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[Bill II]

What can I expect when publishing in China?

I am preparing an essay for publication. I am at a university and have asked another staff member to do the translation.

The essay is on art (not politics) but several oblique political references are made: the critical bits are directed towards the West not China.

Since I cannot read Chinese I will be at the mercy of my translator.

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

[Shan-Shan]

For starters, expect your essay to be plagarized. I've seen scores of papers written by foreigners who have very strange sounding "Chinese" names. And to further the mystery, these Chinese names also correspond to my and other teachers' class rosters. How these students manage to write in English at a high academic level, yet not be able to explain in English what they've written in English is, well, amazing.

There is little academic honesty in China. I think your paper would be happier being published in Canda.

[Bill II]

thanks Shan-Shan

...should have made it clear that I am at a university in China (not Canada).

I am writing the piece here in China and have asked a Chinese teacher to translate.

My concern is not primarily with plagiarism, although that is a problem, but a problem everywhere, Canada too, rather I am concerned about trustworthiness, accuracy and censorship.

Again, I do not read Chinese so there is no way for me to check the translation re these concerns.

My enquire therefore is: What to expect?

A Question:
Is there something like a translation agency in China to which essays can be submit?

[Paul Barufaldi]

[Shan-Shan]

Isn't it obvious? Thier written English is higher than thier spoken -as much as 100x higher in many cases. And when an FT starts hitting them with all kinds of questions, they get nervous and can't respond properly, even forgetting the meanings of the words they used in their compositions. And of course, they can't do that kind of writing in class with you present; they can only do it at home where they can get in "the zone" and work at their own pace. That's when the real magic happens![/quote]


That is why the FT shouldn't "hit", or interrogate, students with all kinds of questions, but create a classroom atmosphere where students interact with each other, thus reducing stress levels and, hopefully, slowly opening the doors to greater fluency in communicative exchanges.

And the magic zone: most students, because of other assignments and a lack of imagination, tend to plagarize to save on time. And since everyone is already plagarizing, a student written paper will not compare as well to the plagarized texts in terms of grammar, vocabulary use and style (or so I've been told by dozens of students themselves whose teachers are aware of the acts of plagarism, but do nothing as it would create too much hassle).

This is a sorry state. One remedy, at least when English majors are having to write papers that include sources, would be for libraries to actually contain materials students could use for literary criticism. When assigned an essay that requires secondary sources, students are at a severe disadvantage. Plagarizing another's sources, and writing, is the easiest way out.

And I seriously disagree with the thought that students have a tainted "zone" when the teacher is present. By university, students would, hopefully, be comfortable enough to participate in writing workshops where texts could be composed in class at incremental stages, and feedback could be offered, both by teacher and groups of peers, in the same piecemeal fashion. It seems very defeatist to presume that the FT is only a fearful presence in the classroom, a detrimental force the students' development. If this is the case, get rid of the teacher!

[Roger]

What to expect - you didn't say what exactly you are expecting.

IT could be royalties for publishing it; I would say: possible but only if you bargain hard enough!

Why did you write this? Who is your audience? And is your colleague's English up to your translational needs? (NOt everyone is up to that!).

The essay you have submitted will be revuewed by the publisher for possible inclusion in one of their publications. You should actively seek out the publication you want to have print it.

Publishers have their internal censor.

[Paul Barufaldi]

Sorry, I should have put a sarcasm disclaimer on that last posting:)

I agree with most of what you said, particularly the plagiarism. It's endemic.

Regarding putting students on the spot, well, it's painful for sure, but if implemented properly with a bit of humor, it can actually help them break through that barrier. The open classroom environment thing, in my experience, really only works with more motivated students. Generally, I think a mixture of methods is best, open and closed (forced) discussions coupled with pair work and roleplays.