ABSTRACT

Translating Chinese Culture is an innovative and comprehensive coursebook which addresses the issue of translating concepts of culture. Based on the framework of schema building, the course offers helpful guidance on how to get inside the mind of the Chinese author, how to understand what he or she is telling the Chinese-speaking audience, and how to convey this to an English speaking audience.

A wide range of authentic texts relating to different aspects of Chinese culture and aesthetics are presented throughout, followed by close reading discussions of how these practices are executed and how the aesthetics are perceived among Chinese artists, writers and readers. Also taken into consideration are the mode, audience and destination of the texts. Ideas are applied from linguistics and translation studies and each discussion is reinforced with a wide variety of practical and engaging exercises.

Thought-provoking yet highly accessible, Translating Chinese Culture will be essential reading for advanced undergraduates and postgraduate students of Translation and Chinese Studies. It will also appeal to a wide range of language studies and tutors through its stimulating discussion of the principles and purposes of translation.

chapter |13 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|15 pages

Translating modern and contemporary Chinese art and artists

Art and artists as culture-specific entities

chapter 2|16 pages

Chinese characters

National, cultural and personal identity

chapter 3|17 pages

Calligraphy

Physical and spiritual aspects of writing

chapter 4|16 pages

The meaning of clothes

Cultural, political and historical significance

chapter 6|19 pages

Transcreation as a means of delivering poetry to an Other audience

Rap adaptation and sinophonic poetry

chapter 8|18 pages

Drama translation

A case study of collaborative translation

chapter 9|16 pages

Translating films