Opening ceremony of the FIT fourth Asian Translators’ Forum in Beijing.	FIT Chairman Peter Krawutschke and TAC President Liu Xiliang signed the 18th FIT World Congress cooperation agreement in Beijing on April 5, 2007.	Miriam Lee, vice chairwoman of FIT.

WITH globalization developing apace, translation services around the world are more vital than ever. Accurate translations are crucial in facilitating effective communication, cultural exchanges, and understanding between nations and cultures. On the eve of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in August, the 18th World Congress of the International Federation of Translators (FIT) will take place in China’s most international city, Shanghai. The triennial event promises to be a grand festive gathering for language and cultural exchange professionals from around the world.

Celebrating and Preserving Humankind’s Linguistic Heritage

The Translators Association of China (TAC) joined the FIT in 1987. Although not long in the FIT family, China won the honor of hosting the 18th World Congress, and two Chinese translators have been elected members of the FIT’s 17-seat council. One of this pair became the organization’s vice president – the first time in the FIT’s history a Chinese national has held this post. “China’s unanimously approved selection as the host country for the 18th World Congress of the FIT is a mark not only of China’s great significance to the organization, but also China’s importance in the progress of translation services worldwide,” commented FIT President Peter Krawutschke in his congratulatory speech.

Reflecting the attention being given to cultural diversity globally, the theme of the FIT’s 18th World Congress is “Translation and Cultural Diversity.” The theme also highlights the significant role translation work plays in maintaining a diversified cultural spectrum. Presently, approximately 6,800 languages are still alive worldwide; of these around one-third have written forms. In the world’s most populous country of China, there are 73 languages in use. The most extensively employed, Mandarin or putonghua, has seven major dialects and over 100 sub-forms. The world’s multiplicity of languages is a key part of humankind’s cultural heritage, and translators play a vital role in preserving this brilliant mosaic of diversity.

The 18th World Congress of the FIT is set to be unprecedented in terms of form, size and content. Over 1,000 representatives from more than 70 countries are expected to attend, with speeches from UN and EU leaders, and distinguished Chinese and foreign scholars. During the four-day meeting, around 100 seminars will cover a wide range of subjects, including culture, education, economics, foreign diplomacy, trade administration and contemporary science and technology. There will also be a large exhibition on the progress of translation services internationally.

Chinese Translation Work: A Mirror of Reform and Opening-up

The harmonious coexistence of different nations owes much to translation work, which at its best is able to bridge linguistic barriers and facilitate communication between societies, cultures, regions and countries. The result of successful communication is inspiring, allowing new thoughts, wisdom and perspectives to be exchanged.

Previously, China has experienced three main upsurges in its translation history: the surge of Buddhist sutra translation that began during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and continued through the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279), the sci-tech document translation work that took place in the early 17th century during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and the translation of Western studies between the Opium Wars and the May 4 Movement (1840-1919). All three periods have one thing in common: these translations played a leading role in the cultural and ideological progress of their respective eras.

Since the introduction of China’s reform and opening-up policies 30 years ago, translation in China has experienced a fourth upsurge, unmatched in its scale, quality or contribution to the country. Translation is no longer simply an instrument for conducting foreign affairs, or the preserve of literature and theoretical studies. It has also played a central role in the political, economic, cultural, scientific, technological and military domains. Translations provide a bridge in every sense for exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

During the torrential tide of reform and opening-up, the TAC was founded as a national body in 1982. Since then, it has been very active in organizing Chinese translators, facilitating the field’s progress and regulating its management. Recent decades have seen translating become a fully fledged industry in China. It is estimated the country has over 3,000 translation services in different economic sectors, yielding over RMB 30 billion in output value annually.

Translating has been incorporated into university curricula as an independent academic discipline, and is no longer simply a complementary part of foreign languages teaching. Translation styles have evolved from the spoken and written forms taught traditionally, and now include visual, simultaneous and subtitling translation services. Translation by machine, or the use of machines as a supplementary device in translations, is also a rapidly developing field.

