Research Projects

2014

VEGA grant No. 1/0119/14, 1277: Vplyv slovenčiny na španielsku slovnú zásobu - vytvorenie a analýza korpusu slovakizmov v španielskom jazyku (2014-2016) (‘The Influence of Slovak on Spanish Vocabulary: An Analysis of the Corpus of Slovakisms in Spanish’ [2014–2016]), the Research Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Investigators: doc. Mgr. Bohdan Ulašin, Ph.D. (head of the project); Mgr. Silvia Vertanová, Ph.D. (assistant head of the project); Mgr. Barbara Ďurčová

Aim: to define, identify and collect Slovakisms in Spanish for the purpose of creating a corpus; to refine a detailed semantic structure of individual entries in the corpus and their individual meanings, and, should it be required, to note the spread of their use in Spanish in terms of geography and stratification as well as their allocation to a scientific discipline should such Slovakisms have a terminological character; and to analyse the inventory of Slovakisms on the basis of the frequency of their use in Spanish, their chronological order according to the first recorded instance of usage, and the means of assimilation of Slovakisms into Spanish in a graphical, phonic and morphological sense.

Undertaken activities: the purchase of specialized literature, trips for the purpose of undertaking field research

Publications:

ULAŠIN, Bohdan: La huella léxica del eslovaco en español: el caso de los nombres propios. In: ¿Quovadis, Romanística? Bratislava, Univerzita Komenského, 2014, pp. 252–262. ISBN: 918-80-223-3731-1

There will be other publications towards the end of the grant period (2016).

KEGA grant No. 058UK-4/2014: Rétorické minimum pre študentov tlmočníctva (2014-2016) (‘The Rhetorical Minimum for Students of Translation’ [2014–2016]), the Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Investigators: Mgr. Silvia Vertánová, Ph.D. (head of the project); doc. Bohdan Ulašin (assistant head of the project); Mgr. Pavol Štubňa, Ph.D.; Mgr. Stanislava Moyšová, Ph.D.; Mgr. Marcela Andoková, Ph.D.

Aim: to optimise the preparation of students of translation by means of learning aids focusing on spoken language, to research the issue of finding equivalence between Slovak and Romance languages (Spanish, Italian and French) on the level of rare vocabulary and terminology, and to map the essential scope of culture-specific items (culturemes) in active vocabulary for the formation of cultivated speech.

Undertaken activity: the purchase of technology and educational aids, the purchase of specialized literature and dictionaries, a series of lectures on the significance of rhetoric in the present day (taught in the winter semester as a faculty-wide compulsory elective subject: „Umenie rétoriky a jej využitie dnes“ (‘The Art of Rhetoric and its Use Today’) – M. Andoková, the preparation of a handbook and foreign-language textbooks, the preparation of a student workshop: „Rečová kultúra verejného prejavu na Slovensku“ (‘The Culture of Public Speaking in Slovakia’) (summer semester 2014/2015), and the preparation of a colloquium entitled „Univerzitná príprava tlmočníkov na Slovensku“ (‘The University Training of Interpreters in Slovakia’) (winter semester 2015/2016)

Publications:

1. Vertanová, S.: "El actual discurso político eslovaco.Algunos escollos para su interpretación al espaňol". A paper published in the volume Quo vadis Romanística? In: ¿Quovadis, Romanística? Bratislava, Univerzita Komenského, 2014, pp. 263–269. ISBN: 918-80-223-3731.

2. A handbook in Slovak and textbooks in Spanish will be published in the final stages of the grant period (winter 2015)

VEGA grant No. 1/0853/14 Cervantesov Don Quijote vo svete a na Slovensku (‘Cervantes’ Don Quixote in Slovakia and Abroad’).

Investigators: doc. PhDr. Paulína Šišmišová, CSc. (principal investigator); Prof. PhDr. Ladislav Šimon, CSc.; PhDr. Aniko Dušíková,CSc.; PhDr.Eva Palkovičová, Ph.D.; Mgr. B. Ďurčová; Mgr.Anna Ďurišíková; and Mgr. M. Kopecký.

Aim: to evaluate existing Slovak research into Cervantes with an emphasis on the Slovak reception of the novel El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote De la Mancha (‘The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha’). The project will focus on the most important translations of this novel into various languages and primarily discuss its English, Czech, French, Hungarian and German reception. Research will be also undertaken into how this novel influenced Slovak literature and culture. A specific part of this research will be the translation of this novel by Jozef Felix in 1950 and the Slovak adaptation of this classic work of world literature.

