we translate whatever you need
Writing about web page http://book.sina.com.cn/news/c/2006-11-09/1041206082.shtml
A collection of 26 Nobel Prize winning works was recently published in China. A most odd thing about this collection, which involves more than 10 different languages, is that it has only one translators’ name on the cover. Who can be such an omnipresent translator?
When accused of plagiarizing former translations, the publisher explains that this collection is translated by Lisi (the name on the cover) and his translation company in the past four years.
Is it possible for a translation company to have so many competant literary translator in house, and to work out this project within a few years time? (considering the fact that the first translated versions of some of these books took dacades to come out) The translation circle expressed its suspects.
The picture below appears in the local media, with a note saying “We translate whatever you need!”----a “true” professionalist claim.
The question here is “HOW”?
Xiu Wang
19 Jan 2007 01:35
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Tags: Translation
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[Skip to the latest comment]Red Chan
Where are these masters of translation, who can erect a ‘Himalayas of translation overnight’? Xiulu, I commission you to identify each and every of those miracle-making masters. If they agree to settle on RMB55.00 per 1,000 words, I’ll set up a translation factory to bring out all the remaining Nobel works in the next 5 years!
You’ll get 20% of the profit :-)
20 Jan 2007, 21:18
Xiu Wang
AHA! I can smell the cash…...
There we go!
“Welcome to the fantastic world of literary translation and mass production!”
Hold on….wait a minute… the problem is that those “miracle-making masters” insist to remain anonymous…so whose name should we put on the cover?
NOT MINE!
21 Jan 2007, 03:11
Red Chan
No, your name is not sexy enough. We need some really juicy ones to get the millions of buyers.
Here is a source of inspiration: http://www.wangxiaofeng.net/
Aren’t these irresistible?
特级女流氓, 上海名媛, 是别人老婆了, 女巫, 袖珍美女...
See, all it takes is a little of market sense, a bit of packaging. The content doesn’t matter. Who writes what doesn’t matter. As long as the readers are satisfied, we give them what they want.
We’ll be rich, Xiulu – I look forward to our joint venture!
Now, finish your thesis first :-)
21 Jan 2007, 12:28
Kevin
Well, I don’t know whether it is the same in foreign countries, but in China, plagiary is very common and has become a very serious problem. Not to mention those who plagiarize for their work, students in colleges often plagiarize thesis by others~
22 Jan 2007, 23:59
Xiu Wang
I know, I know, I need to finish the thesis first-
-—-that makes the joint venture all the more appealing to the market: a joint venture established by two female PhDs…And I know there will be no ‘Himalayas miracle’ for me now!
23 Jan 2007, 16:11
Xiu Wang
Kevin, I agree pragiarism seems to be a very serious problem with Chinese acedemia. Some peple associate it with so-called Chinese free quoting system-
--a very irresponsible excuse I would say.One need to believe there is something special in his or her own voice. It is pathetic to copy other’s words and to pretend it to be one’s own.
And I am sure you wont let that happen with your thesis! :-)
23 Jan 2007, 16:24
Kevin
Of course I won’t let that happen with my thesis~
29 Jan 2007, 11:45
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