2nd International Summit of Chinese Literature Translation
http://english.cntv.cn/program/cultureexpress/20120903/101749.shtml
In the second International Summit of Chinese Literature Translation, sinologists and translators gathered in Beijing to discuss the state of the current translation scene. They’re also looking into future opportunities to promote and spread Chinese literature across the world.
Language barrier could be the most crucial obstacle to promoting contemporary Chinese literature.
For readers from non-English speaking countries, many Chinese writers’ novels are first translated to English, then translated again to their native language. The double conversion has increased the possibility of twisting the original idea. And this has dampened their understanding and reading experience.
Comments
This is a poor report. Did anyone go to this Summit and can you give a better account?
Helen Wang, September 8, 2012, 9a.m.
Maybe I was a bit harsh just now. The video link didn't work first time, but did work the second time... And Mo Yan seems to be happy with his translated works.
Helen Wang, September 8, 2012, 9:06a.m.
I was there, and used my fifteen minutes at the podium to recommend the formation of a Chinese literary translation grant along the lines of the PEN or NEA grants in the US: applications by translators, and grants given to translators. Who knows if anyone was listening!
I haven't been to a whole lot of government-sponsored semi-academic conferences, so I'm not sure how this one measures up. Mostly it was interesting to me to meet in person several translators and professors with whom I'd only corresponded, and to hear about the state of Chinese literary translation in countries like Egypt or the Ukraine. We thought we had it bad!
It was also peculiar to see how highly the Writers Association valued this particular event — Tie Ning was present nearly all day long for two days, as were Mo Yan, Yu Hua (for a day), Liu Zhenyun, Li Er, and others. I can't imagine what they were actually getting out of the event, it couldn't have been all that interesting, though I enjoyed Liu Zhenyun's turn at moderation.
Probably it would have been a more fruitful event if there'd been a better-structured opportunity for interaction between participants (as opposed to a series of speeches). On the other hand, I wasn't staying at the hotel, and much of that probably went on around dinner or drinks, etc.
Eric Abrahamsen, September 9, 2012, 2:05a.m.
Worried about you, Eric. You don't seem to be thinking correctly.
First of all, PEN is not an organization we want to imitate. All over the world, their members stand up for the right to free expression, and protest against the imprisonment of writers.
Then there's the issue of "interaction." The problem with unscripted interaction is that, well, it's unscripted. All sorts of unpleasant things can happen. That's why we stick with speeches.
In China and outside at such events, Chinese writers have minders who "look after them." I've met with Yan Lianke in HK with a handful of his friends, and it's just about impossible to see the man alone in his hotel room.
I've even been told by translators that when they try to meet the Chinese authors they render in English at "official" literary events in the West, their minders make it a challenge to meet even in the evening when the day's events are over. . .
Bruce , September 9, 2012, 7:05a.m.