UIC hosted a High Table Dinner for the year one students from the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences (DHSS) on 18 October. Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Prof Zhu Chunshen gave a speech on 'Imagery Focalization and the Profiling of a Poetic World: Translation between art and Science'.
(From left) Prof Zhang Cong, Prof Mei-hwa Sung, Prof Zhu Chunshen, Prof Chen Zhi and Dr Edith Yan
Prof Zhu is an editorial board member for Chinese Translators Journal and Journal of Interpreter and Translator Trainer, as well as a Guest Professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University in addition to being an Honorary Research Fellow of Centre for Translation, Hong Kong Baptist University. He also has a high attainment of translation studies, poetics, and applied linguistics.
In his speech, Prof Zhu emphasised the importance of translation in the art and science. He gave the basic hypotheses of translation, for he delivered the ideas that translation - as a science - has an artistic aspect grounded in aesthetics.
He went on to explain that the study of translation is a perceptual interdisciplinary movement between verbal art and language science. Prof Zhu mentioned during the process of translation, people should attach importance to the expression of emotion in the source language.
Prof Zhu Chunshen speaking about translation
In addition to the translation skills, Prof Zhu discussed the metaphorical coherence in the translation, especially the translation of poetries, which shows the incorporation into the concept system established in case grammars in order “To encompass mental operations”. There are seven elements included, which are: appreciation, cognition, emotion, volition, communication and possession.
During the question and answer session Year One Government and International Relations student, Zhong Yuyi mentioned when the Chinese tales are translated into English, some words and expressions are weird, which will confuse the foreigners.
While responding to the question, Prof Zhu encouraged students to gain the knowledge of the cultures of the source language and they will better understand the masterpiece in foreign languages and have better skills of translation.
Dean of DHSS Prof Mei-hwa Sung expressed her warm welcome to the freshmen and highlighted that the aim of the high table dinner is to make students obtain broad-field knowledge.
Prof Mei-hwa Sung giving a warm welcome to the students
The dinner began after Accounting Programme senior students, Zhu Dibei and Chen Zhihuan performed a duet. The night ended with a toast by the honoured guests.
Zhu Dibei and Chen Zhihuan playing the piano
Prof Zhu Chunshen receiving a gift from Prof Mei-hwa Sung
Reporter: Yin Lanjing (IJ, Y3)
Photographers: Xiao Yunzhi, Yao Zihong
Editors: Deen He, Samuel Burgess, Marissa Furney
(from MPRO)
