Though extensively examined, research on Chinese cultural identity lacks systematic categorizatio... more Though extensively examined, research on Chinese cultural identity lacks systematic categorization, leading to uncertainties about evolving research priorities. This study addresses this gap by comprehensively analyzing Chinese Cultural Identity (CCI) development trends using the Web of Science database and CiteSpace, a scientific literature visualization and analysis tool in bibliometrics and scientometrics. This study examines Chinese cultural identity development from 2013 to 2022, encompassing research trends, global distribution of research institutions, and emergent hotspots. It uncovers a two-phase progression in Chinese cultural identity research: initial gradual exploration
The characterization through literary translation is crucial to the international dissemination a... more The characterization through literary translation is crucial to the international dissemination and reception of literary works. Nevertheless, the research on the translation of character depiction in Liaozhai Zhiyi greatly falls behind other translation themes of Liaozhai Zhiyi. This study is intended to explore the translation of culture-specific items (CSIs) in character depiction in Liaozhai Zhiyi from Chinese to English, within the framework of character"s three dimensions: physiological, sociological and psychological. This study reveals the shifts in the characterization by investigating translator"s strategies, and the significant integration of CSIs and character depiction. The findings demonstrates that the translator"s choice of strategies influences the rendering of character depiction. It is found that the character depiction in the original text of Liaozhai Zhiyi is more mysterious, whereas in the translated text, it seems to possess a stronger sense of intimacy. This study suggests that translators thoroughly consider the culture-specific elements in character depiction, and take into account the combination of multi-strategies. It is hoped that this study contributes to the research field of character depiction translation in Liaozhai Zhiyi, and sheds light on the translation of ancient Chinese classics.
Learner autonomy is paramount in 21st-century education, representing a crucial qualification for... more Learner autonomy is paramount in 21st-century education, representing a crucial qualification for lifelong learning. In the area of Chinese as a second/foreign language (CSL/CFL), it is also an important objective of curriculum instruction. However, there is a dearth of empirical research on learner autonomy in a wide range of cultural contexts and distinct domains of language use, especially in the context of CFL. This study aims to scrutinize the readiness for autonomy of CFL learners within the Malaysian settings. The research utilized a quantitative approach to analyze the data. A closed-ended questionnaire survey was conducted with 600 participants. Specifically, the data were synthesized through descriptive statistical analysis to concretely consider the respondents' readiness for learner autonomy in terms of perception of responsibility, assessment of ability, and engagement in the activities in Chinese learning. Findings indicated that Malaysian CFL learners demonstrated a medium readiness for autonomy in Chinese learning. While participants exhibit a relatively high perception of responsibility for autonomous learning, their ability to assess autonomy in decision-making within Chinese learning is somewhat unsatisfactory. Additionally, they express less enthusiasm about engaging in autonomous learning activities inside and outside the classroom. The current study illuminates theoretical and practical dimensions concerning the readiness for autonomy in Chinese learning among Malaysian CFL learners. Moreover, it is anticipated to offer implications for further studies on autonomy development among CFL learners in analogous contexts.
When translating poetry, the unique literary genre poses a significant challenge to the translato... more When translating poetry, the unique literary genre poses a significant challenge to the translator's ability. The work of translating English poems into Chinese has a history of 20 years in China. In this paper, the author collected and studied the strategies used in the translation of English poetry into Chinese from 2014 to 2024, focusing on solving the persistent confusion surrounding key terms such as "translation strategy", "translation method" and "translation technique". This study aims to clarify these structures and examine their practical significance in the context of real translation. In the decision-making process of translation strategy selection, translators need to balance cultural and aesthetic expectations with the practical application of these strategies. In this paper, a systematic literature review method is adopted as the methodology, and the results emphasize the importance of balancing domestication and foreignization strategies to ensure translation fidelity and emotional resonance. In addition, the study summarizes seven key research gaps, including the need for more empirical research to verify the effectiveness of these strategies in different contexts. This paper emphasizes the value of continuous academic discussion in improving translation practice, respecting both the original text and the nuances of regional languages, thereby contributing to a richer and more effective exchange of Chinese-English literature.
