Huang's Mandarin House of Asian Antiques

Chinese Song

Chinese Translation Teaching Failures Diagnosed

Chinese translation teaching and learning in university level has been confronted with many failures and deficiencies, mostly because of the lack of awareness of the irreplaceably key role played by contexts either in understanding the source texts or in translating. An empirical study based on the recognition of contextualization in translation is of paramount importance to all translators, esp. university students who are most desperately in need of both guidance and practice in translation.

First and foremost, it is contexts that determine the comprehension of the original contents, meaning and views. Word itself alone can not live without contexts, so do phrase and sentence or even paragraph. A ready consciousness of a complete and consistent context invariably gives rise to a more complete, accurate and insightful grasp of the discourse under analysis. On the contrary, the failure of contextualization is bound to generate sometimes inconsistent, sometimes disjointed, and even self-contradictory rendering, the view of which is universally justified by both Chinese translation theorists and translators.

Secondly, it is contexts that determine the mastery of the structure, form and style of the source texts. The understanding of the original contents and views alone can never guarantee a faithful and comprehensive understanding of the original text, not to mention a further faithful Chinese translation based on comprehension. Besides, the translator should also gain an insight into and stick to the original structure, form and style. It is common knowledge that merely a fraction of words, phrases or sentences, at most, can only hint at the structure, form or style of the whole discourse whereas contexts unveil the flow of ideas, the development of the utterances, the organizational features of the original text, and the stylistic features of the author's works.

Last but not least, it is contexts that determine the quality of different translation versions of the same text. Chinese translation techniques applied, or the choice of words made must owe the kind of treatment to the needs of specific contexts, and be selected strictly within the realm of a faithful and smooth rendering of the original text. Moreover, in translation, every word chosen or transitional phrases selected lead to a series of changes and considerations upon the treatment of the following contents in the text. Thus, a high-quality translation version must subject to the realization of contextualization in translation.

An easy and readable rendering is justified by the translator's exhaustive efforts made to read the Chinese version out aloud time and time again and check whether the rendering is comfortable to the picky ears of the target audience. In this way, generally speaking, stiff translation and mechanical copying are readily perceived and further revised into idiomatic expressions in the receptor language.

In the final analysis, as regards the learning and teaching of Chinese translation at university level, it is highly advisable that all translation programs pay due attention to the importance of contexts and provide corresponding translation exercise and practice based on a whole discourse instead of focusing on the translation techniques applied in translating a certain word, phrase or sentence, which constitute the common practice in most translation programs. Students, on the other hand, should take the initiative to practice translation based on a complete discourse and equip themselves with a ready awareness of contextualization in translation upon introspection and retrospection.

About the Author

Michael Song is a professional Chinese translator working for VERY TRANSLATION which provides
Chinese translation
.

