Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T15:23:21.340Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Troublesome English translations of Taiwanese dishes

How to help students become analytical translators of local cuisine?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2016

Barry Lee Reynolds
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Almost every Taiwanese university has some form of an English Department, some with straightforward names (e.g., Department of English) and some with ambiguous names (e.g., Department of Applied Languages). The so-called ‘Applied Courses’ are in fact English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses covering a range of Business and Tourism topics. While pursuing my doctorate I taught these courses as an adjunct lecturer in several universities. This experience continuously reaffirmed suspicions that one particular aspect of English language education was being neglected in Taiwanese secondary and tertiary education, that is, how to translate the names of the foods and dishes that make up the culturally laden Taiwanese cuisine.

Type
Research Article
Information
English Today , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , June 2016 , pp. 15 - 23
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

CNN. 2011. ‘iReport: The most ‘revolting’ food I've had is…’ Online at <http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/ireport-most-disgusting-foods-world-053021> (Accessed March 28, 2015). (Accessed March 28, 2015).' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=CNN.+2011.+‘iReport:+The+most+‘revolting’+food+I've+had+is…’+Online+at++(Accessed+March+28,+2015).>Google Scholar
CNNGo. 2011. ‘Asia's most sinful cities.’ CNN International, 20 April. Online at <http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/asias-most-sinful-cities-174006> (Accessed March 26, 2015). (Accessed March 26, 2015).' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=CNNGo.+2011.+‘Asia's+most+sinful+cities.’+CNN+International,+20+April.+Online+at++(Accessed+March+26,+2015).>Google Scholar
Cook, G. 2010. Translation in Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Dong, N. 2005. ‘Failures of intercultural communication caused by translating from Chinese into English.’ English Today, 21(1), 11–16.Google Scholar
Dörnyei, Z. 2003. Questionnaires in Second Language Research. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
High School English Reference Glossary. 2015. College Entrance Examination Center. Online at <http://www.ceec.edu.tw/Research/paper_doc/ce37/4.pdf> (Accessed March 28, 2015).+(Accessed+March+28,+2015).>Google Scholar
House, J. 2009. Translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Hu, B. & Liang, W. 2008. ‘Overseas-oriented communication skills of Chinese food culture from the perspective translation of skills of Chinese cuisine name.’ Journal Of Wuhan Polytechnic University, 27(1), 98–100.Google Scholar
Huang, Q. & Wang, W.-P. 2006. ‘A discussion on the translation of Chinese dishes and the Chinese culture of food and drink.’ Journal of Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University, 2, 111–14.Google Scholar
Li, J.-Y. 2011. ‘Study on the translation of some Chinese local dish names.’ Journal of Hubei Polytechnic University, 11(3), 173–82.Google Scholar
LTTC. 2014. 2014 GEPT Information Brochure. Taipei, Taiwan: The Language Training & Testing Center.Google Scholar
Lu, Y.-F. 2008. ‘Characteristics of Chinese dish names and their corresponding methods in English translation.’ Journal of Hubei University of Education, 25(1), 133–4.Google Scholar
Qiu, Y.-Q. 2009. ‘English translation of Chinese dishes under different Chinese and western diet cultures.’ Journal of Minxi Vocational and Technical College, 11(4), 100–5.Google Scholar
Shih, H.-c. 2011. ‘CNN report about ‘gluttonous’ Taipei raises some hackles.’ The Taipei Times, May 6, 1. Online at <http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/05/06/2003502534> (Accessed March 26, 2015).+(Accessed+March+26,+2015).>Google Scholar
Taipei Times. 2011. ‘Netizens slam CNN's food list.’ The Taipei Times, 24 July, 2. Online at <http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/07/24/2003509015> (Accessed March 26, 2015). (Accessed March 26, 2015).' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Taipei+Times.+2011.+‘Netizens+slam+CNN's+food+list.’+The+Taipei+Times,+24+July,+2.+Online+at++(Accessed+March+26,+2015).>Google Scholar
Wang, H. 2008. ‘Discussing the methods for translating Chinese dishes into English.’ Journal of Zhengzhou Railway Vocational & Technical College, 20(2), 72–4.Google Scholar
Wen, S.-s., Wu, Y.-l., Yi, P.-m., Huang, J.-y., Shan, C.-y. & Huang, X.-y. 2010. English for Tourism: Tourist Attractions in Taiwan. Taipei, Taiwan: Tunghua Bookstore.Google Scholar
Wong, M. H. 2014. ‘45 Taiwanese foods we can't live without.’ CNN Travel, January 28. Online at <http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/40-taiwanese-food-296093> (Accessed March 26, 2015). (Accessed March 26, 2015).' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Wong,+M.+H.2014.+‘45+Taiwanese+foods+we+can't+live+without.’+CNN+Travel,+January+28.+Online+at++(Accessed+March+26,+2015).>Google Scholar
Yabukoshi, T. & Takeuchi, O. 2006. ‘Exploring language learning strategies used by Japanese junior high school students of EFL: A qualitative approach.’ Language Education & Technology, 43, 39–56.Google Scholar