Classifiers are used for categorising nouns according to animacy, form, shape, and size. As one o... more Classifiers are used for categorising nouns according to animacy, form, shape, and size. As one of the Austronesian languages, Malay is said to have an extensive numeral classifier system. Past studies have classified these two classifiers as general classifiers; however, an extensive study comparing the use of these two classifiers have not been attempted. This study aims to highlight the similarities and differences by comparing the Chinese classifier "个 (gè)" and the Malay "buah" using evidence from reference classifier dictionaries of the two languages. The findings show that while some similarities exist and both classifiers can be used interchangeably with some nouns, these classifiers are unique and have distinctive semantic usage. Both 个 (gè) and buah are used for organisation, products of nature, buildings and places, and artifacts (things created by humans). However, only 个 (gè) can be used for organs or body parts, humans, fruits and food, time, directions, and thought and intellectual products. In contrast, only buah is used for transportation, accessories, home furniture and appliances, publications, musical instruments, and performances.
Kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk meninjau penguasaan makna, pembentukan dan penggunaan kata ... more Kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk meninjau penguasaan makna, pembentukan dan penggunaan kata adjektif bahasa Jepun dalam kalangan pelajar Cina di sebuah IPTA di Malaysia. Seramai 40 orang pelajar Cina yang mengikuti kursus kemahiran bahasa Jepun Tahap III dipilih sebagai responden kajian ini. Mereka merupakan pelajar Cina yang berlatar belakang bahasa Cina, iaitu berpendidikan di Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Cina apabila berada pada tahap sekolah rendah. Satu ujian yang terdiri daripada 30 soalan berbentuk objektif telah diberi kepada responden. Dalam ujian itu, terdapat 15 soalan yang pertama ditanya dalam tulisan gabungan Kanji (漢字) dengan Hiragana (ひらがな) manakala 15 soalan yang seterusnya ditanya dalam tulisan Hiragana (ひらがな) bahasa Jepun. Ini bertujuan untuk menguji penguasaan responden terhadap makna, pembentukan dan penggunaan kata adjektif bahasa Jepun dalam kedua-dua bentuk tulisan tersebut. Untuk tujuan tersebut, analisis Ujian T (Paired Sample T-Test) telah dijalankan. Setelah data kajian dianalisis dengan menggunakan Ujian T dalam program perisian SPSS, dapatan kajian telah menunjukkan tidak terdapatnya perbezaan yang signifikan antara menjawab soalan yang ditanya dalam kedua-dua bentuk tulisan tersebut dan responden adalah lemah dalam menjawab soalan-soalan ujian tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun, kelemahan responden dalam menjawab soalan dengan memilih makna, pembentukan dan penggunaan kata adjektif bahasa Jepun yang sesuai adalah berpunca daripada banyak faktor. Antara faktornya ialah responden keliru terhadap tulisan, sebutan dan makna kata adjektif kedua-dua bahasa. Responden juga kurang mahir dan keliru tentang peraturanperaturan pola pembentukan dan cara penggunaan kata adjektif bahasa Jepun. Di samping itu, responden juga dipengaruhi oleh pemindahan negatif (negative transference) semasa mempelajari leksis kata adjektif bahasa Jepun. Ini berlaku kerana terdapatnya sesetengah kata adjektif bahasa Jepun memiliki tulisan bahasa Cina yang sama tetapi berbeza dari segi sebutan, makna, dan juga pembentukan dan penggunaannya.
The translation of political discourse differs from the translation of texts in non-political con... more The translation of political discourse differs from the translation of texts in non-political contexts in which political discourse is highly profiled in terms of political sensitivity and policy orientation. It may potentially influence global peace and security. Understanding the features of translating China’s political discourse from Chinese to English is of great help to political translators and researchers in studying the problems and strategies of political translation for attaining the above expectation. It is expected to help the international community understand clearer and better the stance, response, and policies adopted by the government in national and international affairs. Therefore, the translation of China’s political discourse should deliver the intended information accurately and adequately the national characteristics of the source text and conduct flexible adjustments to conform to the language habits and ways of thinking of the target audience while mainlini...
