Xinhua reports that the first 3 volumes of a new all-Tibetan dictionary will be published within 2015, with another 27 to be gradually launched through the end of 2018 (新版《藏文大辞典》). The aim seems to be to create the Tibetan equivalent of the much respected《辞海》(Cihai), the large-scale dictionary and encyclopedia of the Chinese language. Anyone who follows the … Continue reading Compiling New 150,000-entry Tibetan Dictionary: Any Role for the Tibetan Diaspora?
Category: Talking Translation (翻译话题)
2014: Year of the Chinese Literary Prize (Scandal)?
“If 2013 was ‘Mo Yan Year’, then 2014 was ‘Year of the Literary Prize’ ” writes Chen Mengxi (陈梦溪) at the Beijing Evening News. Indeed. It’s got the makings of a good scandal: transparency and fairness of the voting were loudly questioned in social media, new-fangled prizes not sponsored by the state --- or even … Continue reading 2014: Year of the Chinese Literary Prize (Scandal)?
Critics Diss List of “Most Influential” Translated Chinese Fiction, Caution Authors to Target their Compatriots
If the headline had read “Overworked Foreign Librairians Opt for Mai Jia’s Popular ‘Decoded’ Over Chinese Classics” probably no one would have noticed. But the table was captioned “Globally Most Influential Contemporary Chinese Literature in Translation in 2014” (2014 年世界影响力最大的中国当代文学译作). In China, perhaps nothing strikes a nerve more sharply than foreign perceptions — and ranking … Continue reading Critics Diss List of “Most Influential” Translated Chinese Fiction, Caution Authors to Target their Compatriots
China & “King Gesar”: Challenges of Putting an Oral Epic to Paper
In a Q & A (艺人及其抢救) with Dr. Yang Enhong, Yao Hui of the Institute of Ethnic Literature (China Academy of Social Sciences) succeeds in extracting fascinating details about how Drakpa (གྲགས་པ།，扎巴), a master storyteller (说唱艺人) of the Tibetan oral epic King Gesar was discovered, and his performances preserved in audio recordings and in written form --- … Continue reading China & “King Gesar”: Challenges of Putting an Oral Epic to Paper
Who’s Afraid of Malala: “I Am Malala” and China’s Nobel Prize Complex
Malala Yousafzai will be speaking today in Oslo at the official ceremony where she will be awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, together with Indian children's rights activist Kailash Satyarthi. Like people all over the world, people in Taiwan were eagerly reading her story, I am Malala, a year ago. In Chinese (我是马拉拉), if they … Continue reading Who’s Afraid of Malala: “I Am Malala” and China’s Nobel Prize Complex
Infrastructure for China Soft Power Inc.: Newly Established China Academy of Translation
In a move to get the infrastructure on the ground for China’s re-emergence on the international cultural scene, the China Int’l Publishing Group has founded the China Academy of Translation (中国翻译研究院). Read about it here in Chinese, and here in English. This is definitely a state-run body founded to serve China’s strategic interests, a “translation … Continue reading Infrastructure for China Soft Power Inc.: Newly Established China Academy of Translation
徐穆实受访：人民日报海外版转载 “建立驻地翻译基金” 的建议
莫言获诺贝尔文学奖、麦家小说在海外畅销，外国翻译家功不可没。他们以优美的本国语言、适合西方人阅读的视角进行翻译，将中文图书接引到彼岸并焕发出神秘光彩。 最近，美国中文翻译家徐穆实（Bruce Humes）在个人网站上刊出公开信，就中国有关机构近年来推动的文学外译提出若干具体建议，将中国文学“走出去”的战略落到实处： 建立“驻地翻译”基金，积极征募外国翻译家到中国短期居住，体验中国文化，结识中国作家、翻译家和出版人（受惠对象应注重国别和语言的多样化，避免过度集中于英、法、德等欧洲语言）； 放宽签证条件，以使翻译家工作期间合法居留中国； 办好网站，多搞活动，帮助中外翻译家们沟通和交流。 他的建议，不仅在海外的中国文学翻译圈内引起了共鸣，还让国内业界又一次正视“外国翻译家”这一文学出口生产线上的关键环节。 阅读全文，请点击
Unveiled: List of “2014 China Classics” to Benefit from Translation/Publication Subsidy
(Published: Jun 27, 2014) In yet another move that emphasizes how much $$ China is spending to take its literature global, the 2014 list of finalists for the “China Classics International Publication Project” (经典中国国际出版工程) has just been announced. It comprises 256 titles that will be translated into 27 languages, according to an article on China … Continue reading Unveiled: List of “2014 China Classics” to Benefit from Translation/Publication Subsidy
建议：建立 ‘驻地翻译基金’，积极征募外国翻译家到中国短期居住
我发表 Open Letter to China Literary Exports, Inc. 之后，《中华读书报》采访了我。欢迎访问： 翻译家徐穆实呼吁：中国文学 “走出去” 的战略要落实到实处 有意思的是，在临时发表之前，下面带 “－” 的文字被编辑删除： “如果有志于促进与外国翻译家、出版商的合作，那么申领翻译津贴的过程就得更为透明。”徐穆实昨天（6月10日）对读书报记者补充说，“中国作家协会主管这一项目，但我们很多人都是间接知道它的，比如说，作协的网站上就找不到对它的介绍。这样的项目得详细说明，用英文推介，让翻译家们和各语种的出版商都能了解。有些别的翻译家告诉我，存在着一份不予披露的中国‘合格作家的名单；如果你申请翻译的作家不在这份名单上，那么你的拨款申请便很有可能的不到批准。” 可见得，“透明”也得有个度。。。
Open Letter to China Literary Exports, Inc.
Ever since Mo Yan received the Nobel Prize for Literature, a lively discussion has ensued among China’s soft power apparatchiks, bodies such as the China Writers Association, and writers, academics and translators—including some who, regrettably, were not born Chinese. The topic? How to ensure greater success for the “campaign to take Chinese literature global.” As … Continue reading Open Letter to China Literary Exports, Inc.
Ethnic ChinaLit 