ABSTRACT

Translation technology plays an indispensable role in the global language services industry. As a key component of modern translation pedagogy, translation technology training has been widely integrated into tertiary translation programs in China. However, the effectiveness of undergraduate translation technology training remains underexplored. To address this gap, an online questionnaire survey was conducted with 309 undergraduate students to investigate their perceptions of translation technology training. Kaufman’s model was adapted and used as the framework to evaluate the training's effectiveness. The results indicate that over half of the students expressed a positive attitude toward translation technology training. Most students found it effective in helping them acquire procedural knowledge of translation technology and enhance their overall technological competence. However, some students raised concerns about the availability of resources, insufficient hands-on practice, and the limited duration of training. The study concludes that undergraduate translation technology training requires increased resource investment, an extended training duration, and a stronger emphasis on fostering students’ autonomy. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how to enhance undergraduate translation technology training in similar contexts and provide a reference for future program development. 

Keywords: Autonomy, Evaluation, Training effectiveness, Translation technology, Undergraduate level

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ABSTRACT

This study critically examines Edward FitzGerald’s 1859 translation of Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, focusing on how the work reflects Victorian England's cultural and ideological biases. FitzGerald’s version, while renowned for introducing Khayyam’s philosophy to the Western world, is also a product of its time, shaped by the Victorian worldview. By analyzing the translation through the lens of power dynamics and cultural mediation, this study explores how FitzGerald’s creative liberties – including his selective interpretation and significant reductions of the original text – reshaped the themes and messages of Khayyam’s poetry to align with Victorian sensibilities. The theme of carpe diem (seize the day), central to Khayyam’s quatrains, serves as a focal point for this inquiry, highlighting the universal appeal of Khayyam’s reflections on the transient nature of life. FitzGerald’s rendering of this theme, however, was informed by Victorian attitudes towards the East, with the translation’s emphasis on hedonism and the celebration of the present moment reflecting Western values of individualism and materialism. Despite the significance of FitzGerald’s work in both Eastern and Western literary traditions, little attention has been paid to the ideological underpinnings that influenced his interpretation of Khayyam. This research, therefore, contributes to translation studies and comparative literature by underscoring the role of translators as cultural mediators. By interrogating FitzGerald’s translation choices, this study offers a deeper understanding of how cultural biases shape the reception of foreign texts, and it highlights the enduring legacy of the Rubaiyat across time and cultural boundaries.

Keywords: Edward FitzGerald, Omar Khayyam, Quatrains, Victorian ideology, carpe diem

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ABSTRACT

Translating Culture-loaded Words from Chinese to English presents profound challenges due to their intrinsic cultural specificities. This study critically examines these challenges within To Live: A Novel, employing a novel text analysis methodology based on Bassnett's (2013) and Jakobson’s (2012) definitions of loss, gain, and equivalence in translation. Our findings reveal distinctive patterns of loss and gain that are not unique to the narrative style and cultural context of the novel but also offer broader insights into the dynamics of cultural translation. Despite the expertise of skilled translators in Chinese culture, achieving complete equivalence remains elusive, underlining significant discrepancies that persist in cross-cultural contexts. The study explains these complex translation dynamics and detailed strategies to enhance cultural fidelity and equivalence in such translations. The findings can assist in bridging the cultural gaps in English translation of Chinese novels more effectively and have some implications for Chinese literary translators.

Key Words: Culture-loaded Words; Equivalence in translation; Gain in translation; Loss in translation.

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ABSTRACT

Rani Manicka’s The Rice Mother was analysed by employing feminist literary criticism that dwells on the patriarchal and matriarchal aspects presented in the novel. This is to fill the research gap on feminist literary criticism in this respect, focusing on Malaysian English novels. To do so, two objectives are set as (1) to examine the representations of the female characters in the patriarchal society by employing Simone De Beauvoir’s The Second Sex theory and (2) to identify the levels of modern matriarchal society manifested through the protagonist in the novel by employing Goettner-Abendroth’s Levels of Modern Matriarchal Society. A qualitative content analysis (QCA) was used. Using an integrated view of text, the social reality is explored. The results indicate that the female characters in the selected novel vary in the patriarchal context where most females are the victims of the patriarchal society. It was also found that the protagonist proved to be a formidable matriarch through her behaviour in all four levels identified. This study contributes to the analysis of feminist literary criticism in the Malaysian context. It is also deemed beneficial in a broader context as it can provide a voice for women who are still considered as the marginalised other in the society. The study highlights the lack of female representation in popular culture. This study is also deemed crucial to empower women as it can provide a voice for women who are still being considered as the other for the balance of power in society and a strong family as a small social institution.

Keywords: Matriarchy; patriarchy; Rani Manicka; reduced inequalities; strong family institution

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