The domestic animated film Ne Zha 2 aims for greater success overseas, emphasizing the importance of high-quality translation and adaptation in capturing foreign audiences' curiosity about Chinese culture. Wang Guozhen, a retired translator and former deputy editor-in-chief of China Today, highlighted that effective translation is crucial for accurately conveying Chinese culture. He stated that the export of Chinese culture faces numerous challenges in translation. "Only by accurately translating Chinese culture into languages that foreigners can absorb can we truly achieve the goal of 'cultural export.'" He stressed that translation institutions must rigorously control quality and ensure that high-level translators are involved in the process.

Cultural Nuances in Translation

He, an academic specializing in audiovisual translation, noted that the success of the Ne Zha series presents challenges, particularly in evoking foreign audiences' interest in Chinese cultural roots. One notable translation debate involved the phrase "急急如律令 (Ji Ji Ru Lyu Ling)" which was rendered as "Be quick to obey my command" in the overseas version of Ne Zha 1.

This translation, however, failed to capture the authoritative and mystical essence of the original.

By way of comparison, she says that many of the spells in Harry Potter find their prototypes in Latin, and even some of the rather strange pronunciations are readily accepted by Chinese fans.

She also mentioned that the translation of names and terms in the films has seen success through various methods, including phonetic and semantic translation. For example, terms such as "Wind Fire Wheels" and "Fire-tipped Spear" effectively convey the weapons' destructive power. The translation of "渾天儀" as "armillary sphere" is also noteworthy, as it conveys both the scientific instrument and its cultural significance.

Collaborative Efforts

In a recent discussion, industry experts emphasized the importance of audiovisual translation in bringing Chinese cinema to global audiences. "audiovisual translation is a newly opened path for us, following the global recognition of Chinese films," one expert noted, expressing hope for more translation institutions and enthusiasts to delve deeper into this field, allowing outstanding Chinese films to resonate with foreign viewers.

Wang highlighted that Chinese cultural content can be broadly categorized into ancient and modern stories. He stressed the necessity for translators from the destination countries to review the material before it is released. "These gatekeepers must possess high language proficiency and a deep understanding of Chinese culture," he stated, advocating for a translation process that includes translation, revisions by foreign editors, and subsequent reviews.

Wang also underscored that quality translations require collaboration between Chinese and foreign professionals, especially given the unique expressions found in ancient Chinese culture. This calls for knowledgeable editors to ensure accurate adaptations.

Liu, a member of the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters, echoed these sentiments, stating that good translations are not mere transcriptions of the original text. Instead, they should reflect the linguistic and cultural nuances of both the original and target languages, requiring ongoing communication and collaboration with local translators to produce high-quality work.

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