The Peony Pavilion

The National Ballet of China completed a short season at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London on Saturday. I attended the mesmerising final matinée. Although previously unknown to me, the ballet is a shortened version of a famous story in Chinese literature. An epic Chinese opera has been transformed into a two-act ballet blending Western and Chinese influences.

Chinese literature is not well-known in the West. The programme's synopsis was greatly appreciated by the audience. It helped us to understand that the three principal characters on stage conveyed different aspects of Du Liniang. The dancing, choreography and intense colours of the production were mesmerising. The stage bore minimal yet striking scenery. The colour palette was equally minimalist: white, red, an intense blue and black. The costumes were both sumptuous and graceful by contrast.

Audience emerging from Sadler's Wells after the performance

The Kunqu opera singer was intriguing. Chinese opera has a very distinct sound. The beautiful Chinese singing was regrettably just a stream of sound to the largely Western audience. Jia Pengfei still succeeded in conveying a wide range of emotions in the story. Her performance was excellent. It was like being offered the best of an unfamiliar cuisine for the first time. It offered a great foretaste that left you wanting to understand, experience and appreciate more fully in future.

Act II Scene 2 is particularly striking after the dreamy sequences of the first Act. The stage is black to denote the Underworld. The dancers are largely dressed in black. The only relief is the intense red of the Infernal Judge’s long beard. Here punishment fits the crime. An arrogant man sits on the judge’s chair, but leaves the stage humbled on all fours as a dog.

Our heroine returns to the world above. The stage and its costumed dancers are a vivid peony-red. The wedding procession is accompanied by triumphal music. Peony petals fall from above onto the stage. They form a spectacular feast for the eyes at the finale. 

The audience’s ovation continued for a long while – especially in appreciation of the main performers.

A few red peony petals remained in front of the curtains on stage at the end - lingering reminders of a memorable performance and spectacle.

Karen Andrews is a freelance French to English translator, transcreator, content writer and editor. She has a strong background in marketing and project management.

Email Karen for further information via karenanglicityen@gmail.com in French, German or English.

Chinese Lantern Festival

The Magical Lantern Festival at Chiswick House in West London exceeded all our expectations. The colourful lanterns were fabulous lit up against the dark winter night sky. I could easily fill this blog with around 20 photos and still feel that I am leaving some of the best scenes out. I can only give you a taster of the event here. You will have to go and see the spectacle for yourself either in London or China.

The Chinese Lantern Festival is a tradition with a 2,000 year old history.  It is celebrated on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year period. This year it fell on 22nd February. It can fall anywhere between 5th and 7th March.

This year is the Chinese Year of the Monkey. Monkeys therefore featured prominently near the entrance to the Chiswick's Magical Lantern Festival. Below is the Monkey King figure that stood at the top of an enormous lantern.

The Chinese Lantern Festival marks the return of spring. It certainly did not feel like spring in London last night. It was a beautifully clear night for the spectacle nonetheless. Toasting marshmallows over a fire offered a welcome warm-up around the half-way point.

It is hard to convey the sheer scale of the event. It took around an hour and a half's walk to see all the lanterns. There always seemed to be another colourful spectacle in front of you, to the side, above or opposite.

Lanterns above a narrow walkway

The festival made clever use of Chiswick House's pathways, waterside, bridge views and open areas. Fish, frogs and ducks were sited at the waterside for example. Waterside reflections were used to great effect.

Waterside reflections at Chiswick House

Some of my personal favourites follow below:

The Chinese Dragon was a spectacle that you could see long before you reached it. It is 66 metres in length. Dragons are a benevolent symbol in Chinese culture. They symbolise strength, power and good fortune for the worthy.

We left Chiswick House enraptured and in awe. The Chinese Emperor bade us farewell near the exit.

Chinese Emperor and his soldiers 

Prisoners of Geography

Travelling provides an excellent opportunity to catch up on some reading. Tim Marshall’s Prisoners of Geography provided absorbing material for my recent Eurostar trip to Brussels.