We live in a technological and information age which is dominated by information management and d... more We live in a technological and information age which is dominated by information management and dissemination. …most of the world's knowledge is stored in print-either paper print or, increasingly, electronic print-and retrieved through reading. Reading provides us with access to information, and in today's world information is power. (Elizabeth J. Pretorius) THe iMpoRTanCe of Reading Comprehensive reading research has been conducted all over the world for many decades. Numerous books and articles have been published on many aspects of the study field 'reading' analysing the two main components of reading-decoding and comprehension. Decoding involves the oculomotor, perceptual and parsing aspects of reading activity whereby written symbols are translated into language. Comprehension refers to the overall understanding process whereby meaning is constructed within sentence units, between adjacent sentences, and across larger units of text contributing to the meaning of the text as a whole (Carpenter & Just, 1986). Further research was conducted on reading behaviour, attitude towards reading and language, reading reluctancy and reading skills of different peer and age-groups, historical, socio-political, socioeconomic , social psychological and cultural factors, correlations between reading and academic as well as professional success (Heath, 1983; Ninio, 1983; Chapter 7.indd 114
Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
Empirical studies and literature on Chinese language learning strategies (CLLS) in China and abro... more Empirical studies and literature on Chinese language learning strategies (CLLS) in China and abroad have outlined theoretical introductions and case descriptions for nearly a decade. Reportedly, studies on CLLS indicated the following characteristics: The study respondents were primarily international students in China gearing towards regionalisation, nationalisation, or localisation. Furthermore, the qualitative study method followed an empirical, comprehensive, and descriptive learning strategy, such as observations and interviews. However, although the factors influencing learning strategies were gradually becoming diversified, several study limitations were identified (uneven regional studies, insufficient research samples, single research methods, and lack of theoretical paradigms in training learning strategies). Hence, researchers needed to conduct in-depth studies and deeply perceive CLLS to promote Chinese learning and teaching.
The Belt and Road Initiative' (B&R) was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September and... more The Belt and Road Initiative' (B&R) was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September and October 2013 and is now actively supported and participated by more than 100 countries and international organizations. B&R has become a hot topic all over the world since its inception. However, the environmental issues arising from this Initiative should not be underestimated. The concept of 'A Community of Shared Future for Mankind' is being promoted under the context of globalization, and there has been a lot of coverage in the mainstream media from various countries on the topic of environmental cooperation along B&R. This study takes a sample of reports on the 'Belt and Road Environmental Cooperation' from July 2021 to August 2022 and uses Van Dijk's theory of news discourse analysis to analyze 20 articles in depth. This study attempts to explore the kind of thematic structure and lexical style that the mainstream newspapers from different countries use to report the environmental cooperation among the countries along B&R, also the implications of such a thematic structure and lexical style, and the characteristics of the discourse construction of mainstream newspapers in different countries. The research has found that B&R countries are used to holding a positive attitude to make a report and seek international cooperation. The headlines are mostly made up of nouns, and both direct and indirect quotations are used. Besides, to enhance the truth of the report, different number types are also involved; the theme structures are often made up of a two-level hierarchy.
Though extensively examined, research on Chinese cultural identity lacks systematic categorizatio... more Though extensively examined, research on Chinese cultural identity lacks systematic categorization, leading to uncertainties about evolving research priorities. This study addresses this gap by comprehensively analyzing Chinese Cultural Identity (CCI) development trends using the Web of Science database and CiteSpace, a scientific literature visualization and analysis tool in bibliometrics and scientometrics. This study examines Chinese cultural identity development from 2013 to 2022, encompassing research trends, global distribution of research institutions, and emergent hotspots. It uncovers a two-phase progression in Chinese cultural identity research: initial gradual exploration
The characterization through literary translation is crucial to the international dissemination a... more The characterization through literary translation is crucial to the international dissemination and reception of literary works. Nevertheless, the research on the translation of character depiction in Liaozhai Zhiyi greatly falls behind other translation themes of Liaozhai Zhiyi. This study is intended to explore the translation of culture-specific items (CSIs) in character depiction in Liaozhai Zhiyi from Chinese to English, within the framework of character"s three dimensions: physiological, sociological and psychological. This study reveals the shifts in the characterization by investigating translator"s strategies, and the significant integration of CSIs and character depiction. The findings demonstrates that the translator"s choice of strategies influences the rendering of character depiction. It is found that the character depiction in the original text of Liaozhai Zhiyi is more mysterious, whereas in the translated text, it seems to possess a stronger sense of intimacy. This study suggests that translators thoroughly consider the culture-specific elements in character depiction, and take into account the combination of multi-strategies. It is hoped that this study contributes to the research field of character depiction translation in Liaozhai Zhiyi, and sheds light on the translation of ancient Chinese classics.