2012

VEGA grant No. 1/0480/12 Jozef Felix (1913-1977) a cesta k vedeckému konštituovaniu slovenskej romanistiky (2012-2013) (‘Jozef Felix [1913–1977] and the Path to the Academic Establishment of Slovak Romance Studies’ [2012–2013])

Investigators: for the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University – doc. PhDr. Jana Truhlářová, CSc. (principal investigator); doc. PhDr. Paulína Šišmišová. CSc.; PhDr. Eva Palkovičová, Ph.D.; Mgr. Tatiana Paholíková; doc. Mgr. Magda Kučerková, Ph.D. (Institute of World Literature, Slovak Academy of Sciences)

Aim: the aim of the project was to systemically evaluate the work and scholarly methods of Jozef Felix, the founder of Romance Studies in Slovakia. The project focused on a collective examination of Felix’s works concerning literature, history and translation in Romance Studies, and their detailed processing (something which had not previously taken place in Slovak literary research) by combining findings drawn from research into French, Spanish and Italian literature. This represented a new step in Romance Studies, and the aim of the project was achieved.

The second aim was to examine unpublished material held in archives and form a new context for the author’s work and its possible international scope. This aim was achieved through primary research by the project investigators, archival research and the subsequent synthetic evaluation of the material.

Publication: the collectively authored monograph Jozef Felix (1913-1977) a cesta k modernej slovenskej romanistike (‘Jozef Felix [1913–1977] and the Path to Modern Slovak Romance Studies’). Compiled by J. Truhlářová. ISBN 978-80-224-1346-6.

On 17 May 2013 a conference was held to mark the 100th anniversary of Jozef Felix’s birth.

VEGA grant No. V-12-055-00 Dejiny rumunskej literatúry. Literárne dianie v kultúrnom priestore (2012-2014) (‘The History of Romanian Literature: Literary Developments in the Cultural Space’ [2012–2014])

Investigators: doc. PhDr. Jana Páleníková, CSc. (for the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University); PhDr. Libuša Vajdová, CSc. (principal investigator for the Institute of World Literature, Slovak Academy of Sciences)

Aim: to undertake research into the historical literary process from the perspective of changing historiographical paradigms; to identify key cultural models and representations from various historical periods of Romanian literature; to explain the structure of literary works and their tendencies concerning identity discourse in various periods; to examine the whole historical literary process and shed light on developments, the bifurcation of development and changes in trajectory, appropriation, and the interconnection and fusions of literary phenomena with the goal of verifying existing historical literary models; and the preparation of a monograph.

Undertaken activity: an international seminar with the theme „Ako písať dejiny rumunskej literatúry?“ (‘How to Write the History of Romanian Literature’) which also dealt with problems stemming from Romanian literature’s specific character: Prague, 20 November 2012.

An international conference with the theme „Fikcia a nonfikcia v dejinách literatúry, umenia a kultúry“ (‘Fiction and Non-Fiction in the History of Literature, Art and Culture’): Prague, 23–24 October 2013.

Publications: Páleníková, Jana: Miesto „starej literatúry“ v dejinách rumunskej literatúry (‘The Place of “Old Literature” in the History of Romanian Literature’). This essay was read out at the abovementioned seminar in Prague and was published in the form of a brochure as well as in electronic form.

Páleníková, Jana: Jurnalul de M. Sebastian in predarea literaturii interbelice la Universitatea Komensky. This work will be included in published proceedings from the abovementioned international conference held in Prague (23–24 October 2013), in press.

The monograph „Dejiny rumunskej literatúry“ (‘The History of Romanian Literature’) will be published in 2015.

Literárne informačné centrum – The Centre for Information on Literature SLOLIA Grant: Preklad do španielčiny a vydanie výberu Dobšinského rozprávok (2012) (‘The Translation into Spanish and Publication of a Selection of Pavol Dobšinský’s Folktales’ [2012]), the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic

Investigators: EdicionesXorki, Madrid, Spain (contractual publishing house); Mgr. Bohdan Ulašin, Ph.D.

Aim: to translate and publish a selection of Pavol Dobšinský’s folktales into Spanish.

Publication:

KOVACHOVA RIVERA DE ROSALES, Valeria - ULAŠIN, Bohdan - FRATEROVA, Zuzana: Cuentos eslovacos de tradicion oral. Madrid, Ediciones Xorki, 2012, 239 p. ISBN 978-84-940504-0-4.

Grant mladých UK/543/2012 Analýza poviedok Jorgeho Luisa Borgesa a ich slovenských prekladov (2012) (‘Comenius University Youth Grant 543/2012: An Analysis of the Short Stories of Jorge Luis Borges and their Translation into Slovak’ [2012])

Investigator: Mgr. Barbora Ďurčová

Aim: the project is part of a Ph.D. thesis which examines the specifics of translation of the literary works of Jorge Luis Borges.

