Transfeed Archive
Issue 1: The Beginning of a Translation Journey
The inaugural issue of TransFeed marks a significant milestone for the Translation Workshop at Hong Kong Baptist University. As the first magazine conceived, organised, and produced entirely by translation students, it aims to delight readers through the power of words while serving the community through translation. The theme of beginnings permeates every section—from the birth of a student-led magazine to new faculty arrivals, exchange journeys, and service-learning initiatives.
Programme Updates: A Time of Change
Dr. Robert Neather's contribution celebrates this new initiative while reflecting on broader departmental changes: the successful 6th IATIS Conference with 300 global participants, new Spanish-Chinese translation courses, Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) integration, and a Double Major in Translation and English. The Programme bids farewell to retiring Professor Tan Zaixi while welcoming Professor Mark Shuttleworth from University College London (UCL)—symbolising both ending and beginning.
TranStop: New Faces, New Perspectives
An interview with Professor Shuttleworth reveals his journey from Russian Studies to Translation Studies, and his fresh observations on Hong Kong—from outdoor escalators to affordable restaurants. He envisions HKBU becoming “at the top of the list” for translation technology studies, reflecting the magazine’s forward-looking spirit.
Transformation: Exchange Stories That Inspire
Damon’s Hokkaido internship at Ki Niseko hotel shows him bridging Japanese staff and Chinese guests, discovering communication beyond words. Zoe’s Leeds exchange describes adapting to seminar-style learning while exploring Edinburgh and London. Most moving is Erin’s Fukuoka story—from initial disappointment at an unchosen destination to crying “like a baby” upon departure, her advice rings true: “GO. You will not regret it.”
TransVerso: Christmas Around the World
Cultural diversity shines through interviews on Christmas traditions. Dr. Maialen Marin-Lagarta introduces the Basque Country’s unique Olentzero (a black-hatted Santa bringing coal to naughty children) and Santo Tomas festival. Japanese teacher Takai Miwa reveals KFC as a traditional Christmas dinner (thanks to a 1974 campaign) and illuminations lasting until Valentine’s Day—traditions constantly evolving across borders.
TranService: Learning Through Serving
An interview with Ms. Cindy Chan articulates service-learning philosophy: applying classroom knowledge to benefit society. The hyphen between “service” and “learning” connects academic theory with real-world impact. Translating Children's Council motions amazed students at young people’s capabilities, while the Service-Learning Manual translation extended reach to Chinese-reading organisations.
TranClude: Reflections on a Journey
Manager Regina Cheung’s afterword captures the essence: “Mastering knowledge is not only about future contributions, but also about offering help to those in need.” Student reflections reveal personal growth—Suki notes making a magazine in her final year made “restless nights and fallen hair worthwhile”; Damon cherishes his “first time working with a large group to produce something meaningful.”
Conclusion: A Foundation for the Future
TransFeed Issue 1 established the template for student-led publication, service-learning integration, and cultural exploration that would characterise future issues. The editors’ vision to “evolve, thrive and grow” has been realised, fulfilling the mission to delight readers through words while serving community through translation.
Issue 2: A Journey of Translation, Service, and Cultural Exchange
The second issue of TransFeed arrives at a challenging moment—a semester when university classes migrated online. Yet this edition proves as compelling as the inaugural issue, embodying the Workshop’s vision: “We Serve The Community Through Translation.” The issue is structured as a journey, from internal transformation to outward cultural exchange.
Transformation Within: Welcoming New Voices
The theme begins at home. Dr. Robert Neather announces TIIS becoming an independent department after 29 years, welcoming new faculty members Dr. Catherine Hardie (a social anthropologist specialising in Tibetan Buddhism) and Dr. Dora Wong (whose career spans legal translation and surtitle translation for documentary theatre). Their diverse backgrounds—from Australian farming towns to the Tibetan plateau—enrich the department’s intercultural fabric. Dr. Wong’s advice echoes through the issue: “Fear God, discipline yourself and be kind to others.”
Exchange Stories: Expanding Horizons
One student reflects on a year in Winter Park, Florida, where lakeside restoration and hostel conversations became lessons in community. Another shares their Akita International University exchange in Japan, humorously navigating bear warnings and imperfect ramen, finding value in life's small imperfections. The message: growth happens when we step into the unknown.
