On December 22nd, the Postgraduate Association of the College of Foreign Studies held the academic exchange activity entitled “Professor Translation Salon for Public Signs—sublime words with deep meaning”. The College’s party secretary, Professor HAN Jiqin, participated in the salon, together with the vice-dean, Professor WANG Yinquan, Vice-Dean and Associate Professor CAO Xinyu, Associate Professor WU Rui, teacher LU Dongli and college counselor Ms. XU Wen. All the postgraduate students in their first year, some of the postgraduate students in their second year, and some postgraduate students from other colleges also attended the salon.
“Ignorant and narrow-minded will it be if one studies totally on his/her own.” To arouse postgraduate students’ interests in translation of public signs, promote the exchange of research experience, and improve the ability of translating public signs, the Postgraduate Association of our college organized the academic exchange activity. In addition, this activity was supported by the department of postgraduate work of our university and leaders of our college. The activity was also based on the presentation of the National Language Committee 2015 academic project, “Foreign Service under External Communication Strategy and Nanjing International Language Environment Construction Research”, presided over by Professor WANG Yinquan.
The salon concentrated on “Translation of Public Signs”, discussed strategies, research methods and the development of public translation. The salon could be divided into two parts. Postgraduates presented their results of public signs translation research in the first part. Postgraduates of English translation CHEN Wen, GU Jianmei and CHEN Kongli, and the postgraduate of Japanese translation GE Rui respectively presented their research results, by combining theory with practice. They collected and analyzed “problem” public signs in public places in Nanjing, and proposed comprehensive solutions on mistranslation of the public signs problem.
During the second part of the salon, Professor WANG Yinquan, with experience from “National Standards of English Translation and Writing Specifications in the Public Service Field”, which was held by the Ministry of Education and the National Language Committee, introduced the source and development of our nation’s public signs translation. He pointed out the importance of the correct translation of public signs, and systematically introduced the national standards of public signs translation and public signs classification in different fields to teachers and students. In addition, he answered questions proposed by the postgraduates. Wang Yinquan also offered guidance on research methods of public signs translation, and he noted that it’s necessary to summarize and analyze public signs mistranslation. After that, by showing specific cases of public signs translation, he presented a deeper understanding of public signs mistranslation. The interaction between Professor WANG Yinquan and the students received a very positive response.
Subsequently, Associate Professor Wu Rui raised pointed questions, and put forward suggestions on research methods of public signs translation in three aspects of country, schools and individuals. Wu Rui also encouraged the students to participate in the research of public signs translation actively, and made valuable suggestions on how to organize a good academic salon. Teacher Lu Dongli mainly talked about the application of research results, and she noted that we should cultivate a sense of social service in the process of researching public signs translation, and apply research findings to solve practical problems, which received unanimous approval.
Finally, Associate Professor Cao Xinyu, made a conclusion on the salon. First, she highly appreciated the significance of this “Public Signs Translation Academic Salon”. Second, she noted that it was the first time that our college successfully organized an academic salon project which was set up by the Graduate School, and it was the first time that postgraduates of Japanese Translation and English Translation made academic exchanges simultaneously.
The salon's success greatly aroused graduate students’ enthusiasm in Public Signs Translation study, broadened the horizons of the students, and promoted the exchange between teachers and students, so that academic the atmosphere has become more intense. Therefore, we believe that under the leadership of our college, as well as the joint efforts of all graduate students, the results of the “Professor Translation Salon” will be even more fruitful!
