Translating the Welsh Canon: A Study of the English Translations of Daniel Owen’s Novels (07)

Award

PhD Research Bursary

Supervisors/Schools:

Dr Helena Miguélez-Carballeira (School of Modern Languages, Principal Academic Supervisor)
Dr Angharad Price (School of Welsh, Co-Supervisor)
Professor D. Densil Morgan (School of Theology and Religious Studies, Co-Supervisor)

Description of Project:

Although eclipsed somewhat by later novel-writers in the twentieth century, such as Kate Roberts (1891-1985), Caradog Pritchard (1904-1980) and Islwyn Ffowc Elis (1924-2004), who were more popular than Daniel Owen both with modern audiences and with literary critics, it is impossible to understate Owen’s influence and importance to Welsh-language literature. Full translations of Owen’s three main novels do exist: a translation was made of Rhys Lewis by James Harris in 1888, which was then published by Hughes & son (Daniel Owen’s own publishers) but has since long been out of print. Enoc Huws was translated by Claud Vivian and serialised in the journal Wales from 1894-96, and Gwen Tomos was translated more recently in 1963 by T. Ceiriog Williams and E.R. Harries (again published by Hughes & son), but is also out of print. None of these translations are readily available to the reader today, especially Enoc Huws. More importantly, these translations have never been studied or historicised from a Translation Studies perspective. Thus, the proposed research project would be framed in the emerging field of Welsh Translation Studies.

Supervisory team

Dr Helena Miguélez-Carballeira (School of Modern Languages, Principal Academic Supervisor) is the convener of Bangor University’s MA in Translation Studies and is currently supervising three PhD theses in this field. She has published previous work in the leading peer-reviewed journal The Translator: Studies in Intercultural Communication and is a member of the steering committee of the A4B Translation Technology Project (Canolfan Bedwyr), acting as a bridge between academia and industry.

Dr Angharad Price (School of Welsh, Co-Supervisor) has published extensively on acts of literary translation between Welsh and other languages. She is Senior Lecturer in Welsh with research expertise in modern Welsh prose, as well as in literary and translation theory. She has supervised both undergraduates and postgraduates in their research into the contexts and influences of Daniel Owen’s work.

Professor D. Densil Morgan (School of Theology and Religious Studies, Co-Supervisor) has published extensively on religion and culture in nineteenth and twentieth century Wales and his latest volume is a biographical study of Lewis Edwards, the leading intellectual of Victorian Wales and principal of the Bala theological College where Daniel Owen was trained. The project relates directly to his ongoing interest in the impact of Victorian sensibilities on the spirituality and religion of the period.

For full details of the terms and conditions of this award see.

Queries prior to a formal application concerning this research project should be addressed to:
Dr Helena Miguélez-Carballeira (h.m.carballeira@bangor.ac.uk)
Dr Angharad Price (a.price@bangor.ac.uk)
Professor D. Densil Morgan (densil.morgan@bangor.ac.uk)

Application:

The application deadline is noon on Friday 30 April 2010. For more information on how to apply, please visit here

Applicants will be contacted during the month of June 2010 with information relating to their submissions.