Translation centre to promote nation’s literature (Vietnam)

Source: Vietnam Net

The Viet Nam Writers’ Association will launch a translation centre next month to help promote Vietnamese literature abroad, according to the association’s chairman Huu Thinh.

The centre will gather English, French, Chinese, Russian, German, Japanese and Korean translators to introduce Vietnamese literature to the world.

“Despite much investment by the State in the development of literature and arts, these funds have mainly focused on new works, children’s literature and literary criticism,” said Thinh. “We don’t have financial sources for translating literature.”

Speaking at a seminar held last Friday in Ha Noi, the chairman also stressed that Vietnamese culture would be isolated if not enough attention is paid to translating literary works.

According to a book entitled Vietnamese Literature Translators published in 2002 by the association’s Translation Council in co-operation with the East-West Culture Centre, Viet Nam has about 300 prominent translators who took part in translations from the 14th century until the late 20th century.

During the past years, translated literature, including foreign literature translated into Vietnamese, has made a contribution to culture exchange and international integration.

The best translated works have been recognised by awards from the association, with winners including Goethe’s Faust by translator Quang Chien (2002); Canadian Yann Martel’s The Life of Pi by Trinh Lu (2005); American Mattie Stepanek’s Heartsong by Huu Viet (2007); Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk’s My Name is Red by Pham Viem Phuong and Huynh Kim Anh (2008) and South Korean Ko Un’s Tomorrow Song by Le Dang Hoan (2011). More.

See: Vietnam Net