since a) that is never right for a nonrestrictive clause and b) many commentators disapprove of which for a restrictive clause, it’s best to always use that for restrictive clauses and which for nonrestrictive clauses.
More simply: If it’s essential for understanding the sentence, use that and no commas. If it isn’t essential, use which and commas.
A restrictive clause is one that is essential to the meaning of a sentence; removing it will change the meaning.
Examples
A nonrestrictive clause can be omitted without changing the meaning of a sentence. Non-restrictive clauses are commonly set off using commas.
“We conclude that at the end of the 20th century, the usage of which and that—at least in prose—has pretty much settled down. You can use either which or that to introduce a restrictive clause—the grounds for your choice should be stylistic—and which to introduce a nonrestrictive clause. A number of commentators raise the additional question of the relative formality of that and which. If you read many of them, you will find their observations contradictory. Formality does not seem to be much of a consideration in the choice of that or which.”
Note: One of the “stylistic” reasons cited for using which instead of that to introduce a restrictive clause is a “a succession of thats.” Unfortunately, no example is given.
Jane Ramírez’s rule: Since a) that is never right for a nonrestrictive clause and b) many commentators disapprove of which for a restrictive clause, it’s best to always use that for restrictive clauses and which for nonrestrictive clauses.
More simply: If it’s essential for understanding the sentence, use that and no commas. If it isn’t essential, use which and commas.
A restrictive clause is one that is essential to the meaning of a sentence; removing it will change the meaning.
Examples
- Classrooms that don’t have functional air conditioning may be stuffy and uncomfortable.
- Football teams that have too many quarterbacks and not enough linemen seldom make it to the Super Bowl.
- The Earth is believed to be the only body in the solar system that sustains life as we know it.
- The chalice that came from the palace contains the brew that is true.
- My car that is blue is very fast. [I have other cars, but the purple, pink, and chartreuse ones are slow.]
A nonrestrictive clause can be omitted without changing the meaning of a sentence. Non-restrictive clauses are commonly set off using commas.
- The TV series JAG, which was about Navy lawyers, has spawned two successful spin-offs.
- I’m teaching a class at the Graduate Program in Translation, which is in the College of Humanities.
- Old age, which is inevitable unless death intervenes, can be seen as a blessing or a curse.
- Asking your doctor questions, which people are often too shy to do, can save your life.
- My car, which is blue, is very fast. [I have only one car, and it happens to be blue.]
Correlative Conjunctions with Parallel Structure
In English, there are 4 pairs of correlative conjunctions. When they are used, whatever follows the second must be in PARALLEL STRUCTURE to whatever follows the first.
1. Either / Or
Examples:
Note: “Either” or “or” may be used without the other. Examples: Either option is OK with me. Leave the message with Jordan or Emily.
2. Neither / Nor
Examples:
Note: “Neither” or “nor” may be used without the other. Examples: Neither of them plans to go to the wedding. Mary won’t go, nor will she send a gift.
3. Both / And
Examples:
Note: “Both” or “and” may be used without the other. Examples: Both students did very well on their presentations last week. Ike and Mike like gummy candies.
4. Not only / But also
Examples:
Note: “Not only” and “but also” may NOT be used separately! Once you’ve written “not only,” you must follow up with “but also.” In addition, you must not split either of them. Don’t write:
XX He does not write only poetry but he also writes short fiction.
XX Not only do I get grumpy about nonparallel structure but I also dislike dangling modifiers.
Exercise—Rewrite the following sentences, correcting syntax errors involving correlative conjunctions or nonparallel structure:
1. I either want to go to the movies or we could rent a DVD.
I want to either go to the movies or rent a DVD.
2. Neither Jason eats red meat nor Jessica either.
Neither Jason nor Jessica eats red meat.
3. The Chicago Cubs are not only my favorite baseball team but they have one of the best stadiums in MLB too. (MLB = Major League Baseball)
The Chicago Cubs not only are my favorite baseball team but also have one of the best stadiums in MLB.
4. You can both have your cake and you can eat it, too.
You can both have and eat your cake.
1. Either / Or
Examples:
- Either Ethan or Abigail will call you.
- Either Ethan will call you or Abigail will write you a letter.
- I would like to eat either a veggie pizza or a chef’s salad.
- I would like to either eat a veggie pizza or skip lunch entirely.
Note: “Either” or “or” may be used without the other. Examples: Either option is OK with me. Leave the message with Jordan or Emily.
2. Neither / Nor
Examples:
- Neither Jonathan nor Tina did the assignment.
- I will neither forgive nor forget what you did.
- Neither would she report the assault nor would she confront the perpetrator.
- She would neither report the assault nor confront the perpetrator.
Note: “Neither” or “nor” may be used without the other. Examples: Neither of them plans to go to the wedding. Mary won’t go, nor will she send a gift.
3. Both / And
Examples:
- Both Chicago and St. Louis are important Midwestern cities.
- The professor both explained correlative conjunctions in class and prepared a handout to be studied at home.
- There will be examples of both nonparallel structure and incorrect uses of the dash, both in English and in Spanish, on both the midterm exam and the final exam in this course. (That’s three correct uses of both/and in a single sentence, in case you didn’t notice!)
Note: “Both” or “and” may be used without the other. Examples: Both students did very well on their presentations last week. Ike and Mike like gummy candies.
4. Not only / But also
Examples:
- Not only Chicago but also Boston were popular bands in the 80s.
- We will not only explain but also prove our theory.
- Not only does she extensively quote Hayden White, but also she adopts White’s terminology throughout her essay.
Note: “Not only” and “but also” may NOT be used separately! Once you’ve written “not only,” you must follow up with “but also.” In addition, you must not split either of them. Don’t write:
XX He does not write only poetry but he also writes short fiction.
XX Not only do I get grumpy about nonparallel structure but I also dislike dangling modifiers.
Exercise—Rewrite the following sentences, correcting syntax errors involving correlative conjunctions or nonparallel structure:
1. I either want to go to the movies or we could rent a DVD.
I want to either go to the movies or rent a DVD.
2. Neither Jason eats red meat nor Jessica either.
Neither Jason nor Jessica eats red meat.
3. The Chicago Cubs are not only my favorite baseball team but they have one of the best stadiums in MLB too. (MLB = Major League Baseball)
The Chicago Cubs not only are my favorite baseball team but also have one of the best stadiums in MLB.
4. You can both have your cake and you can eat it, too.
You can both have and eat your cake.