This course builds on the courses Grammar and Translation, Writing English, and the second year course Academic Writing. The course focuses on the differences between English and Dutch that represent the final hurdle for producing English texts to a native standard, texts that are not only grammatically correct but also pragmatically felicitous. One of the challenges for Dutch writers of English texts
is to become aware of these (subtle) differences between the two languages. Such an understanding is essential for English translation and composition to an advanced standard. We will achieve this by discussing, on a weekly basis, particular syntactic differences between English and Dutch, and the pragmatic differences related to these syntactic differences. We will practice these differences by means of translation and editing assignments, for which students have to present argued translation and editing choices.

Topics that will come up in the course include: Dutch verb second vs. English SVO and the placement of given and new information: Dutch SOV vs. English SVO, and the placement of adverbs; differences in passivization; differences in the use of non-finite clauses; the expression of focus.