World-Bridging Words

When we turn a page and step into the magical world of J.K.Rowling’s Harry Potter; when, 200 years after its conception, we smile at Balzac’s The Human Comedy; and when we delight in the scene of Don Quixote doing battle with the windmill, we should thank the great power of translation.

Establishing a cultural bond and bridge, translating promotes cultural exchange and achieves objectives of social responsibility. From August 2 to 7, 2008, the XVIII International Federation of Translators (FIT) World Congress will be held in Shanghai, China. It is the first time such a great event concerning translating has ever been held in China and greater Asia. Elites in translating and cultural exchange will arrive from around the world to participate in this pageant.

History

China boasts a long history of translation. Historical books show that there have been foreign words in the languages of Zhou (C.1100-221B.C.) and Qin Dynasties (221-206 B.C). But it is commonly considered that China’s translation path began in 148 A.D., during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). In terms of content, the history of China’s translation can be divided into four periods.

From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), a period spanning more than 1,400 years, Buddhist scripture translation comprised the major proportion of translated works. It was during the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) Dynasties that the translation of Buddhist scripture reached a climax. Xuan Zang, a famous monk, scholar, traveler, and translator, made a pilgrimage to India in 629 during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. After his 17-year overland trip to India, he brought back with him some 657 Sanskrit texts. And he is credited with the translation of 1,335 fascicles of the scriptures into Chinese. And Xuan Zang also translated some classics of Lao Zi, founder of Taoism, into Sanskrit. Thus, he became the first person to introduce Chinese works to the world.

It was a turning period of China’s translation cause from the Ming Dynasty to the May 4th Movement of 1919, during which the main contents of the translation works were concerning science, philosophy and literature of West European countries. The introduction of those new thoughts and cultures catalyzed the Revolution of 1911 and May 4th Movement of 1919.

Mirroring social development, since 1919, both the content and style of translation underwent marked changes. As for the contents, classics of Marxism-Leninism, theory of literature and art and progressive literary and artistic works of former Soviet Union and other nations took the lead; as for its style, vernacular writing took the place of classical Chinese. The translation version of vernacular writing began to flourish.

Prosperity

The founding of New China brought about new opportunities for China’s translation development, especially in the 30 years of China’s reform and opening up. Not limited to foreign affairs, literary works and classics of Marxism-Leninism, translation radiates into all kinds of fields like politics, economy, diplomacy, culture, technology and military affairs to bridge China and the world.

With China’s reform and opening up and the development of translation, Translators Association of China (TAC), a nation-wide social organization, was set up in 1982. Its establishment played an important role in promoting the development of translation and regulating the management of translation. At present, once subordination to government body and scientific research institutes, translation work has evolved into an independent profession. A bourgeoning business, the field of translation services has steadily expanded.

According to incomplete statistics, at present, more than 3,000 agencies provide translation service in China. And by the end of 2007, output value of China’s translation industry was close to 30 billion yuan. Translation has been taught as an independent discipline in educational system of higher learning. Once an auxiliary of foreign language teaching, translation teaching has developed into a subject to cultivate professional translation talents and translation research. Discipline systems related to translation matures day by day.

Today, more people around the world can read the news in multiple languages, as presented by Xinhua News Agency and China Daily of English version, watch the programs in English, French and Spanish on CCTV (China Central Television) and listen to voices in 43 languages broadcasted by CRI (China Radio International). Thanks to the rapid development of Internet technology, Internet media is on the upswing. Websites like www.people.com.cn, www.xinhuanet.com, www.china.com.cn and www.english.cri.cn update the multilingual news related to China every day. The China International Publishing Group (CIPG) undertakes the publication, printing and distribution of foreign-language books, periodicals, government papers and works by Chinese leaders, playing a unique role in publishing and cultural exchange and cooperation. It boasts a staff of hundreds of translation professionals in 25 languages. Under its umbrella are over 20 magazines like China Pictorial, Beijing Review, China Today, and People’s China, being distributed to some 190 countries and regions with billions of issued volumes in total. Central Compilation & Translation Bureau has been engaged in translating classics of Marxism-Leninism like Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, The Collected Works of Lenin, and works of national and party leaders and official papers.

Interpreters and translators are also active during internationally important occasions and negotiation tables in diplomatic circle. The translation work in the technology field boosts China’s implementation of the strategy to revitalize the country through science and technology and promote the progress of the country’s modernization. Its contribution in the fields of cultural exchange, sports and foreign trade is self-evident.