Chinese: Background Language Learner 7–10 Sequence / Levels 9 and 10 / Communicating / Translating
Content description
Translate a range of simple Chinese texts and identify how some concepts can be mediated readily between Chinese and English and some cannot
Elaborations
exploring ways to interpret and explain key concepts and cultural practices identified in Chinese interactions (for example, 面子) and experimenting with how to give 面子 in interaction with others
considering the uses of different measurement words in Chinese (for example, 小勺 and 茶匙；斤 and 克) when comparing Chinese translations of English recipes
comparing alternative translations to identify concepts of ‘normality’ in their own linguistic and cultural context, for example, using the term 软饮料 (instead of 无酒精饮料) assumes the reader/audience has some understanding of English to understand meaning of 软
comparing 褒义词，贬义词 and 中性词 and the contexts they are used in, for example, the differences between 聪明 and 滑头
identifying words used with specific assumptions, for example, gender (英俊 is used to describe males), significance (会见 versus 见面), formality (光临 versus 来到)
considering ways to convey culture-specific terms in English (for example, 中药和食疗, 上火，大补)
