From September 15thto 17th, the 9thNational Seminar on Translation Dictionary and Translation Theory, sponsored by Translation Theory and Teaching Committee of Translators Association of China, organized by Shaanxi Translation Association and School of Foreign Languages of Shaanxi Normal University, was successfully held in SNNU. The main topics under discussion included translation theory, translation teaching, theoretical research of translation dictionary, the application of the translation dictionary, the compilation of the dictionary of translation and the corpus research.
Professors invited to deliver the keynote speech in the seminar included Prof. Sun Ying-chun from Shandong University, Prof. Mu Lei, deputy director of Translation Theory and Teaching Committee of China’s association of translation, Prof. Huang Zhong-lian from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Prof. Wang Yin from Sichuan International Studies University, Prof. Hu Kaibao from School of Foreign Languages of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Prof. Hu Zongfeng from School of Foreign Languages of Northwest University, Prof. Dang Zhengsheng from Xi 'an International Studies University, Prof. Tian Bing and Prof. Lan Hongjun from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Prof. Meng Fanjun from School of Foreign Languages of Southwest University, and Prof. Li Xuening from School of Foreign Languages of Jiangnan University. Invited also to the seminar were some important academic journals and press. More than 100 experts, scholars and students from nearly 30 colleges and universities attended the seminar.
The opening ceremony of the seminar was held at 9:00 a.m. of Sept. 16th. Prof. Dang Huaixing, vice president of Shaanxi Normal University, Prof. Mu Lei, Prof. Ma Qing-lin, vice chairman of Shaanxi Translation Association and dean of School Foreign Languages of Northwest University of Political Science and Law, Prof. Sun Yingchun, dean of School of Foreign Languages of Shandong University (Weihai Campus) attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. The opening ceremony of the seminar was chaired by Prof. Wang Qilong, Changjiang Scholar of MOE and dean of School of Foreign Languages of SNNU.
In his welcome speech, Prof. Wang Qilong expressed his warm welcome to the experts and scholars attending the seminar on behalf of the School and thanked them for their contributions to the development of the translation discipline. He stressed that the development of the translation discipline required the joint efforts of all the experts, scholars as well as students.
Prof. Dang Huaixing, vice president of Shaanxi Normal University, welcomed the participants and thanked all the staff who had prepared for the seminar. He said that the importance of translation in the context of "the Belt and Road Initiative " has become more prominent, encouraging all experts, scholars and students to make more academic achievements in translating studies.
In the lecture on thesis writing, Prof. Mu Lei analyzed the purpose of dissertation as well as the similarities and differences of dissertation and academic papers. Taking dissertation on translation studies as an example, she explained the norms of writing the dissertation, approaches of choosing the topic, ways of constructing the theoretical framework and procedures of writing the dissertation. She also expressed her sincere hope that PhD students of translation studies and students intending to apply for the Ph D program may get some benefits.
The seminar covered three sessions of keynote speeches delivered by 11 professors, including Prof. Wang Yin, Prof. Huang Zhonglian, Prof. Mu Lei, Prof. Lan Hongjun, Prof. Tian Bing, Prof. Dang Zhengsheng, Prof. Hu Kaibao, Prof. Hu Zongfeng, Prof. Li Xuening and Prof. Meng Fanjun, touching topics of translation terminology, translation studies methodology, corpus translation studies, machine translation, English translation of classical Chinese, and translation of Shaanxi Literature.
A total of 82 papers were submitted for the seminar. On the afternoon of Sept. 16th, participants of the seminar were divided into three groups and conducted academic discussion and research on "lexicography and research", "translation teaching" and "translation theory" in No.4 Teaching Building. Teachers and classmates attending the seminar put forward their academic views and opinions, and the moderators of each group also gave valuable suggestions.
The closing ceremony of the seminar was presided over by Prof. Liu Quanguo, deputy dean of School of Foreign Languages. He expressed his sincere thanks to all the experts and representatives who participated the conference. Prof. Hu Kaibao from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Ma Zhengping, Party Secretary of School of Foreign Languages in SNNU also made closing speeches. They all expressed their gratitude to the seminar organizers, hosts and all the staff, and expressed their academic expectations to translation studies in our country.
The seminar was a complete success with the joint efforts of the parties. It provided a good academic exchange platform for experts, scholars and students of the translation studies within China, which will effectively promote the development of translation studies as a discipline.
(Original text by Zheng Yuanhui & Li Lili, and translated by Yang Dongmin)
