What is translation? This might be the first question that all translation courses start with. Back in my high school, this wasn't a question to me at all."Translation is just putting words from one language into another. So long as one knows the words, the job is almost done." Yet, several years later, after having received the professional training for some time, I would hesitate to answer the same question. One of our professors says, "You won't understand translation, unless you practice it."

So I started to practice, together with my classmates. What we did at the very beginning was translating single sentences. I thought that it was like a word game ---- look up the new words, choose a definition, piece it together with definitions of other words, and there comes a translation. Yes, with some authoritative dictionaries in hand, it shouldn't have been hard, especially when sample sentences are given to illustrate the meaning of the words, and the translation is readily there. Through such exercises, my vocabulary gets enlarged, and moreover, I come to learn more about the meaning and use of words, for instance, a walking gentleman is not a gentleman who is walking and a church key is not a key to any door of a church. We are familiar with the meaning of the words respectively, but when they are put together, the meaning is completely different. Very often, we put their literal meanings together, and thus get a wrong idea. Therefore, it is always important to check it up in dictionaries. But sometimes, even with several dictionaries on my desk, I failed to give the translation of sentences that were composed of fewer than ten words, none of which was new to me. I'm mostly impressed by this sentence "What shall I go in?" I took it as "what kind of job or work shall I go in", until the professor added another sentence "for the party tonight". Putting them together "what shall I go in for the party tonight", obviously this "what" suggests the clothes the speaker is going to wear. Another example is "What can I do for you", which we hear frequently in our daily life. But when said by a sales person and a close friend, the translation varies a lot. The sentences themselves are not that difficult, nor the translations, if we know the context or the specific speakers.

So translation concerns not only words, but also the background information. The more we know about the context, the more accurate the translation will be. The translation exercises also bring me a deeper understanding of the social values reflected in the language. The simple word "siblings" can be translated into more than a dozen Chinese versions, with regard to the ages and genders of people the word refers to. This is because for more than two thousand years, Chinese have always attached great importance to courtesy, and the age differences are bound to classified titles, which reflects the status, power and influence one has in the family. And family members should address each other with the fixed titles. The native English speakers usually call their family members by name, for they don't have such a strict system strengthening ranks and genders. But they have their own way of showing courtesy, so they often speak in a quite polite and mild way. To get the implied meaning of their words, a Chinese might need a second thought. When they say, "It was very nice talking with you", we may naturally take it as a compliment, and an encouragement for further conversation. But, in fact, the speaker has omitted the later part of the sentence "but I must leave now" that suggests an end for the talk. But for the translation exercises, I might never notice these subtle implications. Some say that to master a foreign language, one must study its literature. I shall add that it is equally important to study the translation between the foreign languages and the mother tongue, because by this close comparison, we will be aware of the differences in them, which lead to further discovery of the causes rooted in the cultures and values of the two societies. I think it should be through this way that we be able to obtain an in-depth understanding of the languages and much more beyond them.

The interesting case is that, even with precise interpretation of both the language and its connotation, our translation may not be satisfactory. Our professor had once been given an English introduction of some kind of fire engine, and he had been quite responsible ---- making every terminology accurate, the language highly equivalent, all strictly following the original text, and few days after he handed in his work, he was invited to the firehouse to explain how to operate the new machine, of which the firemen had no idea even after reading his translation. I guess he had done a brilliant translation loyal to the English version, but unfortunately a poor Chinese introduction for those firemen. And there I got a question that should translation be author-oriented or reader-oriented? If the translated version failed the purpose of the original piece ----- to influence the readers in its designed way, like informing, persuading, entertaining, arguing, or what ever, then what is the meaning of it? When a translation is done, it should be an independent being, because ordinary people will not read it while referring back to the original piece, (if they understand the source language, why need a translation?) and compare how faithful the translation is, whether its diction is equivalent and elegant. All they are looking for is the ideas contained in this very piece in hand. Therefore, we must have a clear picture of our target readers, analyze their vocabulary, receptivity, and then the translation itself alone may make sense. When I applied for a part-time translating job last month, the company staff told me "Our product is from America which has not yet entered the Chinese market. We are still applying for licenses from the National Bureau of Science and Technology and other state departments. We need translations on its English introduction ---- to Chinese experts, to civil officers, and to our future customers. Apparently, the 3 versions must have different focuses and language styles." The speaker was not a language major, but his remarks were very enlightening to me. I think in translation, we also have something like what we have in writing ---- "the audience issue". On writing down very word in our translation, we should always bear in mind the readers' response. We translate for people not for language. If a bridge beautifully structured cannot fit into the ground on the other end, can it still be called a bridge? A successful translation should be one that helps the readers get the author's ideas most clearly and comfortably, one that bridges the most effective communication. Therefore, translating can be regarded as a comprehensive and considerate program on communicating.

