New Zealand in Translation: Presenting a Country’s Image in a Government Website
By Zhao Ning,
a lecturer of the English Department at Sanjiang University, China
daniel76543210 [at] yahoo . com . cn
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Abstract
In
this article, we examine how the image of New Zealand is
presented in the Chinese translation of a press release
titled "Film spotlight spawns hot Kiwi destinations," which
is available at the website of the New Zealand Embassy in
China. The differences between the original and the translation
reveal that the presentation of New Zealand's image is driven
by the purpose of promoting NZ as an exciting tourist attraction.
Such a presentation uses the resource of seemingly contradictory
aspects, and the translation recreates the original in an
advertising style by adding, expanding, intensifying and
reshaping the original to reinforce and magnify the original
effect.
Introduction
Translation not only involves the language
and text, but also the author and the reader in a broad
sociocultural discourse (Shi 2004). Translation has its
own specific ideological and poetic implications (Bassnett
& Lefevere 1990). The translated version embodies the
translator's perspective, as Gentzler (1993 in Hatim 2001:66)
asserts: translators "do not work in ideal and abstract
situations nor do they desire to be innocent, but have vested
literary and cultural interests of their own," and they
"manipulate the source text to inform, as well as to conform
to the existing cultural constraints." Culture is a set
of signifying practices of representations through which
cultural identities are constructed (Hall & Gay 1996).
Translation constructs identities in its discursive representation
(Bassnett & Lefevere 1998), as Hall & Gay (1996:
4) claim: cultural identities "are therefore constituted
within, not outside representation". We aim to investigate
how the image of New Zealand (NZ) is presented/manipulated
in the translated text of a government website and what
"cultural interests" and "cultural constraints" underlie
such presentation/manipulation. We will attempt to discuss
the reinvention and reshaping of the country's image in
the original and the translation. The website is of the
New Zealand Embassy in China (http://www.nzembassy.com/china),
which was created and is maintained by the New Zealand Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Trade. As a bilingual website, it
virtually has a translation for each section with different
functional contents. Because the source is government information,
the translation would be expected to be a faithful (i.e.
direct) translation, rather than a free one. As the Internet
mouthpiece of the NZ government, it is supposed to convey
the government's opinion on what kind of a nation NZ is.
At the same time, it is supposed to promote and market NZ
as an attractive tourist destination because one of the
embassy's important tasks is to handle tourist visa applications.
This is especially crucial, since tourism is one of the
pillar industries which generate considerable revenue for
NZ (Collier 2003). However, as a government, rather than
a commercial, website, it is expected to articulate the
message in a restrained manner, not in an excessively advertising
tone. We'll examine a press release titled "Film spotlight
spawns hot Kiwi destinations," which is in the section
of Tourism in NZ, under the heading of Lord of
the RingsNew Zealand Fast Facts and the subheading
of Hot kiwi destinations (please see the above-mentioned
website for both the original and the Chinese translation).
In this study, literal back-translation is provided by the
author to illustrate the differences between the original
and the translation.
Findings and Discussion
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The
translation re-presents the original to offer an embellished
advertising aspect by adding to, expanding, intensifying,
and reshaping the original.
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In the original, NZ's Mt Olympus is depicted
as "once-isolated," and the translation literally reads as
"once-totally-cut-off-from-the-world." The translation would
augment the tenor to construct a more untouched and natural
NZ. A sentence is deliberately added in the translation, which
reads: "The Paradise (woods in the film) off-screen
matches its reputation on-screen." The forest near Queenstown
is extolled in two words - "tranquil, breathtaking"
in the original, which are expanded into two statements in
the translation to make it more concrete and corporeal, which
literally reads: "Here the scenery is beautiful and
the ambience is serene." In the original, the horse-riding
is described as "visitors take a magical horse ride
through the sun-dappled beech forest," which is disassembled
into three sentences, slowing down and enumerating the experience.
