Lost in Translation

A report by the Translators Association of China (TAC), the only national association in the field of translation in China, shows that there are 60,000 registered professional translators employed in China, but they have to deal with over 30,000 foreign books introduced every year, not to mention those in the public domain. Despite their genuine efforts, they still lag behind the growing market demands.

With the arrival of the Information Age, ardent devotees of translation are allowed to break new ground in the computer-based virtual world. Their ability and speed never cease to surprise the world’s readers. On July 21, 2007, Harry Potter 7 was officially released in Britain. Two days later, the Chinese version of this bestseller appeared on the Internet, thanks to the joint efforts of 60 enthusiasts.

The vast Chinese market still beckons.

Will this little gadget help us out?

For many young Chinese people, popular foreign magazines and books are among their favorite things to read. The Economist, a renowned economic magazine, is now translated by a team of freelance translators. They publish the Chinese version of the contents every two weeks on the Internet, just for free reading.

As they often have to race against time，many mistakes emerge in their hurried job. But these people present a rising force that may form the backbone of Chinese translators in the years to come.