Chinese: Background Language Learner F–10 Sequence / Levels 3 and 4 / Communicating / Translating
Content description
Identify common spoken Chinese expressions and discuss examples of actions, words and phrases that do not readily translate into English
Elaborations
differentiating between word-by-word meaning and intended meaning when translating from Chinese into English, for example, the word-by-word translation of 我喜欢一个人看书 is ‘I like one person to read’, but it means ‘I like to read alone’
designing bilingual signs (characters/Pinyin/English) to post on key buildings and rooms around the school that convey short messages such as descriptions of the place or the rules in that place
recognising the role that gesture plays in oral interaction, including emblematic (hand) gestures, gesturing for emphasis and inclusivity, and taboos within Chinese communication, such as pointing directly at someone
identifying Chinese symbols in print and digital texts (for example, the longevity symbol), and developing ways to convey the culturally attached value when expressing the meaning of these symbols in English
comparing own translation of short texts (such as brand names, signs, slogans and billboard advertisements) to others’, and evaluating the effectiveness of own translation
developing strategies for using bilingual (Chinese–English and English–Chinese) dictionaries in both print and digital forms to assist with translation
explaining in English features of gestures used in Chinese, for example, hand gestures for numbers
comparing versions of a common text across languages and identifying issues in conveying meaning, for example, how to render 小心轻放 into English