Translating Life: From Service Learning to Social Empathy
Dr. Jason Ho’s interview highlights how students gain empathy through service. Major translation projects bring this to life: Children’s Council motions (revealing young minds), *Hilary and David* (a tribute to late author Laura Solomon), and *Parkinsonspace* by Professor Jeremy Munday. Translating Munday’s raw account of Parkinson’s builds empathy, letting readers “walk into the mental world of patients.”
Cultural Flavours: Sharing Traditions
Dr. Arancha Garralda Ortega explores Spanish dining rituals, from late dinners to bread’s symbolism. Norwegian exchange student William Sekkingstad contrasts his homeland’s evolving food culture with Hong Kong’s communal dining, playfully noting surprise at local warm water preference. Food becomes “a window of cultural exchange.”
Conclusion: Walking With Glory
The afterword, “Walking With Glory,” written against Hong Kong’s turbulent 2019, acknowledges difficulty while affirming commitment to duty. One student reflects: not deaf to the city’s struggles, but bringing “a little light” through their work. Echoing Martin Luther King Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness.” In its place, they offer words, translated with care, as a small but meaningful beacon.
Issue 3: Voices and Resilience Under the Pandemic
The third issue of TransFeed arrives as the world continues grappling with COVID-19. Following the success of the first two issues, this edition takes on a timely theme: life “Under the Pandemic.” Rather than succumb to despair, the Workshop’s members document transformations, offering glimpses of adaptation, perseverance, and moments of joy amidst uncertainty.
TranStop: Personal Journeys in a Changing World
Professor Mark Shuttleworth, stranded in the UK, reveals stark differences between British and Hong Kong pandemic approaches—from mask-wearing attitudes to vaccine hesitancy. French teacher Emilie highlights parenting struggles during lockdowns, emphasising socialisation: “I do not care about the content in school... For me, it’s the socialising part that is important.”
Exchange student Andie’s gripping account of remaining in locked-down Paris—two months confined to her room, developing a taste for wine during tipsy Zoom classes, dislocating her knee post-lockdown—paints resilience laced with dark humour. Her decision embodies a philosophy shared by Vincent in Wales: “No Regret.”
TransWork: Translation as Bridge-Building
Translating *ASTRA AND SEBASTIAN: An Epic Love Story* demanded intellectual rigour—rendering character names as “星榆” and “宸曼” required deep research into Greek mythology and classical Chinese poetry. The ongoing ParkinsonSpace collaboration builds empathy for those living with Parkinson’s. Translating an educational game for the A Plastic Ocean Foundation reminded the team that "knowledge, like a sea, is boundless."
TranService: Learning Through Serving
Former executive editors reflect on Translation Workshop’s unique nature—shifting from lectures to “meetings,” running a student-led company with real-world responsibility. Inter-Link, a sister “company” for community interpreting, provides services from medical days to Traditional Chinese Medicine workshops. Participants learned lessons no textbook can teach: explaining “qi” to Western audiences, maintaining composure through mistakes. The TCM Interpreting Day proved particularly rewarding—a “win-win situation” helping others while exploring mysterious subjects.
Conclusion: Walking Together Through Uncertainty
Personal reflections affirm the magazine’s central message: the pandemic has changed everything, but not stopped life. Juliana expresses gratitude for working with fifteen initially unfamiliar colleagues; Bronte finds collaboration “more challenging” than solo work; Christy reflects on receiving TransFeed before university, never imagining she would help produce it. Through translation, interpreting, and sharing stories, the Workshop continues fulfilling its vision—”to serve the community through translation”—offering readers a small beacon of light in uncertain times.
Issue 4: TransGlobe
This issue focuses on interviews with professors and students from Hong Kong Baptist University, as well as staff from social organisations, to document the experiences and observations of everyone during the recent pandemic. It reflects on how individuals navigated these two years and found ways to thrive in their own unique paths. At the same time, it upholds the principles of service-learning and continues to give back to the community. Although in-person classes resumed briefly for two weeks in 2022, the sudden deterioration of the pandemic forced a return to online teaching. This made us all the more appreciative of the moments when we could engage face-to-face with classmates and teachers.