It is an interesting journey approaching translation. We often follow the route that starts from "what" to "how" and finally reaching "why". I wonder what effect it may be if we reverse the process: first set the goal, and then choose the passage, and when looking back, it is all there that what the whole thing is. Perhaps this is the approach to translation on a higher and more professional level. Translation is not that easy - I must say now after some practice. Or to be exact - good translation is no easy task at all, as one of our teachers always reminds us that, "Excellence is a habit". However, it is a task worth challenging, for only in translating have I experienced and enjoyed such intimacy with languages.

Hansmes?

Dear Brenda Jin,

I was touched by your posting about translation. It shows a clear view on the feelings that accompany the balancing of text between two cultures and the obligation to make an honest approach based on the understanding of both. In my profession as a sculptor I experience this kind of balance too, on one hand in translating inner meaning into the visibility of it to the public or person for which the sculpure is designed, on the other hand in the balance of my love for both Chinese culture and my Dutch/Western backgrounds while trying to bridge these the same way that you do. Maybe that is the reason for my posting because my interest for China grew from the age of 19 up till now and it led me to many new insights that brought me more respect and means of applying these cultural meanings in my present work. More and more I discovered that Chinese as a language and a way of thinking and philosophy is based on a movement from inside to outside. Characters form words and their meaning in sentences by combination of meanings to larger complexities while English, German and Dutch of course try to include a meaning as if a fence should be built around them to catch that same meaning. That is the opposite way around and it goes from the outside to the inside. I'm quite interested in the ways our different cultures handle this way of content treatment in various ways: In translation, in philosophy, in art, in science, everywhere the same aspect causes people to bridge this strange phenomena. I tried to write this to you earlier but when I attached a picture to explain my view the whole letter vanished. But as it didn't leave my mind in thinking about it I try to write you once again, attaching a poem for your efforts to bring this to my attention. Thanks a lot...and here is the poem:

TRAVELLING

Something in me has its own way
I follow travelling
With characters in form and colour
I create words from resonance
Writing my story
I follow the silent way of images
However fixed my ideas are moving
And sketch their way
Along unseen places

Hans Mes?

x?n? zì? y?u? tú??
suí? zh?? ér? xing??
y?? xíng? sè? zh?? tè? xìng??
chuàng? yán? y?? zh?? gòng? míng??
jì? qí? mìng??

wú? mù? k?ng? xi?ng? zh?? chén? jìng??
zhì? su?? ji?n? ér? yì? bù? tíng??
g?u? lè? qí? xíng??
zhí? zhì? wú? jìn??

x?n? zì? y?u? tú??
suí? zh?? ér? xing??
y?? xíng? sè? zh?? tè? xìng??
chuàng? yán? y?? zh?? gòng? míng??
jì? qí? mìng??

wú? mù? k?ng? xi?ng? zh?? chén? jìng??
zhì? su?? ji?n? ér? yì? bù? tíng??
g?u? lè? qí? xíng??
zhí? zhì? wú? jìn??

The peom is part of a book published last year after working in Nanjing for 4,5 month for DSM Jinling. It was a happy experience, a success and it seems they want me back this year for maybe 3 new projects. What I did there can be found on my website: www.hansmes.com as well as the book that can be downloaded as a PDF file at the last webpage. I hope this will generate a fruitful exchange. Not only between us but also between me as a sculptor and the Nanjing people that I cherish so much in my heart!

