Journey to the West - An Audio Drama Series
Production Notes - Episode 2 | Translating Names/Implied Meanings/Numbers/Contradictions
Jan 19, 2023
Celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, the hosts dive into the intricacies of translating character names and their cultural significance. They share fascinating insights into the challenges of conveying meaning, especially with numerals like 108,000 Li. The discussion also touches on the theme of contradictions, exemplified by Wukong's interactions with his monkey children. It's an engaging exploration that highlights the depth and complexity of translating a beloved fantasy adventure.
17:10
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Quick takeaways
- Translating character names requires a nuanced understanding of cultural contexts and current representations to ensure clarity in storytelling.
- The interplay of literal and implied meanings in Chinese characters necessitates careful translation to capture the essence of the original text.
Deep dives
Translation of Names
Translating character names from the original novel poses several challenges, particularly due to the different cultural contexts. The approach taken starts with pronouncing Mandarin names and then using their translated names, as exemplified by the Jade Emperor, Yu Huang Da Di. For Sanskrit-derived names that exist within Indian Buddhist contexts, the Mandarin pronunciation is omitted, focusing instead on the English explanation. This method aims for consistency and clarity, especially when dealing with names fully integrated into Chinese mythology like Yan Wang and Puti, where the original origins are briefly acknowledged to emphasize their current representations.
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