Chinese Literature, Global Culture and Translation

Bonnie S McDougall
Visiting Professor, University of Sydney

The lack of interest among English-language readers in contemporary Chinese literature is a matter of concern in Chinese literary circles asalso for people who teach or study Chinese literature in English translation. It is therefore worth drawing attention to ways in which contemporary Chinese literature could become better known throughout the world.

Generally speaking, it falls on translation to undertake the task of spreading contemporary Chinese literature, whether it does so successfully or not. State support for literary translation is among a number of strategies that can be encouraged to counter present difficulties.

At the same time, it is necessary to consider the role of contingency in the presentation of contemporary Chinese literature to the rest of the world. Who selects works for translation, and for what reasons? Which translators and publishers carry out the work? What kinds of market forces are in operation? Which non-literary events affect the selection, translation, publication, marketing and reception of contemporary Chinese literature in the rest of the world? In all of these aspects, chance or contingency, as distinct from strategic planning by governmental or non-governmental institutions, may be the determining factor.

What may be unwelcome to planners may offer opportunities to individual writers. While the overall interest of Chinese writers and of the state may be identical, individual support for writers and literary translators may be a necessary supplement to institutional support and encouragement.

中国文学、全球文化与翻译

杜博妮
悉尼大学客座教授

英语读者对当代中国文学缺乏兴趣是一个为中国文学界以及教授、研究英译中国文学的人们所关注的问题。因此，如何让全世界更好地了解当代中国文学，值得深思。

通常来说，翻译承担了推广当代中国文学的任务，无论其成功与否。为应对当前困局，政府来支持文学翻译是众多策略中的一种，值得鼓励。

与此同时，我们还应当考虑，偶然性在当代中国文学被呈现给其他世界时所起的作用。比如谁来选择被翻 译的作品？出于何种原因去翻译？哪些译者和出版商在具体操作？何种市场力量在起作用？哪些非文学的事件影响着中国当代文学在世界各地的选择、翻译、出版、 营销和接受？在所有这些方面、机遇或者偶然性，不同于政府或非政府机构的战略性规划，或许是关键的因素。

策划者们不欢迎的东西可能会为个别作家提供机会。中国作家和政府的整体利益也许相同，但对作家以及文学翻译者的个别支持当是政府扶助和鼓励之外的一个必要补充。