AUSIT Chinese Language Division: Do Readers Understand Our Translations as Intended? Case studies from Song and Food Translation (Webinar)

Note: Language Division events are for AUSIT members only

Registrations close midnight, 11:59 pm, 16 September 2026

Presentation description
Translators produce their work with an imagined audience in mind, making decisions based on assumptions about what target readers know, expect and appreciate. However, actual readers are rarely involved in evaluating whether translated meanings are understood as intended.

Drawing on three empirical studies, this presentation examines the gap between translators’ assumptions and readers’ actual responses. The first part focuses on Classical Chinese translations of English pop songs. Evidence from public discussions and comments on a music-streaming platform shows that readers value the aesthetic qualities of Classical Chinese but disagree strongly about whether this style is appropriate for contemporary English songs. While some readers appreciate its poetic and emotional effects, others find it pretentious, difficult to understand or inconsistent with the meaning, mood and style of the original. The second part examines Australian English speakers’ understanding of Chinese food translation. It demonstrates how familiar-looking expressions, imprecise lexical choices and direct stylistic transfer may create unexpected cultural misconceptions.

The presentation concludes by considering how translators can balance reader expectations with professional standards. Rather than simply giving readers what they appear to want, translators need to consider comprehensibility, lexical precision, cultural meaning and communicative purpose when making translation decisions.

For any questions about this event, please contact the LD organiser, Wenyue Ouyang by email.

Our Presenter - Dr Jia Zhang

Jia Zhang is a project officer, sessional academic and research assistant at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) and also a NAATI certified translator (Chinese <-> English). He holds a PhD in translation studies from UNSW Sydney. He has over 18 years of professional experience and 12 years of teaching experience in Australia and China. Jia’s research interests include translation technology, translator training, and audiovisual translation.