Today, more and more people in the world have access to news reports in different languages from China’s Xinhua News Agency. They can read China Daily, an English-language newspaper, watch English, French and Spanish programs by China Central Television (CCTV), and listen to broadcasts in 43 languages by China Radio International. Peopledaily.com.cn, xinhuanet.com, china.org.cn and CRI-online publish daily online news and features about China in multiple languages. China International Publishing Group (CIPG) has several hundred translators working in 25 languages, publishing books in the political, economic and literary realms, and over 20 periodicals including Beijing Review, China Today and China Pictorial. Several billion copies have been distributed to over 190 countries and regions. For several years running, CIPG has led the country in copyright exports.

The rapid progress of China’s economy has boosted the development of the nation’s translation industry. China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Beijing Olympics and the Shanghai Expo in 2010 have all increased the number of exchanges with foreign countries in the economic, cultural, sporting and sci-tech fields. As a result, the output value of the Chinese translation industry is also expected to grow further.

The Olympics provide an example of the demand for translators major international events can create. Over 100 professional translators are needed for the Games in Beijing, said an official from the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, and over 7,000 reports and speeches are waiting to be translated. Some 150 interpreters in over 140 languages are required for press conferences and award-issuing ceremonies. Needless to say, there will also be a big demand for translators to deal with the huge influx of foreign delegations and tourists during the event.

An Immature Industry

In spite of rapid progress, China’s translation industry is still in its infancy and much work remains to be done. Many translation services in China are still focused on the domestic market, and have few interactions with foreign colleagues. As a result, seeking the ideal Chinese partner is a time consuming and hit-and-miss affair for foreign businesses.

In addition, there are relatively few Chinese works translated into other languages compared with the great number of foreign works that have been translated into Chinese. Consequently, Chinese culture remains largely unknown to many outsiders.

Before the 20th century, foreign missionaries did most of the translations of classical Chinese works. Japanese envoys came to China during the Tang Dynasty and translated Chinese classical writings into their own tongue. Matteo Ricci, an Italian missionary who came to China during the Ming Dynasty, was the first to translate the four major Confucian classics into Latin – The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, The Analects of Confucius and Mencius. James Legge, a Scottish missionary who came to China during the Qing Dynasty, was the first to translate these four classics into English. And the famous American poet Ezra Pound translated some Tang Dynasty poems into English. In contrast, the number of Chinese translators working from Chinese into English were few; recognized names like Gong Hongming and Lin Yutang were even fewer.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, and particularly since the1980s, China has made huge efforts to translate classical and modern writings into foreign languages. Among the translated works are The Analects of Confucius, Tao Te Ching (Classic of the Way and Virtue), A Dream of Red Mansions, Outlaws of the Marsh, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, plus a large number of Tang, Song and Yuan dynasty poems. Recent promotional initiatives include “The International Promotion of Chinese Books in Foreign Countries” and “The Culture and Civilization of China.” Both projects are huge, incorporating classical and contemporary Chinese writings in an attempt to rouse interest across the globe.

According to statistics from the General Administration of Press and Publication, China’s copyright exports represent just 10 percent of copyright imports. Even so, China has a big shortage of translators working from Chinese into foreign languages. Many Chinese publishers are seeking to engage foreign partners in the editing and polishing process. This certainly adds to costs, but is necessary to meet the standards of foreign readers.

China’s translation training is inadequate, and many schools and institutes have no translation courses. Translation skills in the legal, medical, and technological realms are particularly weak, as are many other areas involving specialized terminology. Project management skills are also lacking. So far, only the Translation Institute of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies provides training for those specializing in legal and commercial business translation. Laudable efforts to remedy this situation include the summer workshop jointly organized by the TAC and the Monterey Institute of International Studies in the U.S., and the interpretation training course jointly provided by the EU and the University of International Business and Economics through the Sino-EU Interpreter Training Center in Beijing.

With the increasing number of foreign businesses coming to China, the need for translations from foreign languages into Chinese is greater than ever. Many foreign translation services have made efforts to establish ties with a Chinese business partner, and the Internet has made multinational cooperation more feasible. But the question of how to find a trustworthy partner in China remains.

Translating is a tough and demanding job that often entails much responsibility. Mistranslations can have unpredictable consequences, from simple misunderstanding to major diplomatic incidents. Given the potential pitfalls, and the many linguistic barriers that exist between the world’s diverse nations and cultures, the historical mission on translators’ shoulders is immense.