I also plan to write a review myself, and I can tell you beforehand that I honestly enjoyed reading most of the book. But since translation issues will be beyond the scope of my review, here I'd like to briefly discuss the translation of two Chinese phrases, which I happened to encounter in two of my favorite stories in the book.
"思想汇报" -- in the book it's translated as "thinking reports," but "thought reports" might be more accurate, and read better.
"哪里哪里" -- as a modest response to praises, this is humorously translated as "Where? where?" in the book. If you have read my posts on translation before, you would know I'm often in favor of literal translation, but here I agree with one of the book reviewers below that "Nah, nah" would be a better rendition. Note also that the question marks don't exist in the original Chinese phrase. As a bilingual reader I enjoyed and appreciate the writer's humor, but for English readers who don't know Chinese the confusion caused by "Where? where?" might trump the humorous effect.
Now, here is my compilation of reviews as well as interviews with Tom Carter the editor, in reverse chronological order of their publication dates --
(Updated 11/5)
TheAtlantic.com, Nov. 5, 2013
http://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/11/unsavory-elements-on-foreign-lives-in-contemporary-china/281144/
LA Review of Books, Sept. 25, 2013
http://tumblr.lareviewofbooks.org/post/62262869667/foreign-elements-a-q-a-with-photographer
The Peking Duck, Sept. 13, 2013
http://www.pekingduck.org/2013/09/unsavory-elements-edited-by-tom-carter-2/
Caixin Online, Aug. 24, 2013
http://english.caixin.com/2013-08-24/100573568.html
Asian Review of Books, Aug. 17, 2013
http://www.asianreviewofbooks.com/new/?ID=1545
Business Insider, Aug. 2, 2013
http://www.businessinsider.com/unsavory-elements-by-tom-carter-2013-8
TheNanfang.com, July 22, 2013
http://www.thenanfang.com/blog/unsavory-elements-and-the-changing-nature-of-being-an-expat-in-china/
That's, June 17, 2013
http://www.thatsmags.com/beijing/articles/15499
Chengdu Living, June 1, 2013
http://www.chengduliving.com/unsavory-elements-in-chengdu/
The Beijing Cream, May 21, 2013
http://beijingcream.com/2013/05/unsavory-elements-the-good-the-bad-and-the-boring-foreigners-of-china/
Beijing Bookworm: "A Q&A with Tom Carter," May 21, 2013
http://beijingbookworm.com/between-the-stacks/unsavory-elements-a-qa-with-tom-carter/
Time Out Shanghai, May 10, 2013
http://www.timeoutshanghai.com/features/Books__Film-Book_reviews/11883/Unsavory-Elements.html
The Beijinger, May 9, 2013
http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2013/05/09/book-review-unsavory-elements-stories-foreigners-loose-china
Shanghaiist, May 8, 2013
http://shanghaiist.com/2013/05/08/review_unsavory_elements_earnshaw_books_tom_carter.php
1 comment:
The translation "thought reports" for "思想汇报" is definitely better than "thinking reports". But a translator's note is warranted, unless the context is sufficiently clear. "哪里哪里" should never be "Where? where?". I have no doubt that the translator knows what it means and intentionally renders it "Where? where?", "humorously" as you said. But this humor distorts the meaning so much that it's no longer correct. Was he comparing himself with Pearl Buck in choosing the pun "pass your wind" in translating the Chinese "fang4pi4"? (In spite of widespread critique, Pearl Buch's choice has its merit.)
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