Availing himself of the pulpit provided by a professional
translating forum in Beijing, President of the International
Federation of Translators (FIT) Peter W. Krawutschke said that
annual output of the global translation and interpretation industry
could be worth US$13-14 billion.
FIT President Krawutschke that the translation and
interpretation industry formed a crucial segment of the emerging
"knowledge industry". He added that although no method existed to
accurately judge the scale of the industry at present, his estimate
had been conservative.
Krawutschke was speaking on Friday at the opening session of a
forum seeking to address various issues relating to translating
Chinese into foreign languages. This initial forum, labeled "Forum
on Translating from Chinese into Foreign Languages -- A Bridge to
the World", will close on Saturday.
Cai Wu, minister of the Chinese State Council Information
Office, also spoke at the forum: "Since the late 19th century,
Chinese intellectuals have promoted the country's modernization
through translating western works; today we need to place more
emphasis on introducing Chinese culture to the rest of the world.
The 5,000-year-old Chinese culture not only belongs to China but
the whole world. China should play its part in helping build a
global cultural landscape in the new century."
"The work of translators will determine the success or failure
of this goal," said Cai.
Experts gathered for the forum echoed one another in stressing
the need of informing foreign audiences about China given the speed
of the country's development and the rapidity in which this same
development is grabbing the world's attention. A key component of
the country's international communication array, translating
Chinese content into foreign languages must be given its dues as
part of the national cultural strategy and thus be improved.
Topics to be discussed at the forum -- all from the perspective
of translating from Chinese into foreign languages, include the
translating of official documents, news reports, classical works,
industry-specific texts as well as expressing creativity in
cross-cultural communication.
Organized by the China International Publishing Group and the
Translators Association of China, the forum has brought together
200 participants, including illustrious names from Chinese
ministries, national media and the Beijing Organizing Committee for
the 2008 Olympics as well as translators and researchers from every
continent.
The forum is part of a series of events leading up to the 18th
World Congress of the International Federation of Translators to
open on August 4, 2008 in Shanghai.
(China.org.cn, April 6, 2007)
