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I was following the discussion about @Lingling_Wei ‘s mistranslation of Vice Premier Liu’s quote, and I accidentally came across this piece from 2014 written by @bobdavis187 , one of Lingling Wei’s colleague from WSJ. It left a bad taste in my mouth. A thread. https://twitter.com/zichenwanghere/status/1337069662014681091
1/ This piece was published on WSJ’s Chinese site. It was clearly written in English and translated judging by the wording, but I couldn’t find the English vers. Here is the link: https://cn.wsj.com/articles/CN-BOG-20140313173239
It’s also re-posted here if you can’t access WSJ: http://www.cntreasury.com/cn/caseanalysis/20140314/MTM5NDC1OTC1MDQ.html
It’s also re-posted here if you can’t access WSJ: http://www.cntreasury.com/cn/caseanalysis/20140314/MTM5NDC1OTC1MDQ.html
2/ In it bob talks about his experience following the NPC session and attending the press conference. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, maybe it’s bad translation, but to me, it reeks of presumptuous-ness, and perhaps even arrogance.
3/ Referring to NPC reps from minority ethnicities, Bob wrote:
“To lighten the mood (of a boring session), some reps don their ethnic dresses, among them some young women wear silver headdresses, they probably only wear these items once a year for this occasion.”
“To lighten the mood (of a boring session), some reps don their ethnic dresses, among them some young women wear silver headdresses, they probably only wear these items once a year for this occasion.”
4/ I have never seen anyone so nonchalantly trivialize the cultural heritage of another group. Silver headdresses are hugely significant to Miao, Yi, & many other ethnic minorities. They wear them at weddings, celebrations, and on many other occasions. How presumptuous of Bob.
5/ Bob said the press conference became “unbearable” to him. Why?
“The translator will translate EN questions into CN, but won’t translate the official’s answers from CN to EN. I can recognize some words/phrases, but that’s it. I have no reasons to go to any press confs anymore”
“The translator will translate EN questions into CN, but won’t translate the official’s answers from CN to EN. I can recognize some words/phrases, but that’s it. I have no reasons to go to any press confs anymore”
6/ This is a prime example of taking the use of English for granted, and echos my thread yesterday about journalists learning local language. These translations are a courtesy. Can you imagine reporters complaining that WH doesn’t translate their briefings into Chinese?
7/ About getting attention to be picked to ask the next question, Bob wrote:
“I’m either too polite, or too shy, or both. Now I’m in China, to ask a real question, the only way is to shout louder than everyone else.”
so much self back patting
“I’m either too polite, or too shy, or both. Now I’m in China, to ask a real question, the only way is to shout louder than everyone else.”
so much self back patting
8/ yea, It can be chaotic in China sometimes. I’ve been in situations where I had to shout to get attention, both in CN and in US. Linking having to be loud to “now I’m in China”? Saying it’s “the only way to ask a real question?” That’s perpetuating stereotypes on a new level.
9/ I know 2014 is a while back & things weren’t as “PC” but I’m still shocked by how out in the open the cultural biases and presumptuousness are in this article, and how completely unaware & unashamed the author is of those issues.
10/ I’m completely bummed out. Because as the global south, what more can we do? How much more calling out must happen before we can see change? I really don’t know how to break down these issues more clearly, but increasingly it feels like a monologue & not a dialogue
