When Chinese author Wang Gang brought a smile to the faces of his Turkish listeners as he recounted how a musician back in Xinjiang had sung him a tune dubbed “Istanbul” just a few days ago, it’s unlikely few in the audience recognized the irony. After all, the theme of China’s presence at the 2013 … Continue reading The 2013 Istanbul Book Fair, Xinjiang Connections and “English”
Category: Altaic Peoples & Tales (阿尔泰各民族及其故事)
Translation Crunch: Turkey Revs up for Role as Country of Honor at 2014 Beijing Book Fair
It has been officially announced that Turkey will be the Country of Honor at the 2014 Beijing Int’l Book Fair, as China was at the Istanbul In’tl Book Fair this year. A dearth of Turkish-to-Chinese translators means Turkish works like this one are often translated from the English. Which raises several questions: What contemporary works of … Continue reading Translation Crunch: Turkey Revs up for Role as Country of Honor at 2014 Beijing Book Fair
“Madam Atatürk: The First Lady of Modern Turkey” Now Out in English
The English translation of the biography of the woman who married Turkey's "Father of the Nation," Madam Atatürk: The First Lady of ModernTurkey, has just been launched. Author Ipek Çalışlar stood trial over charges of insulting the memory of Atatürk in her biography of Latife Hanım (Latife Uşakizâde) but was acquitted several years ago. Reports Hürriyet Daily News: A … Continue reading “Madam Atatürk: The First Lady of Modern Turkey” Now Out in English
Manchu Ulabun: A Hot Research Topic in China
Apparently known as ulabun in Manchu and Shuō bù (说部) in Chinese, this is a storytelling tradition—involving song and recital—among the Manchu of northeast China. These tales naturally center around folk heroes, indigenous religious beliefs and history of the Manchu, but some Chinese experts argue that it has long been influenced by the Han tradition … Continue reading Manchu Ulabun: A Hot Research Topic in China
“Het laatste kwartier van de maan”: Launching August 20
If you don't know Chinese and prefer not to read Chi Zijian's classic <额尔古纳河右岸> about the twilight of the Evenki in English later this year you can enjoy it in Dutch---Het laatse kwartier van de maan. It will be available from The House of Books beginning the latter part of August 2013. But please note: … Continue reading “Het laatste kwartier van de maan”: Launching August 20
Chutzpah!: Latest Issue Devoted to Writers of non-Han Descent
Good news from the bimonthly Chinese literary magazine Chutzpah! (天南): the latest edition (Issue 14) is devoted entirely to writing by authors of non-Han descent. Several languages are involved here—most are published in Chinese, but some were written in other tongues and then translated into Chinese, while one has been rendered in English. The latter … Continue reading Chutzpah!: Latest Issue Devoted to Writers of non-Han Descent
Chi Zijian, la mort des shamans et des éleveurs de rennes
Bertrand Mialaret examine la traduction anglaise du roman chinois de Chi Zijian, Last Quarter of the Moon (额尔古纳河右岸, 迟子建著), l'histoire de la crépuscule des Evenki dans la dernière partie du XXe siècle (l'article français en entier): Les Evenki ont de l’amour pour leurs rennes qui sont beaucoup plus qu’un troupeau, presque des partenaires. « In my eyes, … Continue reading Chi Zijian, la mort des shamans et des éleveurs de rennes
Uyghur Authors in China
2023 4Q note Apologies for the links below, several of which are now "dead." Not sure how many died a natural death versus those that were pro-actively "disappeared" by the authorities in the wake of the large-scale incarceration of Uyghurs, including writers such as Perhat Tursun, implemented since 2017. In 2013, it’s not easy to … Continue reading Uyghur Authors in China
《额尔古纳河右岸》的英文译者: “因为书里的故事感动了我”
伦敦出版商 Harvill Secker 一月 17 日推出了东北作家迟子建的第一本译成英文的小说，《Last Quarter of the Moon》。为了《中华读书报》，慷慨先生找到我，进行了有关我翻译这本小说的采访： 《读书报》：为什么使用现在这个英译书名，而不是原书名《额尔古纳河右岸》的直译？ 徐穆实 [Bruce Humes]：首先要明白一个事实：书名一般由出版方来定，译者甚至原作家的想法只是建议罢了。要知道，外文版权是外国出版社拥有的，当然是他们说了算。 我的建议本来是直译：The Right Bank of the Argun。这书名不仅忠实原作，也方便引起西方读者的好奇心。因为用“右岸”表达河流的方位有点莫名其妙，西方读者习惯用东南西北来表达。就算西方读者 不知道这条河是几百年以来中俄边境的界线，单凭这种奇特的表达方式，也会引起他们的好奇心。 但英格兰的出版人被早些出版的《额尔古纳河右岸》意大利译文的书名 Ultimo quarto di luna 所吸引，就把它译成英文的 The Last Quarter of the Moon。 全文可以在此下载 PDF 版。
Echoes of Samarkand: Salar Literary Conference Held in Qinghai
A conference highlighting writing by Salar authors (撒拉族文学) was held in January 2013 in Xunhua County (循 化), Qinghai Province, home to most of the 100,000 Salar (撒拉族) who consider themselves descendants of Muslims who migrated in the 13th century from Samarkand (present-day Uzbekhistan, and once home to Omar Khayyam) in search of religious freedom. Subsequent contacts … Continue reading Echoes of Samarkand: Salar Literary Conference Held in Qinghai
Altaic Storytelling 