Learner autonomy is paramount in 21st-century education, representing a crucial qualification for... more Learner autonomy is paramount in 21st-century education, representing a crucial qualification for lifelong learning. In the area of Chinese as a second/foreign language (CSL/CFL), it is also an important objective of curriculum instruction. However, there is a dearth of empirical research on learner autonomy in a wide range of cultural contexts and distinct domains of language use, especially in the context of CFL. This study aims to scrutinize the readiness for autonomy of CFL learners within the Malaysian settings. The research utilized a quantitative approach to analyze the data. A closed-ended questionnaire survey was conducted with 600 participants. Specifically, the data were synthesized through descriptive statistical analysis to concretely consider the respondents' readiness for learner autonomy in terms of perception of responsibility, assessment of ability, and engagement in the activities in Chinese learning. Findings indicated that Malaysian CFL learners demonstrated a medium readiness for autonomy in Chinese learning. While participants exhibit a relatively high perception of responsibility for autonomous learning, their ability to assess autonomy in decision-making within Chinese learning is somewhat unsatisfactory. Additionally, they express less enthusiasm about engaging in autonomous learning activities inside and outside the classroom. The current study illuminates theoretical and practical dimensions concerning the readiness for autonomy in Chinese learning among Malaysian CFL learners. Moreover, it is anticipated to offer implications for further studies on autonomy development among CFL learners in analogous contexts.
When translating poetry, the unique literary genre poses a significant challenge to the translato... more When translating poetry, the unique literary genre poses a significant challenge to the translator's ability. The work of translating English poems into Chinese has a history of 20 years in China. In this paper, the author collected and studied the strategies used in the translation of English poetry into Chinese from 2014 to 2024, focusing on solving the persistent confusion surrounding key terms such as "translation strategy", "translation method" and "translation technique". This study aims to clarify these structures and examine their practical significance in the context of real translation. In the decision-making process of translation strategy selection, translators need to balance cultural and aesthetic expectations with the practical application of these strategies. In this paper, a systematic literature review method is adopted as the methodology, and the results emphasize the importance of balancing domestication and foreignization strategies to ensure translation fidelity and emotional resonance. In addition, the study summarizes seven key research gaps, including the need for more empirical research to verify the effectiveness of these strategies in different contexts. This paper emphasizes the value of continuous academic discussion in improving translation practice, respecting both the original text and the nuances of regional languages, thereby contributing to a richer and more effective exchange of Chinese-English literature.
Classifiers are used for categorising nouns according to animacy, form, shape, and size. As one o... more Classifiers are used for categorising nouns according to animacy, form, shape, and size. As one of the Austronesian languages, Malay is said to have an extensive numeral classifier system. Past studies have classified these two classifiers as general classifiers; however, an extensive study comparing the use of these two classifiers have not been attempted. This study aims to highlight the similarities and differences by comparing the Chinese classifier "个 (gè)" and the Malay "buah" using evidence from reference classifier dictionaries of the two languages. The findings show that while some similarities exist and both classifiers can be used interchangeably with some nouns, these classifiers are unique and have distinctive semantic usage. Both 个 (gè) and buah are used for organisation, products of nature, buildings and places, and artifacts (things created by humans). However, only 个 (gè) can be used for organs or body parts, humans, fruits and food, time, directions, and thought and intellectual products. In contrast, only buah is used for transportation, accessories, home furniture and appliances, publications, musical instruments, and performances.
Kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk meninjau penguasaan makna, pembentukan dan penggunaan kata ... more Kajian ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk meninjau penguasaan makna, pembentukan dan penggunaan kata adjektif bahasa Jepun dalam kalangan pelajar Cina di sebuah IPTA di Malaysia. Seramai 40 orang pelajar Cina yang mengikuti kursus kemahiran bahasa Jepun Tahap III dipilih sebagai responden kajian ini. Mereka merupakan pelajar Cina yang berlatar belakang bahasa Cina, iaitu berpendidikan di Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Cina apabila berada pada tahap sekolah rendah. Satu ujian yang terdiri daripada 30 soalan berbentuk objektif telah diberi kepada responden. Dalam ujian itu, terdapat 15 soalan yang pertama ditanya dalam tulisan gabungan Kanji (漢字) dengan Hiragana (ひらがな) manakala 15 soalan yang seterusnya ditanya dalam tulisan Hiragana (ひらがな) bahasa Jepun. Ini bertujuan untuk menguji penguasaan responden terhadap makna, pembentukan dan penggunaan kata adjektif bahasa Jepun dalam kedua-dua bentuk tulisan tersebut. Untuk tujuan tersebut, analisis Ujian T (Paired Sample T-Test) telah dijalankan. Setelah data kajian dianalisis dengan menggunakan Ujian T dalam program perisian SPSS, dapatan kajian telah menunjukkan tidak terdapatnya perbezaan yang signifikan antara menjawab soalan yang ditanya dalam kedua-dua bentuk tulisan tersebut dan responden adalah lemah dalam menjawab soalan-soalan ujian tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun, kelemahan responden dalam menjawab soalan dengan memilih makna, pembentukan dan penggunaan kata adjektif bahasa Jepun yang sesuai adalah berpunca daripada banyak faktor. Antara faktornya ialah responden keliru terhadap tulisan, sebutan dan makna kata adjektif kedua-dua bahasa. Responden juga kurang mahir dan keliru tentang peraturanperaturan pola pembentukan dan cara penggunaan kata adjektif bahasa Jepun. Di samping itu, responden juga dipengaruhi oleh pemindahan negatif (negative transference) semasa mempelajari leksis kata adjektif bahasa Jepun. Ini berlaku kerana terdapatnya sesetengah kata adjektif bahasa Jepun memiliki tulisan bahasa Cina yang sama tetapi berbeza dari segi sebutan, makna, dan juga pembentukan dan penggunaannya.
