Eric's Beijing Diary

Went to Haidian Jiaotang this morning. One of the translators told me that there is an English language version of the hymnbook. I am definitely going to try to get my hands on a copy.

Meanwhile, I am slowly getting better at dealing with the translation. There are a couple of problems that must be overcome. In the first place, the translators are working backwards. What I mean by that, is that, if you are translating English for a Mandarin speaking audience, you will want to use a translator who understands English very well, but is a native speaker of the same language as his or her audience (i.e. Mandarin). By the same token, if you are translating Mandarin for an English speaking audience, you will want to use a translator who understands Mandarin well, but is a native speaker of English. But at Haidian Jiaotang, they are forced to work "against the tide" so to speak. They are using native speakers of Mandarin to translate for English speaking foreigners. This is very, very difficult.

Considering how unnatural it must be for them, I am impressed by how well they do. But there is one more issue. The translation at Haidian Jiaotang is simultaneous translation. In other words, the translator does not stand up in front and translate sentence by sentence, beside a speaker who is allowing time after every statement. The translators at Haidian Jiaotang are in a remote location listening to the service on a speaker or headphone, and then speaking the translation simultaneously into an FM transmitter that sends the signal to tiny FM receivers we are each handed as we walk in the door. This is, of course, very convenient for Pastor Wu, because he does not need to stop after every statement, so the service is not disrupted in any way. But it presents an enormous challenge for the translators, because they have to try to provide an adequate summary of what is being said, without any extra time allocated. These young people are not professional United Nations class translators. They are just students or professionals from the community who are volunteering their services. Once again, I am very, very impressed by how well they deal with the challenges presented them by this arrangement.

The trusting heart to Jesus clings,
Nor any ill forebodes,
But at the cross of Calv’ry, sings,
Praise God for lifted loads!

Singing I go along life’s road,
Praising the Lord, praising the Lord,
Singing I go along life’s road,
For Jesus has lifted my load.