“A Bilingual Comic Book on the Prevention and Control of Covid-19” Translated by Teachers in Nankai University Was Launched
Recently, under the guidance of the Information Office of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, the e-book of “A Bilingual Comic Book on the Prevention and Control of Covid-19” published by two publishing presses of Tianjin Publishing Group was officially launched. For the fact that this book is available in 10 versions, including Chinese-English, Chinese-Spanish, Chinese-Portuguese, Chinese-German, Chinese-Korean, Chinese-French, Chinese-Italian, Chinese-Japanese, Chinese-Arabic, and Chinese-Russian, it is viewed as the most complete collection of translation of anti-epidemic publicity books. The College of Foreign Languages has undertaken the translation of the e-book in 8 languages, including Japanese, Russian, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Arabic. With the support of the whole university, 16 Chinese and foreign teachers from 8 departments of Russian, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Arabic worked together to produce high-level translations in the shortest time and contributed to the worldwide anti-epidemic campaign.
Chinese and Foreign Teachers Cooperate to Strive for “Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance”
“How to translate the name of the virus into English, new corona virus or Covid-19?”
“There is a fixed expression in Japanese, and almost all Japanese have already accepted the name ‘コロナウィルス’ . If being translated into Covid-19, it might be ambiguous and confusing. Therefore, it is suggested that it should be translated into the term in use”.
“As far as I am concerned, I prefer to use the standard term prescribed by the WHO (World Health Organization) and the country for the fact that not only shall translation convey the literal meanings of the original text, but also it should contribute to the standardization of language.”
“There is a compromise method. In the process of translation, when it appeared for the first time, the term ‘covid-19’ which is applied universally can be added as an annotation to the idiomatic expression. Is this alright?”
This is the daily routine in the WeChat group consists of those who endeavor to translate “A Comic Book on Prevention and Control of Covid-19. Such discussions are taking place every day. This kind of experience was especially impressive for the teacher Liu Guanlong, and he said that every word and every sentence was pondered and deliberated in order to convey the original meanings accurately and appropriately. Furthermore, many technical terms, such as the name of the new corona virus, needs to be translated precisely. Therefore, they even consulted the official definition of WHO and the China State Council to ensure the accuracy of the translation.
During the translation process, Professor Wang Lidan found that some Chinese expressions, brief as they are, actually contained a wealth of meanings. To achieve the best publicity effect, she translated and explained the seven-step hand-washing method in detail in Russian:
Запомните семь шагов мытья рук: ладонь, тыльная сторона руки, между пальцами, суставы пальцев рук, оба больших пальца, кончики пальцев и запястья. （Remember the seven steps when washing your hands: palms, backs of hands, fingerwebs, knuckles, thumbs, fingertips and wrists.）
Considering the target readers, all translators learn professional knowledge in different fields and exchange opinions with others. As a result, the teachers of the College of Foreign Languages have completed this translation task with flying colors, demonstrating a high level of translation.
Chinese and Foreign Teachers Work Together, Showing the International Concept of Solidarity in Anti-epidemic Campaign
“A Comic Book on the Prevention and Control of Covid-19” is marked “translated by XXX” on the first page. The College of Foreign Languages was in charge of the translation of eight languages, each of which was translated by and under the joint signature of the names of Chinese and foreign teachers.
A total of 16 Chinese and foreign teachers in the college participated in the multilingual translation assignment, including Wang Lidan and O’Vinogradova from the Russian Department, Wang Xinxin and Sasaki Hayabusa from the Japanese Department, Liu Guanlong and Hans Günter Holger Schneider from the German Department, Zhong Yize and Edwige BERRET from the French Department, Gu Jiawei and Olgalelis Duenas Mendoza from the Spanish Department, Hu Jing and Diana Maia from the Portuguese Department, Yang Lin and Letizia Vallini from the Italian Department, and Dou Tianjiao from the Arabic Department.
Consignatory not only indicates the copyright, but also suggests that people from different countries in the world can collaborate to fight against the epidemic. It conveys the international concept of solidarity in anti-epidemic campaign and proves that the concept of community with a shared future for mankind is gradually gaining international consensus.
As the foreign teacher Letizia Vallini said: “Although our nationalities are different, when faced with covid-19 which is sweeping the world, we should work together to fight against the epidemic. Now that China has successfully controlled the spread of the Covid-19, it is very significant for us to transmit the valuable experience to the world with the aid of our professional knowledge.”
As the Guardians of Life, Chinese and Foreign Teachers Take on an Active Role in This Campaign
I have converted the pdf version of this book to the Word version for the convenience of bilingual translation. Please check the Word version and the pdf version of Italian translations. Both are sent to you because the publishers may use the pdf version for typesetting and proofreading. ... Yang Lin constantly offered suggestions in the WeChat group.
I want to ascertain the target readers of this book, then we can finally determine the style and whether we need to use honorifics. We will all be responsible for China, for the people all over the world, and for the languages themselves and try our best to accomplish this translation assignment. These words by Wang Xinxin represent the aspirations of all the teachers who participated in this translation task.
Upon receiving the assignment, the teachers in the translation team have been eager to offer more help, be more thoughtful and translate more accurately.
In fact, it is not the first time that many foreign teachers have taken part in the prevention and control of the epidemic. For instance, Letizia Vallini had been participating in the epidemic prevention publicity, such as translating the Italian version of the multilingual poster of A Great Way Is Not Alone, and proofreading the Italian version of the warm wishes from students of the Italian Department. O’Vinogradova was responsible for the translation and proofreading of the Russian version of Listen, the Chorus of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind.
The concerted effort of Chinese and foreign teachers in Nankai University is the very epitome of global cooperation in fighting against the COVID-19 and protection of the common ark of life for mankind.
This translation task was launched at a time when the COVID-19 was in a severe situation in the world. And the teachers accomplished translations in 8 different languages with flying colors through working round the clock in full cooperation. Later, in the stage of typesetting and proofreading, the teachers again went over the translations with strong commitment and kept improving the translated versions, despite their engaged online and offline teaching and research. After publication of the electronic books, the teachers supported the follow-up global publicity and promotion by sharing them with the overseas partner schools. As long as it was beneficial to the global fight against the COVID-19, the teachers took the initiative to do so.
Yan Guodong, Dean of College of Foreign Languages, said, “after receiving the task, the college swiftly devoted outstanding teachers into the translation work. The completion of the translation with high quality in the shortest possible time embodied Nankai people’s support of the global fight against COVID-19 with concrete deeds, their promotion of building a community with a shared future for mankind and their practice of the Nankai spirit of dedication to public interests and acquisition of all-round capability.”
Wang Xinsheng, Vice President of Nankai University, expressed full appreciation for the “good and fast” accomplishment of the translation. He said that this was a realistic interpretation of the Nankai spirit of patriotism, arduous striving, dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capability and constant renewal, and vibrant practice of people around the world working together to defeat the COVID-19. It conspicuously showed the value of the community with a shared future and common health for mankind and displayed Nankai people’s contributions to maintaining the regional and global public health security.
