MT570/770/870: Analyzing Text and Context (4 units)
R. Daniel Shaw, Professor of
Anthropology and Translation
Spring 2004 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
What do
Gospel proclaimers need to know about text (Biblical or otherwise) and the
context in which it was communicated? This methods course seeks to enable
students to answer that question. It is based on a discourse analysis approach
to understanding the nature and context of text. By appreciating the structure
of a text, students will be able to account for (1) an author’s intended meaning,
(2) how the message was understood in its original context, and (3) how that
message can be transferred into a contemporary context. The seminar offers an
orientation to communication principles, exegesis and idiomatic translation. It
accounts for cultural, exegetical, linguistic and semantic data within a text.
The course is ideal for doctoral students incorporating Biblical text into
their research and/or applying translation principles to effective
communication.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
•
Identify the genre of a text and the implications of that as it applies to
authorial intent.
• Ability to identify the key elements of a text and the rationale for each
part of a text.
• Understand the relationships between the parts of a text and the implications
for communicating the author’s intended meaning.
• Appreciate the impact of the context in which a text was communicated on the
meaning of the text and how that might impact translating the text into another
context.
COURSE FORMAT:
The course will meet once a
week. Discussion will be based on pre-reading and an application of discourse
analysis to a body of text chosen by the student. There will be a required
orientation session for the doctoral students (tba) to go over reading requirements and ensure
understanding of seminar format and expectations. MA/Th.M. students should contact Dr. Shaw as
soon as you know you will be attending this course. It is imperative that you
leave sufficient time for pre-reading.
REQUIRED READING:
Pre-reading
is required BEFORE the course begins. Class time will be devoted to actual
analysis based on an application of the reading.
Beekman, Callow & Kopesic. Semantic Structure of Written Communication.
Dallas: I.A.B. Latest edition.
deBeaugrande & Dressler. Introduction
to Text Linguistics. Longman.
1981.
Callow, K. Discourse Considerations in
TWOG. Zondervan. (reproduced in syllabus).
Gutt, Earnst-August. Relevance Theory: A
Guide . . . Dallas: SIL/UBS. (latest Edition)
Sperber, D., & D. Wilson. Relevance. Blackwell.
1996
Shaw, R. D., & C. Van Engen. Communicating the Gospel in a Complex World:
God’s truth or Hocus Pocus? Rowman
& Littlefield. 2003
ASSIGNMENTS:
Students will chose a biblical
passage or text from a cultural context with which they are familiar for analysis
during the course. Weekly assignments will apply the steps of analysis to this
text chosen by each student to benefit their research needs.
Th.M.
Students: Add a
two-page paper indicating how this course content fits into the
conceptualization, research and writing for their thesis.
Doctoral students: Need to apply their text
analysis to their doctoral research. They will make a critiqued presentation of
their analysis showing the relevance to their doctoral research. They will also rewrite the methodological
section of their research design or proposal to show the impact of this method
on their research.
PREREQUISITES: None.
Theologizing in Mission and/or an understanding of translation principles is
helpful.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
M.A./Th.M.: option to meet research
requirement; Doctoral: meets 4-units of methods.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
Last
Date Edited: January 13, 2004