Strategic Considerations: How to upgrade Our Chinese-English Translation

Lin Wusun

China International Publishing Group

Abstract: Unlike the Western countries, China has mostly to rely on its own translators to do the Chinese-foreign language conversion. How to upgrade our Chinese-English translation is therefore both an urgent and long-term task. In this presentation, I propose the following:

1)Scientific survey of the overall situation in different sections of the translation trade. 2)Some causes of poor translations goes beyond the translators themselves. TAC therefore need to make an effort to conduct a large-scale campaign to brief the public as to what translation is all about as well as its importance to our national life.

3)Making the present accreditation system function as a requirement for market entry, just like those in the legal and other professions.

4) Establishment of a nationally recognized system where translated works can be properly evaluated. This could be done with the help of the various committees of TAC.

5), Continuing the Media Committee which has proved its worth in improving translation of new terminology as well as wider participation. With discussion participants have gained deeper understanding all around. Extending the languages from English and French to Spanish, German, Russian and Japanese is a long-term project, but in line with the needs of the times.

6) A basic solution is to improve translation training at universities. While translation studies are certainly necessary, the needs for more concentration on training practitioners are all too obvious. A special award system like that adopted in CIPG should be adopted in all our publishing and other enterprises.

Lin Wusun is a writer and translator with cross-cultural background, having received his education in China, India and the United States. He began his journalistic career in 1950. Between 1958 and 1966, he was an international affairs columnist for the weekly magazine Peking Review. He became the journal’s deputy editor-in-chief in the early 80s and, in 1987, its acting director. Between 1988 and 1994, he was director of the Foreign Languages Publishing and Distribution Bureau of China and president of the China International Publishing Group. Lin Wusun is currently advisor to the Translators Association of China, Chairman of the Chinese National Committee for Accreditation of Senior Translators and council member of the Chinese Association for the Study of International Friends and the Western Returned Scholars Association of China. Among his translated works in English are: Sun Zi and Sun Bin’s The Art of War, The Analects (Confucius), The Silk Road and Lest We Forget: Nanjing Massacre 1937. More recently, his translation of General. Xiong Guangkai’s International Strategy and Revolution in Military Affairs and International Situation and Security Strategy as well as Riverside Talks.