question about chinese translation.

[ceekayx]

Hey guys,
I was wondering how does the translation part get corrected .. ?
it's a little confusing, because the way the word order for Chinese is different to English.
Say like this sentence...
小明家打算今天中午出去吃饭，
how would you translate it .. ?


thanks ~

[vea]

Xiao Ming's family is planning to go out for lunch.

[gossamer]

Xiao Ming's family is planning to go out for lunch today.

[vea]

^ That's better.

[springonion]

yea the chinese order is different
heres a tip
make sure u read the whole sentence before translating, dont translate word by word coz sometimes english start from translating behind

[gossamer]

What about: Xiao Ming's family is planning to go out for lunch this afternoon?

I thought about that one, but lunch implies afternoon, so I went with today instead. Either is good I think.

Since we have a topic, and I have a whole booklet of translations I haven't gone through, does anyone want me to post some sentences for them to practice on?

[TrueTears]

The more information you put in your translation (provided it doesn't clog up your sentence structure), the more likely you will receive full marks, trust me!

I would do it like this, be pedantic cause you don't know where they could take marks off.

"Today, Xiao Ming's family is planning to go out for lunch in the afternoon"

[Andiio]

When do you know when you're supposed to translate using pinyin (专用名词）or when you're supposed to translate normally?

For example, 珠江 = The Pearl River/Zhujiang River?

[gossamer]

When do you know when you're supposed to translate using pinyin (专用名词）or when you're supposed to translate normally?

For example, 珠江 = The Pearl River/Zhujiang River?

I think both are acceptable actually, but not too sure on that one.

[TrueTears]

When do you know when you're supposed to translate using pinyin (专用名词）or when you're supposed to translate normally?

For example, 珠江 = The Pearl River/Zhujiang River?

What you should do in the exam is to actually put what you wrote "The Pearl River/Zhujiang River", yes with the slash, if one of them is not correct, you still have another one which could be correct Don't overdo it with the slashes but definitely put alot if you are unsure about the correct translation

[gossamer]

When do you know when you're supposed to translate using pinyin (专用名词）or when you're supposed to translate normally?

For example, 珠江 = The Pearl River/Zhujiang River?

What you should do in the exam is to actually put what you wrote "The Pearl River/Zhujiang River", yes with the slash, if one of them is not correct, you still have another one which could be correct Don't overdo it with the slashes but definitely put alot if you are unsure about the correct translation

Good idea

What about: Xiao Ming's family is planning to go out for lunch this afternoon?

I thought about that one, but lunch implies afternoon, so I went with today instead. Either is good I think.

Since we have a topic, and I have a whole booklet of translations I haven't gone through, does anyone want me to post some sentences for them to practice on?

yes please

Okay
This one's a passage from Ruilan Yuan's 2010 Practice Written Exam
中国的杂技是深受广大群从热爱的一种艺术，有着很久的历史传统，并具有独特的名族风格。他被认为直接来自于广大人民的劳动与生活，因为杂技里的很多节目都和日常劳动技术有关。据说早在2500多年前的春秋时代，中国就出现了早期状态的杂技。中国杂技在对外文化交流中一直起着重要的作用。

Also, to the OP, the translation should be grammatically correct.
I've also attached a sheet from a booklet I got at school...
(at least I will once I can get my scanner to work.. >.<)

[Andiio]

When do you know when you're supposed to translate using pinyin (专用名词）or when you're supposed to translate normally?

For example, 珠江 = The Pearl River/Zhujiang River?

What you should do in the exam is to actually put what you wrote "The Pearl River/Zhujiang River", yes with the slash, if one of them is not correct, you still have another one which could be correct Don't overdo it with the slashes but definitely put alot if you are unsure about the correct translation

Haha sweet thanks TT! My teacher told us that but it seemed a bit iffy at first xD

Also, for translation like the Zhujiang River, would it actually be the Zhu River or the Zhujiang LOLL cos it seems weird D:

[TrueTears]

Great work smileygirl, do you think you could post some exercises for translation in a separate thread? I'll gladly sticky it, translation practise material is quite hard to come by!

[gossamer]

Great work smileygirl, do you think you could post some exercises for translation in a separate thread? I'll gladly sticky it, translation practise material is quite hard to come by!

Sure thing

[TrueTears]

When do you know when you're supposed to translate using pinyin (专用名词）or when you're supposed to translate normally?

For example, 珠江 = The Pearl River/Zhujiang River?

What you should do in the exam is to actually put what you wrote "The Pearl River/Zhujiang River", yes with the slash, if one of them is not correct, you still have another one which could be correct Don't overdo it with the slashes but definitely put alot if you are unsure about the correct translation

Haha sweet thanks TT! My teacher told us that but it seemed a bit iffy at first xD

Also, for translation like the Zhujiang River, would it actually be the Zhu River or the Zhujiang LOLL cos it seems weird D:

Yup I can confirm it, you won't be penalised as the chief examiner last year (he was a teacher at Scotch but not allowed to teach for obvious reasons), says we are allowed to put slashes.

Also if you are putting pin yin translation put the whole thing, so Zhu Jiang.