(Question from East and West) Entering the "National Translation Team" of the Chinese Communist Party: How to build a bridge between China and the West?
China News Service, Beijing, July 26th. Title: Entering the "National Translation Team" of the Communist Party of China: How to build a bridge between China and the West?
China News Agency reporter Li Jingze
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
At the Central Institute of Party History and Literature, there are a group of translation experts known as the "National Translation Team" of the Communist Party of China. They are committed to translating important party documents to the world so that people can understand the Communist Party of China.
Why is the official name of the party in English the Communist Party of China instead of the Chinese Communist Party?
Why is "the Belt and Road" translated as "the Belt and Road"?
How to build a bridge between China and the West through translation?
China News Agency "Question about East and West" walked into the Central Party History and Literature Research Institute, interviewed Liu Liang, the translator of the Sixth Research Department, and Irish expert Sean, and asked them to tell the story behind it.
The actual record of the interview is now compiled as follows:
China News Agency reporter: This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
As the "National Translation Team" of the Communist Party of China, your institute recently organized experts to translate the speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
Which formulations or translations of expressions impressed you?
What do you think this important speech conveyed to the world?
Liu Liang: Many of the references in the General Secretary's "July 1" speech are very exciting, such as the "great party-building spirit", "learning from history and creating the future", and "the great man of the country."
What impressed me the most was the translation of the sentence "The country is the people, and the people are the country".
The translation can be summarized in two sentences: one is how to understand Chinese, and the other is how to express in foreign languages.
The word "Jiangshan" can be reminiscent of "capturing power" in the context of "Dajiangshan", but "Dajiangshan" and "capturing power" were the context of the first half of the last century.
The Communist Party of China has been a party for one hundred years, and it has been the ruling party for more than 70 years. It would be a bit one-sided to interpret "jiangshan" as "state", but it would be more comprehensive and accurate to understand it as "state".
Under Chinese rhetoric, "the country is the people, and the people are the country" is a metaphorical rhetorical device.
In the context of foreign languages, are there similar and identical sentence patterns?
In Europe, French King Louis XIV once said "L'?tat, c'est moi" (I means the world), and used metaphoric sentence patterns similar to Chinese in European and American contexts.
From a linguistic point of view, the same way can be adopted when translating "the country is the people, and the people are the country" to express the basic connotation of this sentence more refined.
So we finally determined the literal translation strategy (This country is its people; the people are the country).
This sentence reflects the people's position of the Communist Party of China, highlights the party's understanding of the importance of the people, is a refinement and sublimation of the people-oriented thinking in traditional Chinese thought for thousands of years, and reflects the great feelings of the Communist Party of China.
Shaun: This important speech conveyed several very clear messages to the world.
First, the Chinese people are peace-loving people. They never bully or oppress the people of other countries, and will never do so in the future. Second, China hopes to cooperate and develop together with other countries in the world. China will persist in opening up and not being closed; Third, China is determined to defend national sovereignty, development interests and territorial integrity, and will not accept bullying, oppression or enslavement by other countries.
Data map: On the morning of July 1, the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China was held in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Hou Yu
China News Agency reporter: We have noticed that some Western media often refer to the Chinese Communist Party as CCP (the Chinese Communist Party), but the official English expression of the Chinese Communist Party is CPC (the Communist Party of China).
As experts from the central document translation authority, the two think that the official reason for determining the party’s English name as CPC, and how do you view the difference between CPC and CCP?
Liu Liang: In the early days of the founding of the party, the Communist Party of China was relatively weak in terms of strength. At that time, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was chosen as the Chinese translation, indicating that this party is not in another country, but a Communist Party established in China.
Later, the party continued to develop and its strength continued to grow. The Chinese Communist Party changed its English name to CPC (the Communist Party of China), which mainly reflected the party's independence.
From a historical perspective, this issue is relatively clear.
CPC is used in Chinese official documents and media reports, while some foreign media have been using CCP. This inconsistency is not in line with the practice.
There is only one Chinese Communist Party in the world. Whether its name is in Chinese, English or various foreign languages, it should follow the convention and rules of "names follow the owner". The Chinese Communist Party should determine which name to use, so that it conforms to international conventions.
Xiao En: Let me start with Chinese. It can mean things related to China, Chinese culture, Chinese people, or Chinese nation.
"The Chinese Communist Party" emphasizes that this party was founded by Chinese in China, but its focus is still on the "Communist Party."
The key to "the Communist Party of China" lies in the "of China" part, which means that this party is a party belonging to China and a party fighting for China.
With the development of history, "the Communist Party of China" can better reflect the nature and mission of the Communist Party of China.
Data map: In the platform of the Jinyi New Zone of the "Yixin Europe" China-Europe Railway Express, the staff are lifting the Tashkent cotton pulp container.
Photo by Li Jianlin
China News Agency reporter: The outside world pays great attention to the important ideas and initiatives of the Communist Party of China, and the relevant translation methods have also attracted much attention.
