Isn't He Adorable? : Thoughts on the Value of Translation

(photo by Makoto Kaku)

This afternoon I watched an NHK documentary on Donald Keene, a famous Japanologist who translated and analyzed a corpus of Japanese literature from ancient times to modern times.

He talked about how as a European literature major from Columbia university, he stumbled on Arthur Wiley's translation of "The Tale of Genji" at a  Times Square bookstore.

In his interview he described  "The Tale of Genji" as an escape to the uncertainties of reality.  The book was written simply for the sake of beauty and a beautiful society.  The moment defined the beginning of his career in Japanese literature.

I realized that his success stems from illuminating a part of the human experience that was unknown to the West. He had no competition because no one wanted to go to the wreckage of post-war Japan.

I'm REALLY jealous that he was able to live the life of a mind.   In many ways the life of a literary translator requires the mentality of an artist.  A computer could never translate literary text because translation isn't an algorithm that automatically converts one symbol to another. The first and foremost must communicate the feelings of the human condition.

I'm confused about how to express the relevance of the humanities.  Unlike Keene's career where communication and publication was heavily scrutinized, contemporary society has the opposite problem in that we are barraged with too much unfiltered information that it drowns out authoritative voices like Donald Keene.   The most popular person on the internet has the most credentials, not the person with the most comprehensive line of thought.

Personally I'm conflicted between getting a PhD versus finding an alternative path to study China.  I would have access to resources and connections to professional expertise on the humanities, but this resource is locked behind an ivory tower or digital subscription paywalls.  The alternative  is exploring the humanities without authoritative resources shaped by the internet.  How should this look like?

At least Donald Keene doesn't have to keep justifying the value of his work to the rest of society.  After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, Keene renounced his US citizenship and moved to Japan.  I've never met Keene, but it's safe to say that he's one of the few rare people in the world that lived a passionate life.

 

La Mian Chinese Noodle Recipe in English! 牛肉拉麵

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahr-bIm6MrU

0:44  1 clear, 2 white, 3 red, 4 green, 5 yellow

0:54  Let’s introduce the ingredients! Beef, Noodle flour, scallion, daikon, cilantro, salt, msg, pepper, LYE / SODA WATER/ alkali powder (BE SURE THIS IS FOOD GRADE AND SOMETHING YOU CAN FIND IN A SUPERMARKET, NOT A HARDWARE STORE!)

1:12  PROVERB: A SOUP BEFORE A MEAL, SURPASSES GOOD MEDICINE

1:14 STEP ONE: Make beef broth *Throw the meat in like the video

1:27 It’s healthy

1:31 STEP 2: Mix the Noodle dough 1:39 For every 1 kg of noodle flour, add 10gram of salt and 5 grams of lye/soda water

1:42 As the old saying goes, “Salt is the bones, lye/soda water are the nerves”

1:50 Add water little at a time, DON’T POUR TOO MUCH!

2:01 Mix it until it barely clumps together Skim off the fat, this is a clear soup after all! LA MIAN CAN STRENGTHEN THE BODY! Making noodles is good exercise, like a dancing child!

2:29 WHEN YOU’RE READY GIVE ME A CHANCE to dance

2:31 BOIL THE BEEF ON HIGH UNTIL ROLLING BOIL, then TURN HEAT TO SIMMER AND COOK FOR 40 MINUTES

2:35 After mixing the dough to a ball, let the ball REST FOR 5 MINUTES

2:55 Get some oil and start rubbing (phrasing, lol) Come over here and feel it up (phrasing, lol)

2:57 *scrolling text Alternate with your left and right, you can exercise your upper body (phrasing, lol. Look, he’s trying to seduce you)

3:08 STEP 3: Drop the noodles (I am not kidding, the first character is also slang for male genitalia.)

3:39 Dropping the noodles is the key

3:42 When the noodles twist and rotate, make sure you go both clockwise and counterclockwise. The thinner the dough, the weaker it becomes. Also, don’t forcefully pull the noodles, feel the elasticity of the noodles and let the noodles stretch itself out.

4:05 Oh, my big stomach is in the way.

4:15 rub some more oil

4:26 Let’s flavor the soup salt, msg, pepper

4:45 1. Pull with the strength of both arms. 2. pull with uniform energy

4:55 Flatten

5:04 Pull, pull, then dust with flour

5:09 Again, don’t fight against the noodle and feel, or it will break

5:30 BOIL WATER, THEN THROW IN NOODLES. DON”T IMMEDIATELY STIRE THE NOODLES! LET SIT for 5 MINUTES BEFORE TOUCHING NOODLES

6:50 Add your toppings and you’re done!

6:58 LOSING IS SUCCESS’ MOTHER!

7:05 Let’s review!

1. Bring the meat to a boil and then simmer for 40 minutes

2. Mixing dough: 1 kg flour, 10 grams salt, 5 grams lye/soda water

3. Pulling noodles: Pull firmly and evenly, but don’t rush!


**Editor's note:  I didn't translate every detail, just the basic gist and funny stuff.  Feel free to leave comments for comments, concerns, and future requests.