Undertaken activity: the purchase of specialized literature

Publications:

Partial output: ĎURČOVÁ, B. En torno a las traducciones eslovacas de El milagrosecreto de Jorge Luis Borges. In ¿Quo Vadis Romanística? Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, 2014.

The final publication will be the Ph.D. thesis written by the investigator.

2011

2008

VEGA grant No. 1/0498/08 Teória a prax umeleckého prekladu v románskych krajinách (2008-2010) (‘The Theory and Practice of Literary Translation in Romance Countries’ [2008–2010])

Investigators: Doc. PhDr. Paulína Šišmišová, CSc. (principal investigator); Doc. PhDr. K. Bednárová, CSc.; Doc. PhDr. F. Hruška, CSc.; Doc. PhDr. J. Páleníková, CSc.; Doc. PhDr. J. Truhlářová, CSc.; Mgr. R. Bojničanová, Ph.D.; Mgr. J. Marcelliová, Ph.D.; PhDr. Eva Palkovičová, Ph.D.; Mgr. M. Biroščáková; Mgr. B. Cosculluela; Mgr. M. Kopecký.

Aim: the aim of the project was to analyse trends in the theory of literary translation in Romance countries (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Romania and Latin America) and map the means by which artistic literature is translated in these countries. It also aimed to present the thematic variety and a level of reflection on the state of translation in individual Romance countries.

Publications:

1. The first stage of the project saw the publication of an anthology of texts with commentary on translation in Romance countries entitled Translatologické štúdie. Teória, história a prax prekladu v románskych krajinách (Vybrané texty) (‘Studies in Translation: The Theory, History and Practice of Translation in Romance Countries [Selected Texts]’). Ed. P. Šišmišová, Bratislava: AnaPress, 2010, 238 p. ISBN 978-80-89137-64-0. This publication received an award from the Literary Fund as a result of winning the Matej Bel (Matthias Bel) Prize.

2. The result of the second stage of the project was an international academic seminar which took place at the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, on 23 to 24 September 2010. The papers delivered at this event were published in book form: Translatolofické reflexie: umelecký preklad z/do románskych jazykov [‘Translatological Reflections: Literary Translation from/to Romance Languages’]. Compiled by J. Páleniková and P. Šišmišová, Bratislava: Ana Press, 2010, 307 p. ISBN 978-80-89137-70-1.

2007-2004

2004

Grant No. 282/2004: Registro coloquial en elespañol peninsular contemporáneo (2004-2005), Cátedra Dubcek, Complutense University of Madrid (Kingdom of Spain)

Investigators: Mgr. Bohdan Ulašin (principal investigator)

Aim: an analysis of style and slang in spoken Spanish on all linguistic levels, and the definition and classification of linguistic resources used in this style for the needs of Slovak Hispanists, translators and interpreters

Undertaken activity: the purchase of specialized literature

Publications:

1. ULAŠIN, Bohdan: Comparaciones y refranes en el español coloquial. In: VII encuentro de profesores de español – Actas, (conference proceedings). Bratislava: AnaPress, 2004. ISBN 80-89137-07-5.

2. ULAŠIN, Bohdan: Lenguajepoético y coloquial – ¿(des)igualdad? In: IV Coloquiointernacional – Actas, (conference proceedings). Bratislava, Wien: AnaPress, 2004, pp. 157–163. ISBN 80-89137-02-4.

3. ULAŠIN, Bohdan: Registro coloquial del español peninsular contemporáneo. FIF UK, Bratislava, 2006, 314 p. An unpublished doctoral thesis.

2006

KEGA grant No. 3/4007/06: Dynamika foriem významu v románskych jazykoch z lingvistického a prekladateľského hľadiska (2006-2008) (‘The Dynamics of Forms of Meaning in Romance Languages from a Linguistic and Translational Perspective’ [2006–2008]), the Cultural and Educational Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Investigators: doc. PhDr. Ján Taraba, CSc. (head of the project); Mgr. Bohdan Ulašin, Ph.D.

Aim: During my participation in the grant, I focused on factors which led to the emergence of the phenomenon of etymological doublets in Spanish and the current state of the coexistence of these doublets alongside a detailed analysis of semantic and stylistic differences between individual doublet components.

Publications:

1. ULAŠIN, Bohdan: Los dobletes en español. In: XII encuentro de profesores de español – Actas, (conference proceedings). Bratislava: AnaPress, 2008, pp. 113–118. ISBN 978-80-89137-42-8.

2. ULAŠIN, Bohdan: Etymologické dublety v španielčine [Etymological Doublets in Spanish]. In: Ján Taraba, Bohdan Ulašin (eds.): Dynamika foriem významu v románskych jazykoch. Bratislava, Univerzita Komenského, 2012, pp. 7–82. ISBN 978-80-223-2553-0.