For example, for a period of time after the birth of the "Belt and Road" initiative, the outside world once described it as "One Belt, One Road", but later the official expression was determined to be "the Belt and Road". Why did it finally decide to adopt this translation method? Highlight "One" again?
Shaun: "One Belt, One Road" is a literal translation, which is very close to the "Belt and Road" in form.
Belt means belt, but it can also refer to belts. When paired with One, it may remind people of a belt, but the meaning is not particularly clear.
"The Belt and Road" can let everyone know that we are talking about an economic belt, not a belt.
Another problem is that "One Belt, One Road" overemphasizes the word one. "One Belt, One Road" includes the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road". There are multiple routes under the broad framework, not just For a route, use "the Belt and Road" to avoid such misunderstandings.
Liu Liang: Now the translation of "the Belt and Road Initiative" is very common, but at the beginning, the English translation (in some reports) did not use initiative, but strategy.
The word strategy implies a national behavior strategy. When it is changed to an initiative, it shows that the core of the “Belt and Road” is cooperation, which is open and inclusive. It is hoped that each participant can discuss, build and share together. This is the “Belt and Road” initiative. "The purpose is.
With such a translation method, the English concept (of the “Belt and Road”) was quickly spread and used all over the world.
Reporter from China News Service: For most Chinese and foreign readers, the translation of Central Documents has a certain mystery.
Can you talk about why the CCP attaches so much importance to the translation of central documents in light of history and current situation?
This work is trying to build a dialogue channel between China and which foreigners?
Liu Liang: Central Document Translation is the translation of important party and government documents of the Communist Party of China into foreign languages. It originated in the 1920s and 1930s.
On May 27 and June 12, 1927, the Russian and English editions of the Investigation Report on the Hunan Peasant Movement were published in the journals of the Communist International Organization. This was the first Mao Zedong's work to be translated into a foreign language.
Since then, the translation of Mao Zedong's works has been carried out on a small scale, until a period of time after liberation, which can be called the first period of central document translation, that is, the beginning period.
The second period can be summarized as the period of institutionalization.
In 1950, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China established the Publication Committee of Mao Zedong's Selected Works and began to organize the translation of the Russian and English editions.
In December 1961, the Translation Office of Mao Zedong's Works was formally established, which belonged to the Central Translation Bureau, and the institutionalization of the Central Document Translation (permanent) began at that time.
After the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, it entered the third period of central document translation. I call it the rapid development or new development period. The content of translation is continuously expanded and the form is constantly innovated.
Especially after the institutional reform in 2018, the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, the Central Party History Research Office, and the Central Literature Research Office integrated and established the Central Party History and Documentation Research Institute. Now the sixth research department engaged in the translation of central documents includes English, Russian, In seven languages, French, Spanish, Japanese, German and Arabic, the translation mechanism has achieved a qualitative leap.
The content of the central document translation has been expanded from the original translation of Mao Zedong's works to three major sections.
A large section is the translation of leaders' works and various selected essays; the second is the translation of important conference documents, including the party congress report, the government work report, and the five-year plan; the third is the translation of party history, party constitution and regulations.
The communication channels are divided into four areas: The first category is news media. During the two sessions and successive party congresses each year, the news media can get the official translation of the report as soon as possible.
The second category is diplomatic personnel. The personnel of the embassies and consulates of various countries in China and the reception personnel of foreign parties when China (leaders) travel abroad will receive relevant translations as a reference for daily work.
The third category is academic researchers, who can refer to the official translation to understand China's policy guidelines.
The fourth category is business and government officials. Many foreigners now come to China for government and business activities. If you want to know the situation in China and the history of the Communist Party of China in advance, you can get reference from the translation.
Liu Liang and Xiao En are discussing issues at work.
Photo courtesy of Liu Liang
Reporter from China News Agency: The Chinese Communist Party has many political ideas or concepts rooted in Chinese historical and cultural soil, closely integrated with Chinese social practice, originality, specific meanings and value judgments. These words are difficult to translate into the target language. Find a ready-made corresponding concept or explanation.
Can you give an example of how to make the outside world understand the ideals and propositions of the Communist Party of China through accurate translation?
Sean: When we translate theories and concepts, we must not only consider the literal meaning, but also the external meaning (deep meaning).
Some important theories or expressions can be translated word by word. For example, "crossing the river by feeling for the stones" can be translated as "Crossing the river by feeling for the stones". Through literal translation, foreign readers can feel the characteristics of Chinese culture and language.
Some other concepts require careful consideration of how to translate.
For example, great power diplomacy is an important part of China’s diplomacy. Some people use "great power diplomacy" to translate (great power diplomacy), but this translation is very reminiscent of power politics and colonialism. China has clearly stated that it does not Will follow this old path, so "great power diplomacy" does not conform to the principles of peaceful development and win-win cooperation advocated by China's diplomacy.
We think that “major country diplomacy” is more in line with these principles, which expresses the meaning of “major country”, and the expression is more objective and neutral.
Liu Liang: It is very important for the translation of political documents to correctly express the key information. For example, the community with a shared future for mankind is a major concept proposed by the General Secretary. The key to the translation of this term lies in how to understand "destiny" and how to understand "community".