We are honored to have invited Dr. Yu Chuan for an interview on this issue, offering students a chance to gain insight into the “professor” who has been guiding their studies. The conversation not only highlights Dr. Yu’s extensive professional experience and her connection to HKBU but also encourages students to read widely and explore the world beyond campus. In addition, aligning with the theme of “Flipping the World”, we were privileged to have a dialogue with a French language instructor. Through interviews with professors of diverse nationalities, readers are reminded of the multicultural essence of HKBU. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that our translation studio had the opportunity to perform two English poems written by Professor Pan Jun “Passing Days · Hidden Nights”"—on the Faculty of Arts 60th-anniversary stage. While the audience experienced the beauty of language, readers of TransFeed could also appreciate the evocative power of poetry.
Notably, the studio’s flagship initiative involved providing services to five organisations in 2022, including the Hong Kong Neurofibromatosis Association, The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, Mind HK, The Nesbitt Centre, and Inter-Link. The projects included introducing symptoms of fibroma and translating related literature, simplifying a self-help organisation development model, translating articles on depression, meeting with staff and students from The Nesbitt Centre, and participating in sign language interpretating activities. The content of this issue is too rich to be fully captured in words; it is only through careful reading that one can truly appreciate the dedication and effort our students have invested.
#TransStop
#TransGo
#TransCommunity
#TransPoem
#TranService
Issue 5: The Dawn
This issue of *Flipping Pages* conveys a clear theme: the pandemic has finally come to an end, and we are now embracing the dawn of a new era. The editorial section of this issue also includes Japanese and Spanish, offering a refreshing and expanded linguistic perspective. Furthermore, Dr. Xia Zhiyuan, the newly appointed Department Head, shares his views on artificial intelligence in the preface, highlighting the new challenges that students of translation studies must now confront.
This issue features services provided to four organizations: the Hong Kong Children’s Palliative Care Foundation, Mind Hong Kong, the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Association of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Culture Preservation and Fulfilment Scheme. These collaborations span a diverse range of fields. The work includes raising public awareness of children’s palliative care services, participating in the screening of the short film 3cm, and translating materials related to Chinese medicinal herbs and aromatherapy.
The translation studio has also welcomed a new partner—Enter-Link—to jointly serve the community. In addition, we interviewed alumni, who generously shared their insights and experiences. The final section of the issue echoes Professor Shuttleworth’s opening remarks on artificial intelligence. Through the International Writers’ Workshop, students engaged with ChatGPT and subsequently wrote reflective pieces on their experiences. The issue concludes with students sharing their participation in various events, including visits to the Africa Center Hong Kong and Chungking Mansions, as well as an interview with Dr. Jason Lee on his perspectives on poetry.
Taken together, these activities allow readers to experience the studio’s ongoing commitment to showcasing the diverse and multifaceted communities of Hong Kong.
#TRANSTOP
#TRANSCOMMUNITY
#TRANSFLIP
#TRANSPEAK
Issue 6: Journey
The sixth issue centers on the theme of “Journey,” aiming to convey to readers that it is only by traveling through the diverse landscapes of human experience that one can truly grow and transform. This implies more than simply traveling to destinations around the world; it is equally important to become familiar with the community in which one lives. It is the integration of both that constitutes the true “journey” students are encouraged to undertake.
In this issue, we collaborate with two organisations—our long-term partners: the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Association of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation. The continuation of these partnerships has enabled deeper cooperation among all parties involved. The studio, in collaboration with the Association, helped organize the "See the Rare" exhibition event, aiming to bring visibility to patients with rare diseases. Through an in-depth interview with Ms. Yuen Pui Ling, readers will learn about the original mission behind the founding of the Association. Additionally, an interview with Ms. Yang Cuizhi explores how, from the perspective of a social worker, one can help patient communities amplify their voices.
Furthermore, students had the valuable opportunity to engage with professionals from various fields to better understand the future of translation in different domains, including legal, religious, and sign language interpretation.
Finally, the issue ventures into the realm of travel—taking readers to Japan, Finland, Canada, and Colombia, guiding them to savor the unique beauty each country has to offer.
#JourniU
#Journi&U
#Journiverse
#JourniUs