Its translation literally reads: "Visitors can take a horse-ride
through the beech forest. The sunshine splashes on the body
of visitors through the leaves of the trees. It makes people
feel that they are in a magical paradise." The translations
of forest and horse-riding scenes render up-close narration
that magnifies and prolongs the sensual experience by the
use of several individual sentence segments. The original
claims that the approximately 150 shooting locations "exist
in pure form," which is translated by employing two phrases
to repeat and extend the "real" nature"exist tangibly"
and "authentic forms." Furthermore, a phrase is added in the
translation, which claims that such a world "attracts international
visitors." With these translation strategies, the myth of
New Zealand as both a dreamy and real fantasy is constructed
by juxtaposing the two spectacles of imaginary illusion on-screen
and tangible reality off-screen. The shooting-location of
the Oscar-winning film Whale Rider is described with
two words - "beautiful, unspoilt" in the original,
which are expanded into a sentence in the translation, which
literally reads: "This area is characterized by innocent
beauty and naturalness, without any tiny trace
of pollution." Both would construct a 100% pure NZ as
promoted by NZ Tourism Board (http://www.purenz.com).
There is no mention of local people's concern and worry for
the detrimental effects of tourism development, which would
spoil the beautiful nature.
In the original, the film's "impact on NZ" is portrayed
in one word"immense." But in the translation
a long sentence is added, which literally reads: "Favorable
comments, like turbulent sea-waves, have been generating
a positive impact on NZ, and such impact is becoming
increasingly significant in boosting the development
of tourism." Later another sentence is added in translation
again, which literally reads: "Flocks and flocks
of tourists not only want to appreciate varied and colourful
sceneries here, but experience outdoor activities
that integrate Mother Nature and human innovation."
Such additions aim not only to affirm NZ's value as a popular,
value-for-money tourist spot, but also introduce another
selling point besides naturally-evolved scenesexciting
outdoor pleasures. The additions identify and target the
consumers who wish to pay for a dynamic and active experience
in NZ, a very popular tourist destination. The source text
then uses film-stars' endorsements to suggest a more vibrant
NZ, which says: "While the majestic scenes from the three
movies speak volumes for the breathtaking beauty of New
Zealand, the spoken word of the stars is equally potent."
The translation literally reads: "The magnificent sceneries
from the movies already abundantly reveal the sexual
and attractive appearance of NZ (personifying NZ
as a woman). This is further complimented by the laudations
(refined term) of various film-stars in
unison (exaggeration), which naturally results
in a massive momentum." The translation personifies the
image of NZ as a beautiful woman and employs the refined
term "laudations" instead of the original ordinary reference
to "the spoken word," and exaggeration ("in unison") to
intensify and magnify the original promotional discourse.
With these strategies, this translation tends to create
an image of NZ as a woman, enhancing its appeal to Chinese
readers.
The image of a lively, energetic and classy NZ is embodied
in the endorsements of world-famous film-stars. In the original,
Orlando Bloom is said to be "taken by NZ's adventurous lifestyle."
The translation literally reads: he is "deeply obsessed
by the thrilling things in NZ." The translation would
be an overstatement and narrow the original's broad focus
of "adventurous lifestyle" to specific activities. Additions
are made in the translation of Orlando's remark on his skiing
and surfing to convey an advertising effect: "I always play
for more than I can enjoy...all the games imaginable can
be found here." Orlando's original remarks ends with "It's
amazingonly in NZ." The translation presents the meaning
of "amazing" twice, enriching it with adverbs to maximize
the attractiveness, which literally reads: "It is really
greatonly because it is in NZ that things become
so wonderful." The other image of NZ is embedded
in the acclaim of its "unique culture." In the original,
the fact that actress Liv Tyler purchased clothes from Kiwi
fashion designers is used to prove the stylishness of NZit
is "reinforcing NZ's growing reputation as
a top player in the world fashion scene." The translation
literally reads: "This further affirms the fact that
NZ is already enjoying illustrious standing
in the international fashion arena." In comparison, the
original is written in a modest tone, whereas the translation
assumes an assertive stance. Similarly, in the original
"NZ wines are regarded amongst the best in the world"
is translated as "NZ wines are solidly reputed as
the highest-ranked internationally." The original
claims that film stars "became big fans of the laid-back,
but stylish NZ culture." The translation upgrades
"fans" into "advocates," and interprets relaxation ("laid-back")
as the "charm of the nature," and fashionable elegance ("stylish")
as "the culture of unique taste." "They [the film stars]
have even become the advocates of NZthey love
both the charm of the nature and the culture of
unique taste here." The upgrading would convey a more
positive and forceful stance, and the interpretation would
target the specific demands of urban middle-class Chinese
travelers, who have only sporadic access to nature and are
overwhelmed by the trendy Americanized culture. NZ's national
as both natural and creative would also be manifested in
the local cuisine. The source text praises the "chefs who
are being lauded for their innovative and natural
approach to food." The translation embellishes such commendation
by saying: "By making boundless creations and following
the orientation of cherishing what is natural, the
chefs create exceedingly palatable delicious cuisine."
There is no mention on the unhealthy aspect of the cuisine
that could cause obesity. Instead, it is intended to encourage
spending by Chinese travelers, who treat eating as vital
in their culture. The original word, "warmth," which is
emphasized as the distinguishing feature of NZ, is stretched
into a sentence: "New Zealanders will treat you in a warm
and hospitable way, making you feel at home." In the translation,
"warmth" is endorsed by actor Dominic Monaghan, "[NZ] is
so very welcoming ... it just embraces people."
The translation literally reads, "She /NZ is so welcoming
that people will love her very much and bump into
her bosom." The original tends to personify NZ, but
doesn't offer explicit gender reference ("it"). However,
the translation constructs a metaphor of NZ as an attractive
woman. Furthermore, avoiding the inanimate pronoun "it"
of the original, the translation converts the meaning of
"it (NZ) just embraces people" into "people will embrace
her (NZ)," and people "bump into her bosom" because of love.
In this way, NZ is symbolized as femininely beautiful, with
a mildly erotic connotation.
Conclusion
It is argued that (a) the presentation is driven by the
purpose of promoting NZ as an exciting tourist attraction;
(b) the presentation plays with seemingly contradictory
aspects of the national image, by presenting NZ as a nation
that is both pure and sophisticated, both untouched and
civilized, both natural and innovative, both laid-back and
modern, a nation for both peaceful relaxation and dynamic
adventure; (c) such presentation aims to lure as many tourists
as possible who would favor either aspect or both; (d) the
ad is presented at two parallel levels: of a press release
and a promotion brochure; the translation re-presents the
original to offer an embellished advertising aspect by adding
to, expanding, intensifying, and reshaping the original,
reinforcing and magnifying the original effect.
References:
Bassnett, S. & A. Lefevere. (1990). Introduction. In
Bassnett, S. & A. Lefevere (eds). (1990) Translation,
History and Culture. London: Pinter Publishers, pp.1-13
Collier, A. (2003) (6th ed). Principles of tourism :
a New Zealand perspective. Auckland: Hospitality Press,
2003.
Shi, A. (2004). Hermeneutics and Translation Theory.
[Online]. Available:
http://www.appliedlanguage.com/
[2007, 2 September]
Hall, S. & P. Gay (eds.).(1996). Questions of Cultural
Identity. London: Sage.
Hatim, B. (2001). Teaching and researching translation.
New York : Longman
Lefevere, A. (1992). Translating Literature: Practice
and Theory in a Comparative Literature Context. New
York: Modern Language Association of America.
Gentzler, E. C. (1993): Contemporary Translation Theories,
London: Routledge.
McClintock, A. (1997). "No Longer in a Future Heaven."
In McClintock. A. et al (1997). Dangerous Liaisons: Gender,
Nation, and Postcolonial Perspectives. Minneapolis:
University of Minnesota Press. pp. 352-96.
New Zealand Embassy in China: http://www.nzembassy.com/china
Film spotlight spawns hot Kiwi destinations. [Online].
Available:
http://www.nzembassy.com/
[2007, 10 April]
The Chinese Translation of Film spotlight spawns hot
Kiwi destinations. [Online]. Available:
http://www.nzembassy.com/info.cfm
[2007, 10 April]
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