Zinan Ye (translation scholar)

TL;DR

Professor Zinan is a well-known figure in China due to his popular column writing, books, and teaching programs.

Transcript

we're in Monterey we're here with Professor zinan yay uh first can you tell us what you're doing here in Monterey uh angle moment yeah I teach Chinese translation basically I only teach translation from English and the Chinese I don't teach translation from Chinese into English in addition to written translation occasionally I also teach side trans... Read More

Key Insights

• ✍️ Professor Zinan gained popularity through his column writing, teaching programs, and books, making him well-known in the field of Chinese translation.
• 🧑‍🎓 He has written several books on English-Chinese translation, with one being recommended for students at Beijing Foreign Studies University.
• 🎓 Professor Zinan's translation career started in the 1970s, during the Cultural Revolution, and he continued translating technical documents despite the closure of universities.
• 🙈 Translator training in China has seen significant development, with the establishment of numerous Master of Translation and Interpretation programs.
• 🏬 The trainers for these programs often come from foreign language departments, emphasizing linguistic and literature expertise.
• 👨‍🔬 There is a need to shift focus in translation research from theoretical to applied research to directly benefit translator training.
• 👨‍🔬 Research should be conducted on text-based translation, including sentence, word, and phrase translation, to improve translation quality and techniques.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Professor Zinan gain popularity in China?

Professor Zinan gained popularity through his column writing, teaching programs in China, and his books, especially the one recommended by Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Q: What subjects does Professor Zinan teach?

Professor Zinan teaches Chinese translation from English and occasionally teaches side translation into Chinese. He is an expert in translation from English to Chinese.

Q: Can you provide more information about Professor Zinan's books?

He has written several books on translation, with the most important one being "The Principles and Practices of English-Chinese Translation." He has also written "A Dialogue on English Chinese Translation" and "Introduction to Chinese English Translation."

Q: How did Professor Zinan start his translation career?

Professor Zinan started freelancing as a translator in the 1970s and translated medical documents related to cancer research and cardiovascular diseases while working as a farmer and later as a Barefoot doctor.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Professor Zinan teaches Chinese translation and is renowned for his column writing, where he provides translation examples and explanations.

• He has written several books on English-Chinese translation, with one being recommended by Beijing Foreign Studies University.

• Professor Zinan has been involved in translation work since the 1970s, even during the Cultural Revolution.