Sincerely yours,

Hans Mes

Brenda.Jin?

Dear Hans Mes,

Thank you for your posting, I am glad that this article could help you yet i'm not the writer. I read this article by accident and think the opinion is helpful so I copied it on our BBS. I don't know who is the writer but if he can see your posting he will glad too.

By the way, I visit your website. Though I don't know sculpture very much I think they are interesting especially the project "feather". It's meaningful.

hansmes?

Dear Brenda,

Xie xie ni! Maybe we can exchange more thoughts in the future and/or actually build a bridge by meeting when I have more certainty about my coming working period in Nanjing. Accessing my site you can mail me at the e-mail address by composing it. (Sorry for that..it's to avoid search engine spam.) Right now I am working on several designs in Holland and a romantic sculpture for a husband to his wife's birthday about their family happiness. By the way... my sculpture doesn't need people to be experts in the art field. It is my job to bridge meaning through a visual form for everybody so it would be my personal shortcoming it wouldn't be felt or understood by the people for who it was intended. It also happened to me that I made private memorials in which certain meanings are hidden (only they know the used symbols)to protect the most private feelings of the family for the outside world, the same way that a poem or calligraphy can hide a meaning in between the written lines. Right this play and the role of meaning, telling something special without any explicit means is a beautiful matter to work on. It works the same as being touched by someone of your friends or family when shaking hands. At the moment of such touch you immidiately may know by the way he or she touches you what goes on in the mind.
I found out that ( with the example of the memorial) when I sand a granite surface with my own hands taking the time to do it this way and not by machine that such surface invites to be caressed by hands of the family left behind...
I may for that reason consider myself rich. Not because I sold more than 1320 sculptures in my life but because it brought me people and places I would never have found without these values inside. Zhi dao? I wish you that same inner prosperity and thank you for your kind reply!

You may know the ancient Chinese story about undulating water and supreme mountains...how these two people meet at the banks of a river (which name might be: BBS). One knows the melody, the other knows the text. It is a Chinese expression for friendship. If you give me the text I will give you the melody....It's all about translation, right?

Hans Mes

Brenda.Jin?

Dear Hans Mes,

I suggest I know what you mean. Every sculpture that you created like your own child. They born with you and those people's affction or memory or wish.You enjoy the process of creation more than the money that they bring to you. It's an enviable quality to persevere one's heart.

In addition, we are ashamed of that neither I nor my colleagues had heard of the ancient Chinese story you mentioned. We guess may be it's the story about Hai Shi Shan Meng(a solemn pledge of love)?

Any way, it's nice to talk to you. I'm glad we can keep in touch in future.

Brenda

Hansmes?

Dear Brenda and collegues,

The story comes from the "Spring and Autumn" by Lü Buwei and/or Lüshi Chunqiu who formerly enjoyed the protection of the Chancellor of the Qin dynasty at the end of the Period of States in War. The work is meant to provide a summary of human knowledge.

The story is following:

Yu Boya, at his stationery in the State of Chu, couldn't catch sleep in a moonlit night. Yu dressed himself, took his zheng to make music in his boat at the riverside. But he didn't seem to be the only one not able to catch sleep because soon another man came to approach the beautiful music. It was Zhong Ziqi, a woodcarver. When discovered by Yu he asked Zhong if he knew that melody. Zhong answered: Yes! It's about Master Kong, mouning about the deceise of Yan Hui. Between the two men started a vivid and animated discussion about music while the woodcarver contributed a lot. Yu Boga started another song which, very poetically, memorized the supremeness of a high mountain. After having heard this with interest and feelings Zhong Ziqi said: This song is about the supremeness of a high mountain. Continuing his play Yu Boya now created a new melody from his zheng instrument, this time about the flowing movements of a river. The woodcarver recognized this song immediately as: Quickly the Water Moves By. More and more exited about the splendid musical knowledge of his nightly audience Yu Boga said cordially: You are the only one who really knows and also understands the essence of music! That beautiful night both musiclovers became true friends. Zhong Zhiqi had to leave the next morning, but they promised to meet again the next year at the same spot. One year passed and with impatience Yu Boya waited for two weeks on the spot agreed for his musical friend to appear. He even planned to wait longer but then he was told that Zhong Zhiqi had died from a severe disease. Broken by passionated sadness Yu Boya travelled to the grave of the woodcarver and played his last song. With tears running from his cheeks he trowed his instrument on the soil and trampled it to a thousand pieces to show the world that he would never play again. Because Zhong Zhiqi hadn't been the only person ever who had know and understood music completely, he also had been the best friend that Yu Boya had lost for now...

