Second Buddhist Interpretation Workshop: Conveying the Wisdom of Dharma

• 2024-05-21
• buddhist網站管理員

To cultivate Buddhist interpreters and promote international Dharma dissemination, from May 17 to 19, the Fo Guang Shan’s Institute of Humanistic Buddhism, the College of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University, and the Fo Guang University’s Center for Buddhist Studies jointly organized the "2024 Second Buddhist Interpretation Workshop" at the Yunshui Building of Fo Guang University. Thirty-two participants from the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Argentina, Hong Kong, and Taiwan gathered to learn Chinese-English interpretation techniques for Buddhism, dedicated to conveying the compassion and wisdom of Dharma through Buddhist interpretation.

Following the introductory interpretation course from the previous workshop, this workshop focused on interpretation techniques, strategies, and practical exercises, as participants already had experience in Chinese-English interpretation for Buddhism. Special instructors included Ms. Grace Huang, a specialist in Chinese-English conference interpretation and bilingual hosting and moderator of Grace Interpretation and International Communication, Dr. Yinyin Wu, an assistant professor in the M.A. Program of Translation at National Taiwan University, Venerable Miao Guang, Deputy Director of the Fo Guang Shan’s Institute of Humanistic Buddhism and personal interpreter for Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and Dr. Wei-yi Cheng, Head of the Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University. The instructors integrated their rich experiences into their teachings, offering in-depth, clear instruction and engaging in deep exchanges and feedback with the participants after practical exercises.

Ms Grace Huang and Venerable Miao Guang co-taught the interpretation technique "Paraphrasing," as a strategy for practical interpretation. Ms. Huang suggested that participants categorize and describe information during interpretation, translating technical terms or poetry in a more understandable way to achieve effective communication. Venerable Miao Guang proposed six strategies from the perspective of Buddhist interpretation: retaining original terms, describing and explaining, requesting confirmation temporarily, using general terms, preparing in advance, and adapting flexibly. References such as Selected Humanistic Buddhist Terms and 365 Days for Travelers were recommended for preparation.

Following this, Ms. Huang led courses on "Sight Translation Practice," "Shadowing and Divided Attention Practice," and "Practical Case Exercises," teaching participants interpretation techniques such as reasonable segmentation, part of speech transformation, addition and deletion, and breath control. She also introduced professional interpretation equipment and booth etiquette, arranging for participants to experience real-time Buddhist interpretation, simulating actual interpretation scenarios.

Dr. Yinyin Wu, an expert in Buddhist interpretation and associate professor in the M.A. Program of Translation at National Taiwan University, was invited to teach "Chinese to English Interpretation Strategies" and "Improving B Language Skills," sharing four key strategies for English translation: flexibility, segmenting processing, clarity, and conciseness. She led participants in practicing segmenting texts and reorganizing thoughts to complete interpretation tasks effectively. Venerable Miao Guang conducted a course on "Buddhist Translation Tools," sharing experiences on precise interpretations of Buddhist terms, providing vocabulary databases, translation tools, and practice methods, encouraging participants to develop language-switching habits for self-training and confidence building.

During the comprehensive seminar, participants from various professions, including interpreters, hosts, military personnel, students from the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation at National Taiwan Normal University, Fo Guang Shan Monastic College, and the Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University, eagerly sought advice from the instructors. They provided feedback that the comprehensive and rich courses of the Buddhist Interpretation Workshop were comparable to those of translation research institutes, highlighting the precious opportunity for systematic learning in Buddhist interpretation. It also reignited the passion and direction for interpreters assisting in Dharma dissemination, motivating them to enhance their interpretation skills. Venerable Miao Guang encouraged participants to shift from seeking perfection to striving for completeness in their Buddhist interpretation journey, contributing to purifying people's minds and world peace through their efforts.

At the graduation ceremony, the teaching team awarded the "Second Phase Buddhist Interpretation Training Certificate" to 31 participants who completed the 15-hour course. Future plans include preparing for the third Buddhist Interpretation Workshop, initiating intermediate courses leading to the establishment of a Buddhist Translation and Interpretation Association.