Brexit seemed to be on the minds and tongues of everyone I met in Brussels – from the European Parliament to the EU Studies Fair, as well as on all newsstands and points in between. Questions and what ifs abounded. It was interesting to hear and read views on our island nation from outside our borders.

Britain has been blessed by its geography unlike many countries described in Tim Marshall’s book. It has been our fortune to be

“close enough to the European Continent to trade

and yet protected by dint of being an island race” (p91).

Our geography has shaped our independent spirit. We are also seen as being

“at one remove from living with the historical collective memory

of frequent invasions and border change” (p91).

Thanks to our geography we have grown accustomed to punching above our size and weight globally. As the sole Brit, I was outnumbered by youthful representatives from the other 27 member states on the European Parliament tour. There were also young visitors from candidate countries.

I couldn’t help wondering how Britain’s future generations would feel about being outside the “club” whatever its faults. The Union Jack seemed to be on the way out already. Then, I realised that its position at the end of the line was probably due to the diplomatic use of alphabetical order.

Our excellent Latvian guide was very open in discussing both the good and bad aspects of the European Parliament. He mentioned the financial wastefulness of the Strasbourg Parliament. (It is still maintained due to the ongoing vetoes of France and Luxembourg). He shared the difficulties of progressing any legislation without Germany’s support. He mentioned the frustrations of smaller nations and parties in getting their voices truly heard.

Human rights were seen as a strong area for the EU. For example, the EU can criticise China’s human rights’ record and invite the Dalai Lama to speak to the Parliament without fear of trade reprisals. The 2015 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought went to the Saudi Arabian blogger, Raif Badawi. Europe enjoys peace and freedom of expression under the EU’s watchful eye.

Prisoners of Geography is particularly strong in explaining how geography shapes Russia and China. It invites the reader to picture Putin ruing the absence of mountains and watching as the EU encroaches ever closer through the former Soviet bloc. Ukraine was “the red line”. As Tim Marshall concludes:

“It doesn’t matter if the ideology of those in control is tsarist,

Communist or crony capitalist – the ports still freeze,

and the North European Plain is still flat” (p25).

The world’s flashpoints are all enlightened with reference to their geography. The Arctic features at the end of the book. The melting ice cap is changing geography. Climate change is creating new tensions. 80% of Bangladesh is on a flood plain and it cannot relocate. The Maldives will disappear.

In conclusion, the author casts our eyes upwards away from the land. He refers to spy satellites and international cooperation in space. He speculates whether we will learn to meet the challenges ahead as “representatives of humanity” rather than as of a particular nationality. The road ahead seems to require even greater cooperation, rather than a self-interested retreat within our own borders.

Tim Marshall ends on a pessimistic note:

“... we are still imprisoned in our own minds,

confined by our suspicion of the ‘other’,

and thus our primal competition for resources.

There is a long way to go. (p240).”

I hope history will prove that he should have been more optimistic. It is an eye-opener to discover how much world tension is based on geography rather than our neighbours’ actual actions.

Book review details:

Tim Marshall: Prisoners of Geography. Ten maps that tell you everything you need to know about global politics. Published by Elliott & Thompson, 2015.

Members' Day at the Chartered Institute of Linguists

The Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) held their annual Members' Day on Saturday 3rd October. 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of the Institute's Royal Charter. 

Chair of Council Keith Moffitt described the CIOL as a "broad church" representing a very rich community of linguists with a massive range of languages. Chief Executive Ann Carlisle explained how the Institute is reaching out to a wider, younger membership and introducing new professional examinations.

The event was held in Central London at BMA House, home of the British Medical Association. The large Grade II listed building meant that a series of break-out sessions could run concurrently to meet members' varied interests and backgrounds.

In the morning, there were 4 presentations:

·      Translation and Interpreting at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) by Richard Littlewood

·      Be professional! Act professionally! by Alina Cincan MCIL

·      Languages in Higher Education by Dr Elena Polisca

·      Getting involved with the CIOL by Marta Stelmaszak MCIL Chartered Linguist

·      Languages in the workplace by Richard Hardie, CIOL Vice President

Membership

My first session was "Getting involved with the CIOL". In keeping with its intention to reach out to younger linguists, the Institute invited the young and well-known Polish translator, Marta Stelmaszak to present the benefits of membership, Chartered Linguist status and volunteering. After her excellent presentation, a panel of long-standing members explained the value of their membership throughout their careers.

