Paper Republic's statement is really quite disappointing to me, and I'm responding because I asked for it specifically and because I was linked to in the article in the previous tweet.
Conversation
"We believe that the single most positive trend in the translation of Chinese literature over the past few decades has been the gradually-growing inclusion of translators with personal roots in the language and culture."
Sino heritage translators have always been here!
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Sino diaspora writers and translators are NOT A TREND. We didn't suddenly come out of nowhere and decided to write /translate. We're not an inspiring story of people suddenly embracing our culture.
The exclusion of us due to colonialism and whiteness has been deliberate.
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"the past few years have seen a new wave of translators and writers who are either heritage speakers of the language, or are native Chinese speakers who are making their voices heard within English-speaking countries"
Again, we're not a new wave
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It seems Paper Republic is unwilling to take a position on bridge translation. The statement uses passive voice to discuss the "growing trend" of racialized translators without taking any responsibility for the role they play as an organization that promotes Chinese lit.
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I think all the folks I know who are Chinese-English translators, Sino diaspora writers, and readers should be deeply concerned that an organization dedicated to "promoting Chinese literature in translation" is not only making no concrete statements about the harm caused, but
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also simply saying that they do not moderate any content on their website and thus brushing off any responsibility, considering they're platforming this kind of messaging.
If you share my concerns, please tweet them at Paper Republic directly.
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If you need even more context about the poor working conditions faced by translators (especially racialized translators and those marginalized along different intersectional identities)
Quote Tweet
Putting on my galaxy look this morning to tell you more about literary translators' working conditions. Got your attention? Please follow along and RT...
#NameTheTranslator
Show this thread
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Can't help but think again about this quote from that sums up my feelings a lot about this
Quote Tweet
Replying to @ourobororoboruo @yilinwriter and 4 others
"Bridge translator" is the perfect term for it, because everyone just walks all over you
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Hey if you are still not convinced that to be neutral is problematic and of the harm being done by white folks, I am already getting attacked by racists accusing me of racism and assuming Chinese translators are not native English speakers.
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Fuck. Okay, you're right, we did think that neutrality and being an open platform was a workable position, and it looks like that was wrong.