I'm Going to Slow Down on Blogging for a While

Yes, I know, it's sad, but I have to start studying for a very important language test for an awesome chance to work at a very prestigious organization.  I won't name names yet, but it's for a place I'm willing to sacrifice almost anything to get.

But this will also be an excellent opportunity to update everyone on my learning progress, so I'm going to update you on my studying progress about once a week or less.  This week, I'm going to look up the most common words used in academia and start translating!

Record of The Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記

作者，　范仲淹

By　Fan　Zhongyan

Translated by Yoyo

1046 AD, Northern Song Dynasty

慶曆四年春，

In the spring of 1044

滕子京謫守巴陵郡。

Tong Zijing of Ba Ling was banished as governor.

越明年，政通人和，

Passing into the next year, governance was successful and people were peaceful.

百廢具興，乃重修岳陽樓，

100 things that were cast aside are now reintroduced, thereupon the Yueyang Tower was retrofitted.

增其舊制，刻唐賢今人詩賦於其上，

And more added to the establishment.  Carvings of the poetry of Tang worthies are at the top of this place.

屬予作文以記之。

It is entrusted with essays in order to commemorate it.

予觀夫巴陵勝狀，

Ba Ling has a fine and exquisite appearance in my opinion.

在洞庭一湖。銜遠山，吞長江，浩浩湯湯(音：商) ，橫無際涯，

At Dong Tang Lake, distant mountains swallow the Yangze, magnificent and mighty, it is vast with no boundary.

朝暉夕陰，氣象萬千。

Dawn is radiant and dusk is gloomy, atmosphere and scenery has 10000, 1000 aspects.

此則岳陽樓之大觀也，前人之述備矣。

This place is Yueyang Tower's great spectacle, people of the past narrate how they were possessed.

然則北通巫峽，南極瀟湘；

This place also connects north to Wu Xia.  To the extreme south there is the Xiao and Xiang River.

遷客騷人，多會於此。覽物之情，得無異乎？

Banished travelers and poets all meet there to perceive the scenery.  How would they feel differently?

若夫霪雨霏霏，連月不開﹔

As for the incessant rain falling fast, for continuous months they do not open,

陰風怒號，濁浪排空﹔

Dark wind wails incessantly, muddy waves soar,

日星隱曜，山嶽潛形；

The sun and stars are hidden, Shan Qiu a hidden form;

商旅不行，檣傾楫摧﹔

Business and travel cannot traverse,

薄暮冥冥，虎嘯猿啼﹔

The mast topples and the oar breaks, the tiger growls and the gibbon cries.

登斯樓也，則有去國懷鄉，

When one climbs the tower, they are away from the capital and long for home country.

憂讒畏譏，滿目蕭然，感極而悲者矣！

There is anxiety for slander and fear of mockery at court.  One's eyes are full of desolation.  One's emotions are full of sadness.

至若春和景明，波瀾不驚﹔

As for spring's peaceful and bright scenery, waves are undisturbed

上下天光，一碧萬頃﹔

up and down the sky glows,  all jade green for 10000 mu.

沙鷗翔集，錦鱗游泳﹔

Sand gulls flock together, beautiful fish swim;

岸芷汀蘭，鬱鬱青青；

Angelica by the river, rich and luxuriant;

而或長煙一空，皓月千里﹔

Pervasive mist fills the sky, bright moon thousands of li away;

浮光躍金，靜影沉璧；漁歌互答，此樂何極！

Floating golden light dances, deep beneath the water the jade disk, brother fisherman call each other, this is the fullest extent of joy!

登斯樓也，則有心曠神怡，

When one climbs the tower, the heart opens and the spirit rejoices,

寵辱皆忘，把酒臨風，其喜洋洋者矣！

The emperor's favor forgotten, grasping wine and facing the wind, there is vast joy among us!

嗟夫！予嘗求古仁人之心，

Ahh!  I always search for benevolent heart of the ancients,

或異二者之為，何哉？

How would there be a difference in people's emotions?

不以物喜，不以己悲；

They're not happy for this, or sad for this;

居廟堂之高，則憂其民﹔

The neighboring shrine's height, there is anxiety for the people;

處江湖之遠，則憂其君；

Situated rivers and lakes are distant, there is anxiety over the land;

是進亦憂，退亦憂，然則何時而樂耶？

There is anxiety at court, leaving the court, how is there time to be happy?

其必曰：「先天下之憂而憂，後天下之樂而樂」

This must be said: "Before all under heaven, I will be anxious if there is anxiety.  After all under heaven is happy, then I will be happy."

歟！噫！微斯人，吾誰與歸。

Aye, if not this person, who will I turn to?

時六年九月十五日。

The time is 6 years, 9 months, and 15 days.

(Source)

It still exists after 1800 years!!!!

