(Beijing Winter Olympics) Interview with Winter Olympics interpreters: Crossing the cultural divide and making the world "more united"

　　China News Service, Beijing, February 16th: Interview with the Winter Olympics interpreters: Crossing the cultural divide and making the world "more united"

　　China News Agency reporter Zhu Chenxi

　　"I don't dare to say that I have experienced many battles, but when I first sat on the interpreter seat at the Beijing Winter Olympics delegation head meeting, my heart was still pounding." Teacher at the School of Advanced Translation, Beijing International Studies University Shen Zhourong told reporters recently.

　　In September 2021, Shen Zhourong selected the Olympic Village Department of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee to work on the venue operation team of the Yanqing Winter Olympics Village.

In Yanqing Winter Olympic Village, Shen Zhourong served as the general liaison between the Winter Olympic Village and the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee on the one hand, and on the other hand, served as the language service expert of the Winter Olympic Village, providing translation and review support for various business areas of the Winter Olympic Village. Interpreter for the International High-Level Protocol and Heads of Delegation Conference.

　　Language work in the Winter Olympic Village is different from traditional translation.

The traditional translation industry usually requires translators to remain neutral and invisible. As a language service provider for the Winter Olympics, it is often necessary to clarify their position and adjust translation strategies according to the actual situation to help both parties bridge the cultural gap.

　　For example, the word "Fu" in the traditional Chinese Spring Festival couplets should be pasted upside down according to traditional customs. When Shen Zhourong translated it to the officials of the International Olympic Committee, he expressed "Fu has fallen" as "the luckiness is coming down". Accurately express the meaning of the pun.

　　Talking about the feeling of interpreting at the Beijing Winter Olympics, Shen Zhourong said that the nervousness of doing interpreting for the first time in his career seems to have come back at this time.

"In the past, as an interpreter, I only acted as an intermediary. This time, I participated in the Beijing Winter Olympics as a part of the Beijing Winter Olympics. I am no longer a role that is separated from the two sides of communication. I feel a sense of responsibility and mission."

　　In Shen Zhourong's view, the role of an interpreter is not limited to a "speaker", but an expert in communication and identification of cultural differences.

When IOC officials visited the Winter Olympic Village for the first time, Shen Zhourong assisted the venue operation team to communicate and coordinate with the IOC.

During the translation process, he helped both parties to refine the key issues of each other's concerns, which improved the efficiency of communication and problem-solving.

"It's important for interpreters to understand not only what the speaker's intentions are, but also what the listener's expectations are."

　　IOC President Thomas Bach recently visited the "10 Seconds" Chinese Medicine Experience Hall in Yanqing Winter Olympic Village.

In the experience hall, Bach was invited to leave commemorative words on two white balls.

Bach wrote the first white ball to the Chinese Medicine Experience Hall.

As for the commemorative object of the second white ball, the options given by the volunteers after "suggesting ideas" failed to make Bach write.

Shen Zhourong suggested at this time that it is better to write to Yanqing Winter Olympic Village.

When Bach heard it, he was ready to write.

"Interpreting culture, interpreting situations, and interpreting the expectations of clients are also part of the interpretation work," said Shen Zhourong.

　　When asked about the difficulties encountered during the interpreting process, Shen Zhourong said that only a few of his clients are from English-speaking countries, and most of them have very diverse cultural backgrounds and different English accents.

"Their syntax, vocabulary, ideas are different from native English speakers, so it takes more effort."

　　The theme slogan of the Beijing Winter Olympics is "Together for a Shared Future", and its English expression is "Together for a Shared Future".

Shen Zhourong believes that the word "Together" is exactly the same as the newly added "Together" in the Olympic motto, and it contains the meaning of "together" for human beings.

　　"In the face of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and global natural disasters, no country can be immune. I think the theme slogan of the Beijing Winter Olympics is very consistent with the Olympic motto." Shen Zhourong said.

　　The Beijing Winter Olympics is the first Winter Olympics since "more unity" was added to the Olympic motto.

The world needs solidarity now more than ever.

Regarding the interpretation work at the Winter Olympics, Shen Zhourong said, "Everyone, including interpreters, is participating in international exchanges. We should give full play to our subjectivity, bridge the gap between languages ​​and cultures, and build a bridge for communication and interaction. Let the world be together".

(Finish)