July 30, 2010

Among the Keynote Speakers at the conference mentioned in my previous post, were Professor Maria Tymoczko (University of Massachusetts, USA) who spoke on ‘Constructing the Nation: Multilingualism, Translation, and the Imagined Community’, Professor Wolfgang Kubin (University of Bonn, Germany) with a presentation on ‘Is a Literal Translation Possible? Towards the Ethos of a Translator’, and Professor Anthony Pym (Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, Spain) who explored the impact of ‘New Technologies and the Future of the Translation Profession.’

All very strong but very different speakers. Tymoczko spoke on the diversity of people and cultures in the United States, what she called a ‘melting pot’ with English as the national language, and Spanish as a second language. Kubin criticized the novel Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong. He also pointed out that interference by the translator (or the editor) to translate only two third of the novel was what made it publishable in the west. But how much can you interfere as a translator? Pym explained how the translator would become an ‘editor’ in future, as increasingly improved translation programmes are available on the internet. It does not mean translators will no longer be needed but they will play a different role because although machine translation is fast and consistent, it needs human interference to make the text suitable for publication.

Written by: Audrey

July 20, 2010

Later this week I will be travelling to Kuala Lumpur to deliver a paper at the conference Found in Translation: a common voice in a multicultural world which as stated on the website ‘is a platform for academics, writers and translators to discuss the role played by translation in multilingual and multicultural societies across the world. Through this conference, we hope to highlight the role of translation in mediating the exchange of information across cultural and linguistic divides. Translators and interpreters, skilled bilinguals who construct the bridges between cultures, not only make this information exchange possible but also act as agents of cultural change in an increasingly knowledge-driven society. We wish to celebrate the art of the translator in this conference and to discuss the issues and challenges they face in carrying out their task, as well as the strategies they have devised to meet these challenges.’

In spite of the fact that English is increasingly becoming the lingua franca, the need for translation is still urgent in many societies all over the world. Since there are so many sides to the task of a translator and in order to ensure that certain standards of translation are met, it is good to have an opportunity to exchange information and ideas on both practical experience as well as research and theories pertaining to translation studies. Although different language sets and different cultures will bring different problems, the raising of the relevant issues and proposal of suitable solutions, as well as the discussion of the methodology of translating between cultures and the identification of agencies that are active behind intercultural actions, i.e. all the aspects we have ‘found in translation’, will be of benefit to all who attend the conference.

Written by: Audrey

July 16, 2010

In preparation for a course in semester A, I was rereading passages from the incomparable Honglou Meng, or Dream of the Red Chamber, aka The Story of the Stone, one of China’s most famous novels. The work written by Cao Xueqin (1715-1763) tells the story of the illustrious Jia family and is an interesting reflection of family life in eighteenth century China.

Given the status of the novel in China, the popular field of ‘redology’, and the excellent translation in English one would expect that this novel would be world famous. However, the novel or any other Chinese literary work for that matter are still not as widely known as one would expect. As Professor Egan mentioned at a conference last year, when he was on his way to Hong Kong, he visited the bookstore at San Francisco airport which shelved all the world classics including Flaubert and Dostoyevsky but the Chinese were conspicuous by their absence, the nearest to China one could get was a work on Marco Polo.

In the case of the Dream of the Red Chamber, Professor Egan pointed at the sheer size of the work: 120 chapters, comprising five volumes in translation. Looking from a pedagogical point of view Egan suggested introducing the novel in excerpts, or parallel reading by comparing it with similar western novels such as Madam Bovary or Middlemarch, or alternatively just emphasize its distinctive traits.

Despite possible other obstacles for the introduction of the novel, it is still an important work that cannot be left out in a course or lecture on Chinese literature. For those of you who are interested in reading the novel, I recommend the full translation entitled The Story of the Stone in five volumes (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1973-1986), translated by David Hawkes. Alternatively, if you are pressed for time, you could also read the adaptation-translation by Chi-chen Wang under the title of Dream of the Red Chamber (New York: Anchor Books, c1958).

Written by: Audrey

July 8, 2010

The other day I read an article in the newspaper by someone who thought there was no longer a need to publish print copies of dictionaries. The argument was that nowadays there are so many dictionaries available online, many of them without any cost, so there is no need to waste paper, money and storage.

Although it sounds reasonable enough, I cannot think how I could work without my dictionaries on my desk. Usually I consult several at the same time, I go back and forth between English and Chinese and if necessary Dutch, because you can find different meanings for the same words in different dictionaries, e.g. from Taiwan or the PRC, and I search until I find the right word.

The newspaper article was actually written in view of the upcoming Hong Kong Book Fair, where undoubtedly many dictionaries will be on display. The Hong Kong Book Fair runs from 21 till 27 July 2010, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai. More details are on the website of the Hong Kong Book Fair.

Written by: Audrey

July 2, 2010

The Eighth Hong Kong Literature Festival (HKLF) started 24 June and runs till 11 July 2010. During this period a number of literary activities are scheduled, including seminars, lectures, poetry readings, and an exhibition. Most are conducted in Chinese except for the poetry session ‘Enchanting English Poems and the lecture on ‘English Creative Writing in an English-as-a-Second Language City’.

The festival is organized by the Hong Kong Public Libraries to promote local literary arts, and sponsored by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. As stated on their website, for this year’s theme ‘Footprints Along the Way’, ‘the Public Libraries have invited eminent writers, scholars, cultural critics and literary groups to trace the considerable footprints left in the development of Hong Kong Literature.’

More details can be found on the HKLF website: Hong Kong Literature Festival

Written by: Audrey