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 1

by, Eileen Chang

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

上海為了「節省天光」，將所有的時鐘都撥快了一個小時，然而白公館裡說：「我們用的是老鐘。」他們的十點鐘是人家的十一點。他們唱歌唱走了板，跟不上生命的胡琴。

For "daylight savings" in Shanghai, all clocks must move an hour forward.  But the Baigong Place said, "Our clocks are old."  Their 10 o'clock is people's 11 o'clock.  They sing off tempo, unable to keep up with life's huqin.

胡琴咿咿呀呀拉著，在萬盞燈的夜晚，拉過來又拉過去，說不盡的蒼涼的故事——不問也罷！……胡琴上的故事是應當由光艷的伶人來扮演的，長長的兩片紅胭脂夾住瓊瑤鼻，唱了，笑了，袖子擋住了嘴……然而這裡只有白四爺單身坐在黑沉沉的破陽台上，拉住胡琴 .

The huqin EEEEeee's and YAAAaaaas,  in the numerous cup lamp night, pulling back and forth, telling this bleak unending story--- never mind, don't ask.  The story coming from the huqin out to come from the bright colorful actors that come to perform.  Between two long pieces of rouge sits a jasper nose, singing, laughing, sleeve covering a mouth, yet this place only has 4th Brother Bai alone sitting on a deep dark on a ruined balcony, playing the huqin.

正拉著，樓底下門鈴響了。這在白公館是件稀罕事。按照從前的規矩，晚上絕對不作興出去拜客。晚上來了客，或是平空裡接到一個電報，那除非是天字第一號的緊急大事，多半是死了人。

While playing, the door rings downstairs.  To the Baigong Place this was a rare event.  Following the rules from the front, at night time there is no flashy welcome.  When a guest arrives a night, or during the day if a telegram arrives, it only means it's a first class emergency.  Most of the time the death of someone.

四爺凝神聽著，果然三爺三奶奶四奶奶一路嚷上樓來，急切間不知他們說些什麼。陽台後面的堂屋裡，坐著六小姐，七小姐，八小姐，和三房四房的孩 子們，這時都有些皇皇然。四爺在陽台上，暗處看亮處，分外眼明，只見門一開，三爺穿著汗衫短褲，楂開兩腿站在門檻上，背過手去，啪啦啪啦撲打股際的蚊子.

4th  listed closely, as usual 3rd Brother and 3rd Wife made a ruckus going upstairs, impatiently not know what they're saying.  Behind the balcony in the main room, 6th, 7th, and 8th Sister.  And in the 3rd and 4th room were the children.  During this time everyone was restless.  4th Brother from the balcony was peering into the brightness from his secret perch, with bright eyes observing only a door opening with 3rd Brother wearing and undershirt and shorts, legs spread standing under the doorstep, arms swinging pitter-pattering slapping his share of mosquitoes.

遠遠的向四爺叫道：「老四你猜怎麼著？六妹離掉的那一位，說是得了肺炎，死了！」

From afar he faced 4th Brother and shouted, "4th, guess what?  6th sister left that person, said it was pneumonia, dead!"

四爺放下胡琴往房裡走，問道：「是誰來給的信？」

4th Brother put down his huqin, walking toward the room he asked, "Who gave the letter?"

三爺道：「徐太太。」

3rd Brother replied, "Madam Xu."

說 著，回頭用扇子去攆三奶奶道：「你別跟上來湊熱鬧呀！徐太太還在樓底下呢，她胖，怕爬樓。你還不去陪陪她！」

While saying this, he turned his head and shooed 3rd wife and said, "Don't come here to add trouble!  Madam Xu is still downstairs.  She's fat and fearful of climbing stairs!  Go keep her company!"

三奶奶去了，四爺若有所思道：「死的那個不是 徐太太的親戚麼？」

When 3rd Wife left, 4th Brother as if he had a thought in his mind asked, "Isn't the one who died a relative of Madam Xu?"

三爺道：「可不是。看這樣子，是他們家特為託了徐太太來遞信給我們的，當然是有用意的。」

3rd Brother said, "No it isn't.  From the looks of it, it's their family specifically entrusting Madam Xu to pass the news to us.  without doubt with some intention."

四爺道：「他們莫非是要六妹去奔喪？」

4th brother said, "Could it be they want 6th sister to hurry home for the funeral?"

三爺用 扇子柄刮了刮頭皮道：「照說呢，倒也是應該……」

3rd Brother used a folding fan handle to scratch his scalp, " Normally, this ought to be that way..."

Part 2

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

It's Wednesday.  Let's do something easy!

(The Milky Way = 銀河  “Silver River")

English:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

The Chinese with literal meaning:

一閃一閃亮晶晶                               Shimmer, shimmer, shiny and bright.
滿天都是小星星                               The sky full of little stars.
掛在天上放光明                             Hanging in the sky shooting rays of light.
好像許多小眼睛                             Like many tiny little eyes
一閃一閃亮晶晶                             Shimmer, shimmer, shiny and bright.
滿天都是小星星                              The sky full of little stars.

The Chinese version makes the sky sound like a giant dark monster that shoots laser beams from its eyes. Puny earthlings!