The difficulties of translating science and technology were aired at the Fifth Session of the Council Meeting of Translators' Association of China (TAC), which closed on Sunday.

"Translation is really difficult, especially when it comes to transforming scientific and technological messages from abroad into the mother tongue," said Qiu Juliang, executive deputy director of the Bureau of International Co-operation, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

"A professional translator should be a master of scientific knowledge himself," Qiu said, as their good work will help better exchanges and co-operation in the fields of science and technology.

Qiu took chemistry at Peking University for two years in the early 1980s, when he worked for the Division of Chemistry with CAS.

He said that in most cases, scientists and researchers did the translation themselves.

New information about scientific and technological progress is being renewed every minute and we need to keep up with the progress and introduce the new information to the Chinese public as soon as possible, Qiu said.

"Meanwhile we must tackle ongoing research and scientific problems waiting to be solved," Qiu said.

The Bureau of International Co-operation publishes both Chinese and English versions of journals about scientific achievements around the world and strategic thinking in China.

Their work provides information needed for top Chinese leaders when it comes to decision-making.

It also meets the needs of research institutes at home and abroad, and leads to further international exchanges and co-operation.

But they have yet to make their journals available to a larger group of domestic companies and factories, where technology is transformed into productivity.

Qiu said a lot of professional translators have lent their helping hands to the businesses, as their work is well sought after.

"For instance, more and more enterprises need to present patent applications in English. Here, a qualified translator must know clearly how to write such applications in a standard style," said Qiu.

"Professionals are not only able to express the originality of patented articles, but also to avoid leaking out the core technological details.

"Comprehensive studies of the patent they intend to present, together with higher language skills, are apparently essential for good translations," Qiu adds.

For a long time, senior translators have worked mainly in universities, institutions and big companies.

There is huge demand for specialized translators who can provide good services.

Statistics from the TAC available on www.translator.com.cn, claim there are nearly 3,000 translation companies registered in the Chinese mainland, with 400 in Beijing alone.

Qiu says China needs to standardize the market, as there have been complaints about bad services and bad translations.

The market, filled with a diverse range of translation companies, needs the order for a healthy competition.

The good news is that members at the council meeting of TAC agreed to add the guideline "participation in the management of the translation industry" into the constitution of TAC.

"It is never too late to learn, especially being a translator," Qiu said.

(China Daily November 12, 2004)