The translation of political discourse differs from the translation of texts in non-political con... more The translation of political discourse differs from the translation of texts in non-political contexts in which political discourse is highly profiled in terms of political sensitivity and policy orientation. It may potentially influence global peace and security. Understanding the features of translating China’s political discourse from Chinese to English is of great help to political translators and researchers in studying the problems and strategies of political translation for attaining the above expectation. It is expected to help the international community understand clearer and better the stance, response, and policies adopted by the government in national and international affairs. Therefore, the translation of China’s political discourse should deliver the intended information accurately and adequately the national characteristics of the source text and conduct flexible adjustments to conform to the language habits and ways of thinking of the target audience while mainlini...
We live in a technological and information age which is dominated by information management and d... more We live in a technological and information age which is dominated by information management and dissemination. …most of the world's knowledge is stored in print-either paper print or, increasingly, electronic print-and retrieved through reading. Reading provides us with access to information, and in today's world information is power. (Elizabeth J. Pretorius) THe iMpoRTanCe of Reading Comprehensive reading research has been conducted all over the world for many decades. Numerous books and articles have been published on many aspects of the study field 'reading' analysing the two main components of reading-decoding and comprehension. Decoding involves the oculomotor, perceptual and parsing aspects of reading activity whereby written symbols are translated into language. Comprehension refers to the overall understanding process whereby meaning is constructed within sentence units, between adjacent sentences, and across larger units of text contributing to the meaning of the text as a whole (Carpenter & Just, 1986). Further research was conducted on reading behaviour, attitude towards reading and language, reading reluctancy and reading skills of different peer and age-groups, historical, socio-political, socioeconomic , social psychological and cultural factors, correlations between reading and academic as well as professional success (Heath, 1983; Ninio, 1983; Chapter 7.indd 114
Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
Empirical studies and literature on Chinese language learning strategies (CLLS) in China and abro... more Empirical studies and literature on Chinese language learning strategies (CLLS) in China and abroad have outlined theoretical introductions and case descriptions for nearly a decade. Reportedly, studies on CLLS indicated the following characteristics: The study respondents were primarily international students in China gearing towards regionalisation, nationalisation, or localisation. Furthermore, the qualitative study method followed an empirical, comprehensive, and descriptive learning strategy, such as observations and interviews. However, although the factors influencing learning strategies were gradually becoming diversified, several study limitations were identified (uneven regional studies, insufficient research samples, single research methods, and lack of theoretical paradigms in training learning strategies). Hence, researchers needed to conduct in-depth studies and deeply perceive CLLS to promote Chinese learning and teaching.
The Belt and Road Initiative' (B&R) was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September and... more The Belt and Road Initiative' (B&R) was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September and October 2013 and is now actively supported and participated by more than 100 countries and international organizations. B&R has become a hot topic all over the world since its inception. However, the environmental issues arising from this Initiative should not be underestimated. The concept of 'A Community of Shared Future for Mankind' is being promoted under the context of globalization, and there has been a lot of coverage in the mainstream media from various countries on the topic of environmental cooperation along B&R. This study takes a sample of reports on the 'Belt and Road Environmental Cooperation' from July 2021 to August 2022 and uses Van Dijk's theory of news discourse analysis to analyze 20 articles in depth. This study attempts to explore the kind of thematic structure and lexical style that the mainstream newspapers from different countries use to report the environmental cooperation among the countries along B&R, also the implications of such a thematic structure and lexical style, and the characteristics of the discourse construction of mainstream newspapers in different countries. The research has found that B&R countries are used to holding a positive attitude to make a report and seek international cooperation. The headlines are mostly made up of nouns, and both direct and indirect quotations are used. Besides, to enhance the truth of the report, different number types are also involved; the theme structures are often made up of a two-level hierarchy.
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