Four translators share their experience in translating during the book launch. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A new translation series of international award-winning children's books was launched by Dogwood publishing under the New Oriental Education and Technology Group at the 37th Beijing Book Fair, which concluded on Saturday.
Liu Gejun, in charge of the children's book section of Dogwood, said at the launch ceremony that this series aims to break through the interference of fragmented information and cultivate children's long-term, stable, and focused reading habits.
These outstanding works are also set to broaden children's vision and provide inspiration amid growth challenges, she said.
During the dialogue session, four translators of this series shared their experience in translating children's books.
Liu Wenfei is the translator of a Russian book which portrays the simple yet happy life of a girl living in the extreme northern regions of Russia. While translating, he noted that children's literature should be concise yet maintain depth of thought.
"It is essential to present the real world in a way that children can comprehend," he said.
For example, the girl's fearless interaction with the wolf conveys a profound relationship between humans and nature. These intricate ecological and humanistic reflections must be accurately translated for young readers to appreciate diverse cultural wisdom on life, he said.
A new translation series of international award-winning children's books was launched by Dogwood publishing under the New Oriental Education and Technology Group at the 37th Beijing Book Fair. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Gu Mu, the translator of the German book Der Sommer der kleinen Manto (literally The Summer of Little Manto), said that when translating the book, she took her daughter as the first reader and gathered feedback. The most remarkable aspect of this book lies in its willingness to address serious topics, enabling children to confront life's difficulties and growth challenges, she said.
Kong Jie, the translator of the German book Anton Taucht Ab (literally Anton Dives Under), said that it is important to select words and avoid adult expressions to maintain the charm of children's reading in translation.
The book he translated focuses on children's psychology, resonating with children through the boy's fear, struggle, brave resistance against bullying, and subsequent psychological reconstruction.
Yang Zhe, translator of the Spanish work Cuando Las Panteras No Eran Negras (literally When the Panthers Were Not Black), reminisced about her initial encounter with the book. Despite being ill at the time, she was deeply captivated by the story. The book's deep themes and intricate animal descriptions led her to extensively research for the translation, refining the text with valuable reading feedback from Chinese language teachers in elementary and middle schools.