I hope I served you with this story, the picture and this quick survey! I also hope we can continue the topic about art, bridging cultures and the philosophy behind our backgrounds.

It may learn us social understanding how to serve the people by knowing what may touch the heart of many. Be proud of your Chinese culture! It has lots of beauty, also for a China fan like me!

Have a nice day! Zai dian,

Hans Mes.

Brenda.Jin?

Dear Hans,

I have an idea that we can open a new module for you. Then you can put something about your sculpture and Holland. What about your idea?

Brenda

Hansmes?

Dear Brenda,

The idea sounds fine but I should not be the one and only talking about his sculpture. Although rather famous and although never exhibiting my work in museums or galleries I see it as my target in life to serve people from an equal point of view, no matter how low or high their ranking might be in society. Artists like me (at least in Holland) have the advantage that they cannot claim their social status exept by what they deliver to the people. A new module should not cover art only. It should be an open forum to feed people with such ideas that they find an impulse to be heard by anybody able to use that idea to the benefit of other people. A brainstorm forum on philosophical, cultural and social solutions might form the right input for change in Naning. Maybe nobody will listen. But a true person will never give up. I hope that shoesellers find their shame in the pleasures of overposting your BBS because they do it for their personal advantage or revenge for something only.

Let's call the module: My Idea.

To leave this topic: About Translation, let me present you to someone who deserves to be a Princess of Translation.

She is an 18 year old average servant in a Nanjing restaurant that me and my wife met by accident when searching for a dinner in some of the backstrets of Nanjing.

When we came in on that very warm evening I was sweating a lot from the heat. She was sweating too because for the first time in her life she met foreigners and was able to speak English to them. Behind the desk she always had kept a little book in which she had written down words and sentences to practice that she got from a friend whose parents could affort the junior highschool. She once learned there too because she has good parents, coming from Shandong province with one younger brother and sister. her father worked as a building constructor but he got worn out by the heavy work compared to his age and so he was forced to stop working. Chunyan took over the work, earning this very low salary in the restaurant to support her parents and their children and even send her younger brother to school. So she had to leave school and wrote down from her friend, got some support of her former teacher and worked while sleeping with the other servants in the restaurant day in, day out. When I came in she wept my forehead although she should wipe her own. And she smiled...a smile that stayed forever when we came again and again. She couldn't keep her eyes from us, so happy she was to learn English and find new friends to help her. She is the cheerfulness itself, although her younger brother quit school and made his father even more sad than already. All the friends I took there for dinner said she is a true (pro)motor for this restaurant because she smiles and will never give up although the pressure on her is inimaginable. If I would plea for someone to help her go to school and not damage the family by that, my plea is for her. She doesn't need a staue. She is one already. She is the staue of everybody taking effort to bridge problems in life by sacrificing her own wellbeing.

Dear Brenda, you, honorary citizen of Nanjing, do you recognize what it's all About Translation?

Now, when she gets a chance to reach me because she hasn't a computer and hardly knows how to operate it, she sends me letters that I correct for her. That is not a big virtue. It would be a virtue of the 7,4 million people of Nanjing to make her happy because she makes others so happy and expects that she will get nothing in return for being brightness itself.

Enough About Translation... translate this for her and I will estimate everyone who does because she doesn'r accept any money from the pride of being Chunyan. Her father should be very, very proud of having such a daughter that opens all hearts by Translating them.

Thank you for this topic. It brought me so much!

Hans Mes

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