Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Representing the Tibet Conflict in the Chinese Translation of Western News Reports

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Translation and the Intersection of Texts, Contexts and Politics

Abstract

This chapter examines how the major news actors involved in the Tibet conflict are represented in the journalistic reports of Western media and the Chinese translations of these reports in Reference News, a mouthpiece for the Chinese ruling party. Incorporating the responses from a questionnaire survey at the headquarters of this Chinese newspaper, the chapter investigates the institutional practices and the politics that the newspaper follows in translating Western news reports related to these conflicts in China. The chapter aims to find out how the representations in the original reports are reproduced or recontextualized in the target language for domestic readers and explores the factors operating in the cultural and ideological contexts responsible for shaping the translated news texts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    These remarks are attributed to PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

Bibliography

  • Baker, M. (2006). Translation and conflict: A narrative account. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, M. (2007). Reframing conflict in translation. Social Semiotics, 17(2), 151–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, M. (2010). Narratives of terrorism and security: ‘Accurate’ translations, suspicious frames. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 3(3), 347–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassnett, S. (Ed.) (2005). Global news translation [Special issue]. Language and Intercultural Communication, 5(2), 16–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielsa, E. (2005). Globalisation and translation: A theoretical approach. Language and Intercultural Communication, 5(2), 131–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bielsa, E. (2007). Translation in global news organizations. Target, 19(1), 135–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bielsa, E., & Bassnett, S. (2009). Translation in global news. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldas-Coulthard, C. R. (2003). Cross-cultural representation of ‘otherness’ in media discourse. in B. Weiss & R. Wodak (Eds.), Critical discourse analysis: Theory and interdisciplinarity (pp. 272–296). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, M. (2011). 2010 年西方媒体涉华报道特征分析 [Analyzing the features in China-related reports in Western media in 2010]. 新闻与写作 [News and writing], (02), 66–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillon, M. (2009). Contemporary China: An introduction. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumbaugh, K. (2009). Tibet: Problems, prospects, and U.S. policy. in R. V. Andrews (Ed.), Tibet: A simmering troublespot (pp. 1–25). New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairclough, N. (1989). Language and power. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairclough, N. (1995a). Media discourse. London: Edward Arnold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairclough, N. (1995b). Critical discourse analysis: The critical study of language. London: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, R. (1991). Language in the news: Discourse and ideology in the press. London & New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, R. (1996). On Critical Linguistics. in C. R. Caldas-Coulthard & M. Coulthard (Eds.), Texts and practices: Readings in critical discourse analysis (pp. 3–14). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrett, P., & Bell, A. (1998). Media and discourse: A critical overview. in A. Bell & P. Garrett (Eds.), Approaches to media discourse (pp. 1–20). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1974). Frame analysis: An essay on the organization of experience. Boston: Northeastern University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Q. (2007). An interdisciplinary analysis of the Chinese translation of English news. Beijing: China Social Sciences Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang, J. (2007). Recontextualization of news discourse: A case study of translation of news discourse on North Korea [Special issue]. The Translator, 13, 195–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X. (2005). 探析西方在涉华报道中表明立场倾向的技巧 [Exploring the skills Western journalists use to construct positioning in reports related to China]. Journal of University of International Relations, 4, 76–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linell, P. (1998). Approaching dialogue. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, K. (2010). 西方视角中的西藏形象与话语 [The images and discourses of Tibet constructed in the Western media]. China Tibetology, 1, 3–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munday, J. (2007a). Translation as intervention. London: Continuum & IATIS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munday, J. (2007b). Style and ideology in translation: Latin American writing in English. London & New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan, L. (2012). Mediating stance in news translation: A case study of sensitive discourse on China 2008 (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Macau, Macao, China.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan, L. (2014a). Mediation in news translation: A critical analytical framework. in D. Abend (Ed.), Media and translation: An interdisciplinary approach (pp. 246–265). London: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan, L. (2014b). Investigating institutional practice in news translation: An empirical study of a Chinese agency translating discourse on China. Perspectives: Studies in Translatology, 22(4), 547–565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan, L. (2015). Ideological positioning in news translation: A case study of evaluative resources in reports on China. Target, 27(2), 215–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sample 1 ST: The Washington Post (2008). Beijing’s Crackdown Gets Strong Domestic Support: Ethnic Pride Stoked by Government Propaganda. Mar 17. Accessed April 10, 2015. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/world/special/3/

  • Sample 1 TT: Reference News (2008). 中国人支持政府行动 [The Chinese people support the government’s action]. March 18, p. 14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sample 2 ST1: The Daily Telegraph (2008). Tibetans attacked Chinese, say Lhasa tourists. Mar 19. Accessed April 10, 2015. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1582120/Tibetans-attacked-Chinese-say-Lhasa-tourists.html

  • Sample 2 ST2: The Times (2008). Tourists speak of shock and fear at Tibet riots. March 19. Accessed April 10, 2015. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/asia/article2608428.ece

  • Sample 2 TT: Reference News (2008). 外国游客直击拉萨事件 [Foreign tourists witnessed Lhasa incident]. March 21, p. 14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schäffner, C. (2014). Unknown agents in translated political discourse. in E. Brems, R. Meylaerts, & L. Van Doorslaer (Eds.), The known unknowns of translation studies (pp. 131–153). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, P. (1993). Language, ideology and point of view. London & New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sparks, C. (2010). Coverage of China in the UK national press. Chinese Journal of Communication, 3(3), 347–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valdeón, R. A. (2008). Anomalous news translation: Selective appropriation of themes and texts in the internet. Babel, 54(4), 299–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, T. A. (1988). News as discourse. Oxon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, T. A. (1995). Opinions and ideologies in the press. in A. Bell & P. Garrett (Eds.), Approach to media discourse (pp. 21–63). Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Leeuwen, T. (1993). Genre and field in critical discourse analysis: A synopsis. Discourse and Society, 4(2), 192–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuorinen, E. (1995). News translation as gatekeeping. in M. Snell-Hornby, Z. Jettmarová, & K. Kaindl (Eds.), Translation as intercultural communication: Selected papers from the EST Congress Prague (pp. 161–171). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, D. M. (1950). The ‘gate keeper’: A case study in the selection of news. Journalism Quarterly, 27, 383–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Q., & Wang, M. (2008). 西方涉华报导的偏见及成因分析 [Analyzing the bias and its causes in western reports related to China]. Chinese Journalists,10, 82–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, N. (2011). Mirror country: A study of the national image elements in foreign media reports—case of New York Times and The Times’ report about the 2008 Olympic. China Media Report Overseas, 7(4), 38–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Q., & Shen, L. (2001). 《美国新闻与世界报道》2000 年涉华报道透视 [Examining Reports Related to China in U.S. News & World Report in 2000]. Journal of International Communication, 3, 18–24.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The study has been sponsored by Centre for Translation Studies of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translation Studies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), Guangzhou, China

    Li Pan

Authors
  1. Li Pan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li Pan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. English and Applied Linguistics, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA

    Mohammed Albakry

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Pan, L. (2017). Representing the Tibet Conflict in the Chinese Translation of Western News Reports. In: Albakry, M. (eds) Translation and the Intersection of Texts, Contexts and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53748-1_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53748-1_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-53747-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-53748-1

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation