18 replies to this topic

[General_Zhaoyun]

CHF has many members who can read chinese sources and 'quote' or use them in history discussion. The use of chinese terms in history discussion in CHF is rather common. Although we have tried to make sure the transliteration (pinyin) and translation of chinese characters and terms are provided, some members did not provide any transliteration or translation, either b'cos they are lazy and for sake of convenience, they just straightaway quote the chinese characters, assuming that you can read chinese. This had caused some difficulty for those CHF members who are unable to read chinese to comprehend certain terms or text.

The staffs have tried to translate most texts and terms, but unfortunately, they are just too many for all to be covered. This is about chinese history and culture, and thus chinese terms and sources are unavoidable.

If you cannot read chinese, do you feel that you're somehow "left-out" or "marginalized" in CHF? Do you feel that "CHF seems to be left only for those who can read chinese"?

The staffs will try to help those who cannot read chinese, and prevent the impression that "CHF is only for those who can read chinese".

[urofpersia]

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe one of the policies of CHF is that with the exception of Chinese language specific areas, all posting must be done in English or provide a translation in English together with the original text.

Privately I have voiced this concern to another member before, it is one of those things which is difficult for me to judge as I can read the chinese sources (mostly) although not necessarily understand.

[caocao74]

As urofpersia has said everything outside of a specific section of the forum should be in English anyways. I do sometimes wish I could read more than a few characters in some links but generally it's not something that I worry too much about.

As an estimate, how much of the forum's posts of in Chinese?

[Centaur]

I noted that most of the time, there had been efforts to translate the Chinese into English. I appreciate the attempts, as some of the times, I found difficulty in comprehending everything written in Chinese.

There are times I wished I had spent more time working on my Chinese instead of ignoring it.

[snowybeagle]

I must apologise for not providing translations sometimes when I'm short of time, and forget to follow up.

[Liang Jieming]

nope.

[Publius]

No.

I know my weaknesses, accept that I can read very little Chinese, and am more grateful that CHF members translate many documents, articles, words, etc.. that I could otherwise not read ,instead of whining over the few that are not translated because I couldn't read them anyway.

If fact, having the translations is what originally drew me here (also the discussions). They offer something that I could not get anywhere else

[Kimchee]

No. Even though I can't read Chinese at all, save for a few characters that I can count on one hand. But, as said by others, moderators or the poster usually translates the information... and that is greatly appreciated.

Kimchee

[Thaibebop]

It only reminds me to practice more and sign for a class when I get back to school. If I don't understand something I ask and so far I always get an answer.

[kaiselin]

It doesn't bother me a bit. In fact, itjust makes me want to learn more.

[Master Ghost Valley]

[
THE QUESTION If you cannot read chinese, do you feel that you're somehow "left-out" or "marginalized" in CHF? Do you feel that "CHF seems to be left only for those who can read chinese.

My response is, no, not at all, I do not feel "left-out" or "marginalized". After all, this is the chinese history forum and non chinese readers should expect that occasionally something in the chinese language will appear. Frankly I rather enjoy it, sort of an occasional reminder of what forum we are in. Should some quote or text appear in chinese, and if some non chinese reader asks for a reader to translate, it is my experience from viewing the postings that there has been a deluge of translations.

[Rong Qin Wang]

Zunjing de General Zhaoyun,

Hmm, you have no idea how angry I get at myself every time I run into some interesting historical articles written in Chinese only. I can only imagine how much more knowledgeable I would be if I could read in Chinese. I believe being fluent in Chinese is extremely significant if you want to learn Chinese History in a much greater detail. Translations are no different than secondary sources. After glancing at all the wonderful Chinese articles, I get immensely depressed and feel very discouraged to continue learning regarding Chinese History due to my illiteracy!

Honestly, I think that sometimes even translations don’t help since the original contexts or meanings were somehow lost during the process. This makes it even more difficult for me to know Chinese History in depth!

[kaiselin]

Zunjing de General Zhaoyun,

Hmm, you have no idea how angry I get at myself every time I run into some interesting historical articles written in Chinese only. I can only imagine how much more knowledgeable I would be if I could read in Chinese. I believe being fluent in Chinese is extremely significant if you want to learn Chinese History in a much greater detail. Translations are no different than secondary sources. After glancing at all the wonderful Chinese articles, I get immensely depressed and feel very discouraged to continue learning regarding Chinese History due to my illiteracy!

Honestly, I think that sometimes even translations don’t help since the original contexts or meanings were somehow lost during the process. This makes it even more difficult for me to know Chinese History in depth!

I don't feel left out, I get angry at myself for my inability to read the Chinese. I enjoy seeing the original and the translation underneath. I compare the two and try to read and understand the sentence structure. I am always pleased if I can decipher the Chinese correctly.

I really appreciate the time everyone puts into typing out the translations, so that dummies like me can learn.

Thanks

Edited by kaiselin, 31 January 2007 - 11:34 PM.

[HappyHistorian]

No, not at all. Even if some members cannot read Chinese, generally CHF members will readily explain what the Chinese means.

[William O'Chee]

I find that where something is posted in Chinese on a general thread, the member is generally more than happy to translate it if I ask them. Moreover, many members are happy to translate texts without being requested to do so.