Arguably the greatest Turkish novel of the 20th century, Saatleri Ayarlama Enstitüsü has been translated into English as of January 7. Writes Istanbul-based Kalem Agency: The Time Regulation Institute, true to the style of modernity, exposes the dominance of time over modern man's life and their ever-changing relationships. The ebb and flow of time guides … Continue reading “Time Regulation Institute”: English Version of Tanpinar’s Classic to Launch
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King Gesar Update: Academics Congregate, but Septuagenarian Bard Struggles to Pass on the Tradition
One-third of the extant written versions of the Tibetan epic King Gesar (格萨尔王) make a reference to Maqu County in Gansu (玛曲), leading Chinese experts to believe it may be the historical birthplace of the epic. But according to a report on Chinanews.com (说唱传承人), only one bard residing there is capable of performing the saga. … Continue reading King Gesar Update: Academics Congregate, but Septuagenarian Bard Struggles to Pass on the Tradition
“Empresses in the Palace”: Wrong Message for Guileless Western Audience?
Various media including The China Daily (Bring Asian Magic to US) have reported the rumor—as yet unconfirmed---that China’s crowd-pleasing 76-part TV series Empresses in the Palace (甄嬛传) may soon be recut and dubbed in English for re-broadcast by a US firm. The TV adaptation of the historical novel of the same name depicts the intrigue … Continue reading “Empresses in the Palace”: Wrong Message for Guileless Western Audience?
Translator of Best Sellers “Kite Runner” and “Conversations with God” Incenses Fellow English-to-Chinese Decoders
So much for the invisible translator. With the launch of his Chinese renditions of classics whose copyrights had expired (新译本), such as The Old Man and the Sea (老人遇害) and The Great Gatsby (了不起的的盖茨比), Li Jihong (李继宏) has managed to infuriate a host of fellow translators, hommes de lettres and even would-be readers. Partly due … Continue reading Translator of Best Sellers “Kite Runner” and “Conversations with God” Incenses Fellow English-to-Chinese Decoders
Teaching Mongolian in the PRC: Written Trumps Spoken & Befuddles the Foreign Learner
The khanbaliqist has written an informative and witty post, Spelling Pronunciations as a Method of Teaching, based on his own experiences learning Mongolian on the ground . . . in Inner Mongolia, I believe. His description of how written Mongolian is emphasized—almost to the point of banning spoken Mongolian from the classroom—reminds me of my … Continue reading Teaching Mongolian in the PRC: Written Trumps Spoken & Befuddles the Foreign Learner
“Follow Me in Dai!” Soon to be Published
Two textbooks aimed at pupils in Yunnan have been approved and will soon be published (傣文教材出炉): Dai Reader IV for Xishuangbanna Elementary School Students (西双版纳傣文小学教材第四册) and Follow Me in Dai! (跟我学傣文). The Dai Reader consists of 30 texts, 19 traditonal Dai pieces and 11 translations (I assume from Chinese). Follow Me in Dai! will be … Continue reading “Follow Me in Dai!” Soon to be Published
China Ethnic Dictionary Project: Yunnan’s Lahu Next in Line
The compilation of a Chinese-Lahu dictionary officially began in Kunming on April 14, according to a report on the Institute of Ethnic Literature site (编篡工作在昆明启动). Some 100 Lahu scholars met to discuss the reference book, scheduled for publication in 2015, that will comprise over two million words of text. The Lāhù (拉祜族) are one of the 56 peoples … Continue reading China Ethnic Dictionary Project: Yunnan’s Lahu Next in Line
New Software for Yi, Zhuang, Tibetan, Uygur, Kazakh and Kyrgyz Applications
Xinhuanet reports (Minority Language Translation Software) that the China Ethnic Languages Translation Bureau has announced the development of several software programs for non-Han languages in China: These programs include electronic dictionaries for the characters of the Yi and Zhuang ethnic groups [彝文电子词典及辅助翻译软件 and 壮文电子词典及辅助翻译软件], a proofreading tool for the Zhuang ethnic language [壮文校对软件], and transcoding applications … Continue reading New Software for Yi, Zhuang, Tibetan, Uygur, Kazakh and Kyrgyz Applications
Tsering Norbu’s “Amerika”: Village Life in 21st Century Tibet – with a Twist
Only a handful of Tibetans who write fiction in Chinese have seen their work published in English, but Tsering Norbu has recently joined this elite. Here’s a brief intro to his Amerika (阿米日嘎，次仁罗布著): A farmer in rural Tibet invests his life savings and more to purchase a breeding bull imported all the way from “Amerika” … Continue reading Tsering Norbu’s “Amerika”: Village Life in 21st Century Tibet – with a Twist
Sinologist Wolfgang Kubin: What Makes for “Good Literature” and “Good Language”?
Controversial German Sinologist Wolfgang Kubin was recently in Shenzhen where he spoke at some length on three subjects: What makes for "good literature" (好的文学)? "Good language" (好的语言)? And if a Chinese author writes in a foreign tongue, what sorts of changes occur? On August 10, China Reading Weekly (中华读书报) published What is Good Chinese Literature … Continue reading Sinologist Wolfgang Kubin: What Makes for “Good Literature” and “Good Language”?