We translate it into "A Community with Shared Future", the key word is "shared future", which means a common future.
This translation method is consistent with the core idea of a community with a shared future for mankind-"to create the future together".
Some people translate it as "common destiny". Destiny also has the meaning of fate, but there is also a meaning of destiny and destiny in it. If this word is used, it violates the Chinese meaning.
As translators, we are not simply text porters, but to build a bridge of communication between the original author and the reader.
We hope that the translation can be understood by foreign readers, so that the majority of foreign people can recognize China's ideas, so that our voice can be spread more widely, and can be heard, heard clearly, and understood.
China News Agency reporter: We have noticed that every once in a while, the Central Document Translation Department will study and summarize some new formulations and provide official translations.
What are the considerations for choosing the new formulation and what principles should be followed to determine the translation?
Liu Liang: These new formulations and new expressions can be summed up as the terminology of the central document translation.
The review of central document translation terminology is a function defined by the central government during the institutional reform in 2018.
We generally publish some terminology on a regular basis, and follow four principles when publishing: first, core concepts; second, communicative power; third, some professional expressions; fourth, discourse with Chinese characteristics .
Sean: The principle of translating terminology is fidelity. Try to make the foreign language present the original standpoint, viewpoint and style. At the same time, we must also consider how to make these terms fluent and authentic, so that foreign readers can accept it.
The purpose of translation is to spread and communicate. Chinese political language is very condensed and condensed, and we need to do some explanatory work.
For example, "Four Consciousness", "Four Confidence" and "Two Maintenance". If we only translate these important expressions literally, foreign readers may not be able to understand their meaning thoroughly. We need to interpret and explain as necessary.
Shaun takes a photo in Guilin, Guangxi, China.
Photo courtesy of Sean
China News Agency reporter: Foreign translation provides credible texts for the accurate expression and effective dissemination of Chinese experience, Chinese stories, and Chinese plans. However, considering the differences in cultural backgrounds and discourse systems between the East and the West, discourse conversion has long faced greater challenges.
How should we view and understand this challenge?
How to integrate the stories of the CCP and China into world culture through translation, and build a bridge of exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations?
Liu Liang: We have always hoped to eliminate the impact of cultural differences in translation.
To achieve this, there must be at least two changes, a change in concept and a change in roles.
The change of concept means that we must establish the concept of openness, tolerance, equality, and sharing.
When translating the ideas, concepts, and policies of the Chinese Communist Party's governance and administration, we must not only do a good job in writing, but also open up our minds.
With an open and tolerant attitude, it is possible to have further exchanges, realize mutual appreciation among various cultures, and develop mutual learning among civilizations.
The change of role requires translators to always think and examine translation work from the perspective of readers.
We must not only learn the language of the audience, but also pay attention to and understand their cultural ideology.
Shaun: The differences between Chinese and Western cultures have really brought some trouble to our work.
For example, China and the West have different understandings of red.
Chinese people especially like red. They feel that it represents joy and luck. They should wear red clothes when they get married. More importantly, red also represents revolution and the Communist Party of China.
In the West, red is more related to aggression and anger.
So we don’t use the word “red” when we translate “red country”, “red tourism”, “red gene”, but translate its meaning directly. For example, “red country” is translated into “socialist country”, so that bad expressions can be avoided. Effect.
China News Agency reporter: In the process of translating party documents, "foreign faces" have attracted more and more attention.
What role did foreign experts play in the translation of documents related to the centenary of the Communist Party of China?
Liu Liang: Actually, the translation of documents from the Central Government has followed the Sino-foreign cooperation model from the beginning.
As early as 1950, when the translation of Mao Xuan was started, a group of foreign experts, such as Solomon Adler, Israel Epstein, and Sidney Rittenberg, participated in the translation of Mao Zedong's works.
When the translation is reviewed, foreign experts can revise and polish the translation.
As Chinese, we will keep a good check on the understanding of Chinese to ensure that the translation is faithful and accurate. The combination of Chinese and Western will greatly improve the level of translation.
The greatest contribution of foreign experts is to provide some authentic translations, including the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the translation of the General Secretary’s "July 1" speech. Particularly similar.
A large part of this effect is the contribution of foreign experts and the result of Sino-foreign cooperation.
With the continuous development of China's social economy and the continuous improvement of international influence, more and more foreign friends come to work in China, constantly supplementing the team of foreign experts.
Under this background, we hope to recruit more and higher-level foreign experts, expand more, and make full use of the language advantages of foreign experts.
China News Service reporter: Mr. Xiao En, what do you think of the CCP’s practice of attracting foreign experts to translate documents?
What gains did you gain after participating in document translation?
Shaun: I especially like this working model.
For example, we translated "A Brief History of the Communist Party of China" this year to learn some of the history of China and the Communist Party in advance, read the book "Ninety Years of the Communist Party of China", and read some foreign language materials.
Through these preparations, we can better understand Chinese history, and we can also learn about Chinese history from English history books.
In this respect, it has improved my knowledge of Chinese culture, history and politics.
(Finish)