Origin: Learning and Exploration

Professor Bai Ruiwen shared his experience in learning Chinese and studying contemporary Chinese literature and film during the interview. He started learning Chinese at Nanjing University at the age of 19, and through diligent practice of handwriting, communication with locals, and listening to popular music to learn traditional Chinese characters, he comprehensively improved his listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities. His earliest exposure to Chinese literary works was Lu Xun's works, and later he continued his studies in the United States, where he came into contact with more modern writers. Professor Bai Ruiwen holds multiple roles such as scholar, professor, and center director. He enjoys working in different fields and believes that it can bring different experiences and fun. He emphasized that studying China from multiple perspectives can provide a more comprehensive understanding of this complex and vast country, while also enriching his own life.

Translation Thoughts: Concepts, Principles, and Practices

Discussed the challenges of translating Chinese literature into foreign languages and the role of translators. During the interview, Professor Bai Ruiwen agreed with Western scholars' viewpoint that translation should be done from a foreign language to one's mother tongue, but also pointed out that Chinese translators with dual cultural backgrounds are capable of performing translation work from Chinese to foreign languages. He emphasized that the purpose of translation is to provide the target language readers with a similar feeling as the source language readers, although complete equivalence is difficult to achieve. Professor Bai Ruiwen believes that translation is not a theory driven process, but relies on a deep understanding and intuition of the source language. He mentioned that the influence of translation theory on his practice is limited, and he pays more attention to the actual reception of Chinese literature overseas. In translation practice, Professor Bai Ruiwen emphasizes that translators need to have sensitivity, balance faithful original text with adapting to the needs of target language readers. He shared his translation experience, including how to adjust translation strategies according to different texts and reader groups, as well as how to let go of personal style and truly convey the original author's voice in the translation process.

3 Cultural Context: Translation Strategies and Translation Ecology

Discussed the phenomenon of "Chinese culture going global" and emphasized the importance of translation and dissemination. The interview pointed out that China's translation education has made progress, but American universities do not attach enough importance to the subject of translation, and the proportion of translated literature in the American publishing industry is low. American publishing companies hold a negative attitude towards translated works, which affects the academic community's attention to translation research. Although UCLA recognizes the translation achievements of teachers, translation is not a popular profession.

4 Future prospects: Continuous exploration

Professor Bai Ruiwen's future research plan includes three levels: oral history, research monographs, and translation. He has cooperated with Xiuwei Publishing Company in Taiwan, China, China, to launch a series of cultural oral history. Two books have been published, and two new books are planned to be published this year. In terms of translation, he collaborated with science fiction writer Han Song to translate the trilogy "Hospital". The first part has been published, and the second and third parts are planned to be published by the end of this year and next year, respectively. In addition, Han Song's "Mars Shines on America" is also being translated. Professor Bai Ruiwen also completed a monograph on the cooperation between Hollywood and the Chinese film industry, titled 'Chinese Films with Hollywood Characteristics'. He emphasized that the core of Chinese literature's "going global" lies in text selection rather than translator identity, and the ideal promotion model should rely on being familiar with the "cultural bridge" between Chinese literature and overseas markets. He advocates the principle of equivalence and translator sensitivity, advocating for translators to integrate the context and style of the original author. Professor Bai places more emphasis on translation practice rather than theoretical construction, believing that excellent translation comes from experience and intuition. He pointed out the differences in publishing systems between China and the United States, revealing the marginal position of translated works in the United States, which has reference value for the improvement and implementation of China's cultural "going global" strategy. He suggested establishing a translation foundation with a professional evaluation system, strengthening the cultivation of "cultural bridge" talents, and respecting market rules to promote the internationalization of Chinese literature.