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Experts shed light on spread of Chinese classical texts

Author  :  CHEN YUTONG     Source  :    Chinese Social Sciences Today     2020-03-26

Chinese classical texts are rich in unique charm and contemporary relevance. Experts observed that much has yet to be done to facilitate more authentic translation of ancient Chinese texts and to explore the bond between Chinese culture and its foreign counterparts to deepen mutual understanding.

According to Paul W. Kroll, a professor emeritus of Chinese at the University of Colorado Boulder in the US who has been committed to Sinology for over half a century, the causes of ambiguity in Chinese classical texts mainly include historical phonetic change, finite historical records, alteration of texts by various transcribers and the reconstruction of textual meaning by different schools of thought.

Still, Kroll stressed that we should try our best to rule out misinterpretation and to restore the original texts and their implications while embracing the limitations of our efforts.

Providing access to Chinese classical texts with authenticity and integrity is another vital issue. Wang Youyong, a professor from Shanghai International Studies University who has been engaged in the Arabic translation of Chinese classical texts for about a decade, mentioned that it is difficult for non-native translators to preserve the “original taste and flavor,” since it is common for them to refer to the modern vernacular Chinese versions of the classical pieces.

Wang suggested that native Chinese translators be responsible for interpretation and translation, that non-native translators be responsible for reviewing and polishing, and that the two parties maintain close communication during the translation and review process. As such, the target text can be highly consistent with the source text in terms of thought, content and language styles while achieving the best quality and effect.

There is great potential in investigating the correlation between the history of Chinese culture and its foreign counterparts for a better mutual understanding, Kroll observed. For instance, literary creations motivated by personal circumstances under historical shifts emerged in both China and America. One of the inspirations for literati in the middle and late Tang Dynasty (618–907) was the nostalgia for the Tang’s prosperity at its peak and their feelings for personal circumstances under historical changes. This is similar to literary creations in the United States, for example, Civil War fiction such as Gone with the Wind, as well as post-WWII veteran memoirs.

In addition, Kroll said that China’s exploration of classical texts and ancient civilizations is similar to the Western pursuit of ancient Greek and Roman classics since the Renaissance. The interconnection is more obvious between literary and artistic works with signs of direct inheritance or influence, producing abundant research. However, the study of the aforementioned invisible interconnection is relatively thin in the face of the huge differences between Chinese and other languages and cultures, and it needs to be further explored.

Martin Jacques, a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, noted that China’s path of peaceful development is strongly connected with traditional Chinese culture and national character. Accordingly, practitioners spreading Chinese classical texts are supposed to position their research and translation work in the broader process of presenting China’s solutions, strength and wisdom to the rest of the world.

Wang said that the rapid development of China’s soft power and external publicity has brought an unprecedented opportunity and space for students majoring in foreign languages, especially for those majoring in less commonly taught languages. When translating Chinese classical texts into a less commonly taught language, translators often must refer to multiple versions of texts, including those in Chinese and English, which is consistent with the current talent training model at universities. The training in multi-language proficiency and intercultural communication competence provided by Chinese higher education institutions safeguards the quality of translation and the richness of the talent pool.

Editor: Yu Hui

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