Volunteering at the CIOL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Richard Littlewood's began his good-humoured session on the FCO with a description of the Special Translation Section in the 1970s. A team of 30 translators was created for the UK's accession to the European Union. Richard continued the tale all the way to today's trading fund with just 10 translators. He explained both the kudos and difficulties of running an "independent business" against the cut-throat pricing of competitors and the FCO acting as both client and landlord.

FCO building in Whitehall, London

2014-2015 Review

After a delicious lunch and networking, we all gathered for a review of the CIOL's year. An 8-page, full-colour printed summary was available to all members in their pack for the day and should soon appear on the website. It was particularly good to meet the two key new members on the Institute's staff: Matthias Postel (Business Development Manager) and Jane Galbraith (Head of Membership). Both appointments demonstrate the Institute's new strategic drive.

Hong Kong and China

In her talk, Ann Carlisle emphasised the importance of Hong Kong and China to the Institute. The Hong Kong Society has just celebrated its 30th Anniversary. In November 2015, Ann Carlisle and Jane Galbraith will visit China to launch a new Chinese Association. Ann described the rich thirst for recognition and qualifications from the UK in particular.

Threlford Lecture

Professor Andy Kirkpatrick of Griffith University gave the prestigious 2015 Threlford Lecture. His topic was "English as a lingua franca: the threat to other languages". Unfortunately, it was not a happy story to tell to a room of linguists.

Endangered languages and communication

According to SOAS predictions, we could see a 90% reduction in the world's 6,500 languages. There are more than 1,000 languages within the 10 nations of ASEAN. Surprisingly, the working language of ASEAN is English. It avoids the need for a translation budget. Yet, not all delegates feel able to participate fully as a result. Sometimes a representative is chosen for his English skills rather than relevant subject knowledge.

A different form of English

English is used by more multilinguals in Asia than English native speakers. They have adapted the language to their needs. Andy Kirkpatrick stressed that native Brits and Americans need to understand how English is changing there. He talked us through the differing language and educational situations in the various ASEAN countries.

Singapore's devastating policy

Andy described the devastating effects of pushing education in English too early. English almost always replaces the language of the region. Singapore's language education policy was seen as spectacularly unsuccessful with English crowding out other languages. There are concerns that the ethnic Chinese in Singapore are now unable to communicate at a high level in their native tongue.

English only

Parents seek to help their children succeed at school by speaking English at home too. Some of the middle classes do not even learn their own native language. In Malaysia, there was a legal challenge precisely because learning in English privileged the wealthy and elite.

Devastating impact on education

English is easier to learn a later stage. There is a shortage of teachers. Primary school drop-out rates are high. Children find it particularly hard to understand Maths and Science in a language that is not their native tongue.

Timing and text books

English teaching should be delayed until children have mastered two local languages. Asian multilinguals want to talk about different qualities of rice, coffee, Islamic finance, etc. Yet, these subjects are not found in any English text books. They need their culture and daily life preoccupations incorporated into teaching materials.

Chinese education policy

National Chinese law prescribes Putonghua Mandarin and the Standard Written language. There is no teaching in Cantonese. 70 million Cantonese speakers are pushed to speak Mandarin. There are 55 ethnic minorities in China. Parents naturally want their children to succeed. English is seen as important to that success. Many send their children to be educated abroad - some to escape the competitive Chinese system.

Trilingual policy

In North East China, there is an example of a successful trilingual policy. Korean and Mongolian are successfully taught. This has been shown to be of great economic benefit.

Insightful lecture

By the end of his lecture, Andy Kirkpatrick had provided CIOL members with a thorough insight into the effects of English language in Asia.

Multilingual end to day

The full day ended with a friendly drinks reception. English was not the only language heard at BMA House. Some members seized the opportunity to practise their language skills in the multilingual environment fostered by the CIOL.

For information about Anglicity's translation, editing and content writing services, please email karen@anglicity.com