Speaker: ZHANG Meifang (PhD, Professor, University of Macau)

Abstract:

Translation Studies (TS) is an interdisciplinary subject that encompasses languages, linguistics, cultural studies, philosophy and other related theories. The functional approaches, i.e. the German functionalist approach and the discourse analysis approach informed by Systemic Functional Linguistics, have become popular among translation researchers in the past decade. This lecture will introduce the general theories of the functional approaches and the application of some of the theories in the study of English - Chinese translation. Most of the examples used in the lecture are realistic materials in use.  It is hoped that this seminar will invite discussion on functional approaches to translation and attract more interests to Translation Studies.

Speaker’s bio:

Zhang Meifang received her PhD degree in Translation Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University in 1999. She is currently professor and coordinator of the MA in Translation Studies in the English Department of the University of Macau (UM). She also supervises PhD students in Translation Studies within the PhD Programme in English Linguistics. Before she joined UM, she was Professor in English and Translation in the School of Foreign Languages of Sun Yat-sen University, where she also served as Head of the English Department. She is now Vice President of the Macau Federation of Translators and Interpreters, and council member as well as expert member of the Chinese Translators’ Association. Prof Zhang’s main research interests include: Functional Approaches to Translation Studies, Translation for the Media, Discourse Analysis, Text Typology and Translation Strategies, Contrastive Study of Chinese and English Languages and Cultures. She has published widely.

Her recent publications include: “Social Context and Translation of Public Notices” in Babel 2009/55(2); “Introducing a Chinese Perspective on Translation Shifts: A Comparative Study of Shift Models by Loh and Vinay & Darbelnet”, in The Translator, 2009/15(2); “Text Typology and Its Implications in Translation Studies”, in Chinese Translators Journal, 2009/5:53-60; “Reading different cultures through cultural translation”, in Babel 2012/58 (2)); and “Annotation and adaptation: a case study of a Chinese translation of Joyce’s Ulysses”, in Translation Quarterly 2012(64), and “Stance and Mediation in Transedited News Headlines as Paratexts”, in Perspectives: Studies in Translatology forth-coming).