Chinese 13th-14th Cent S. Song to Yuan Jizhou Leaf Bowl $10,112.00

CHINESE 'De Hua' White porcelain 'Song Chao Zhong'MARK $7,786.24

Pair of Antique Sung Chinese Song Dynasty Ceramic Vases $3,539.20

Rare Signed Song Dynasty Chinese Blue Glaze Vase $3,033.60

Rare Antique Sung Chinese Song Dynasty Junyao Bowl $2,426.88

Ancient Chinese Ceramic Ewer, Five Dynasties Song $2,325.76

Chinese Song Dynasty Green-glazed Pot $2,021.39

Southern Song Dynasty Chinese Celadon Footed Vessel $1,511.74

Fine Song Dynasty Chinese Garlic Top Bronze Vase $1,511.74

Early Chinese pottery ewer teapot with handle Song Dy $1,466.24

Chinese Song (960-1279 AD) Hare’s Fur Two Handled Pot $1,213.44

Antique Chinese White Glazed Song Dynasty Ewer $1,112.32

Antique Chinese Guan Yin Song Dynasty $1,010.19

Antique Chinese Song Dynasty $1,010.19

Chinese Song Dynasty Yingqing Sung Porcelain Bowl $910.08

Antique Chinese Song Dynasty Large Sung Porcelain Plate $859.52

Antique Chinese Authentic Celadon Bowl Song Dynasty $808.96

Chinese Large Late Song Cizhou Type Dark Brown Jar $808.96

Antique Chinese Song Dynasty Ceramic White glazed Ewer $707.84

fine Estate Chinese BOWL song type ceramic jun splash $702.78

Chinese Embroidery Blooming Scene Song Dynasty HugeSize $657.28

Antique Chinese Song Dynasty Ancient Ceramic Vase $657.28

Antique Chinese Sung Bronze Mirror Song Dynasty $606.72

Ancient Chinese Jug with rich ornaments, Song Dynasty $606.72

Chinese Song Dynasty tomb tile $500.54

Chinese Song (960-1279 AD) Brown Hare’s-Fur Tea Bowl $455.04

Antique Chinese Medieval Qingbai 18" Vase Song Dynasty $403.47

Chinese Porcelain Bowl *Song Jun Style* $392.35

Antique Chinese Song Dynasty Porcelain Celadon Bowl $353.92

Antique Chinese Celadon Porcelain Bowl Song Dynasty $353.92

Antique Medieval Chinese Song Dynasty Celadon Sung Bowl $303.36

Chinese Northern Song (960-1127 A.D.) Celadon Gi Glaze $303.36

fine Estate Chinese VASE bottle song type ceramic pot $298.30

fine Estate Chinese VASE bottle song type ceramic pot $298.30

Boluw MALATA MDVD 6658 Chinese Karaoke player 25K songs $261.90

Chinese Song (960-1279 AD)Rust Brown and Black Oil Lamp $252.80

Boluw MALATA MDVD 6658 Chinese Karaoke player 25K Songs $251.79

Chinese Song Dy Yaozhou yao Carved Celadon Dish Phoenix $242.69

Chinese 960 ~ 1279AD Song Dy Yingqing Plate Fish Lotus $242.69

Chinese Song 960~1279AD Yingqing bowl Phoenix Flower $242.69

Chinese Su Embroidery Blooming Scene Song Dynasty/SX220 $230.55

Lot: 2 Chinese Song Style Bowl & Cizhou Style Vase, 20C $222.45

Authentic Antique Chinese Song Dynasty Ceramic Bowl $202.24

Chinese Song celadon glazed cup $197.18

Fine Chinese Scholar's Inkstone *Chao Shou* Song Yan $191.12

Malata Boluw MDVD 6628 Chinese Karaoke with 20000 Song $191.12

New Malata Boluw 6628 Chinese Karaoke player 20000 Song $181.00

New Malata Boluw 6628 Chinese Karaoke player 20000 Song $181.00

Malata Boluw MDVD 6628 Chinese Karaoke with 20000 Song $181.00

Boluw Malata DVP-8861 Karaoke player 7000 Chinese Songs $160.78

DHZ - 1/2 kg clumps of Chinese coins fr Song shipwreck $151.68

Boluw Malata DVP-8861 Karaoke player 7000 Chinese Songs $150.67

Boluw Malata DVP-8861 Karaoke player 7000 Chinese Songs $150.67

Boluw Malata DVP-8861 Karaoke player 7000 Chinese Songs $150.67

Malata Boluw MDVD 6628 Chinese Karaoke with 20000 Song $150.67

Chinese 19C Hand Carving Nephrite Jade Tong Zi Song Cai $129.43

Chinese Song Dynasty coin:"XI NING ZHONG BAO"100%SILVER $88.99

SOTHEBY'S Chinese Ceramics Pottery Song Ming Qing Coll $75.79

Large Chinese Black Song Dynasty Glazed Bowl 1200 AD! $71.80

BOOK Chinese Ceramics Early Qingbai Ware Song Yuan art $64.46

Magic Singalong Song Chip - Chinese (3CNN1) $59.66

Magic Singalong Song Chip - Chinese (3CNN1) $59.66

Magic Singalong Song Chip - Chinese (3CNN1) $59.66

Magic Singalong Song Chip - Chinese (3CNN1) $59.66

Magic Singalong Song Chip - Chinese (3CNN1) $59.66

DHZ- 100 pcs chinese coins from Song Dynasty Shipwreck $50.56

Good Old Chinese Porcelain Song Dy Ding Yao Dragon Vase $50.56

Chinese 10th Cent (Tang to Song) Unglazed Storage Jar $50.55

Chinese Green Song Dynasty Glazed Bowl 1200 AD! $45.50

Chinese Green Song Dynasty Glazed Bowl 1200 AD! $45.50

Chinese Cream / Green Song Dynasty Glazed Bowl 1200 AD! $45.50

27" Chinese Jade Beads Necklace - Love Song Cicada $42.47

Chinese Sculpture by Li Song, Wu Hung, Yang Hong (20... $40.95

Chinese Folk Songs Lui Hung Cantonese 60's Stereo LP $30.33

Ayumi Hamasaki COMPLETE ALL SINGLES 3 CD + Chinese Song $30.33

BOOK Chinese Folk Art Hebei opera dance song embroidery $29.32

CD NEUF SCELLE-KALEVI AHO-CHINESE SONGS SYMPHONY N°4-C5 $27.77

*NEW 2 CD SET Cantonese Evergreen Songs ~ CHINESE MUSIC $25.27

50 pieces chinese Song dynasty cash coins(DaGuan) $25.23

Sing Chinese! Popular Children's Songs, Lullabies 1996 $24.77

200 Pop Chinese songs 4 erhu violin Sheet Music Book $20.21

200 Pop Chinese songs 4 erhu violin Sheet Music Book $20.21

Wonderful Chinese Song Dy Style Bronze warrior's Helmet $20.21

Chinese North Song dynasty cash coins collect Book $20.17

A selection of Chinese folk songs w English Sheet Music $19.20

200 Chinese folk songs for erhu Sheet Music Book Score $19.09

LITTLE FEAT Chinese Work Songs CD (Sealed) $18.65

#0919 Chinese Bronze Coin "Zhu Qing Song Mao" $18.20

#0570 Chinese Bronze Coin "Zhu Qing Song Mao" $18.20

#0990 Chinese Bronze Coin "Zhu Qing Song Mao " $18.20

HONG KONG 1916 CHINESE LOVE SONG MUSIC & ART CHINA $18.20

12 Chinese Ancient North Song Coins 100% Authentic $18.19

12 Chinese Ancient North Song Coins 100% Authentic $18.19

Hua Song: Stories of the Chinese Diaspora, Christine Su $18.06

Hua Song: Stories of the Chinese Diaspora, Christine Su $18.06

THE HOME SONG STORIES - Chinese Movie - Brand New DVD $17.18

12 Chinese Ancient North Song Coins 100% Authentic $17.18

THE CHINESE MUSIC EN - BELOVED CHINESE SONGS - CD NEW $16.39

12 Chinese Ancient North Song Coins 100% Authentic $16.17

LI,WEI- CHINESE CLASSICAL FOLK SONGS & OPERA CD -NEW $15.50

---