Asiapac, Origins of Chinese Music, translation job, conflict of interest

 http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=16229 posted in February 2007.

 

The Asia Pac book titled Origins of Chinese Music, illustrated by Fu Chunjiang, translated by Wong Huey Khey, first published in July 2007. ISBN 13 978-981-229-475-3, ISBN 10 981-229-47509 http://www.asiapacbooks.com/product.asp?pid=755

 

On page 25 of the book, section title Emperor Taizong's Discourse on Music.

Emperor Taizong and the Supreme Censor Du Yan were discussing music.

Du Yan said, "The fall of some dynasties were due to music.  Jade Arbor and Flower in the Bower doomed the Chen Dynasty while Companion Melody doomed the Northern Qi."

 

My posting in CHF on Feb 13 2007, 12:39 PM.

The Flower in the Bower 《后庭花》 was a poem-song composed by the last ruler of Chen Dynasty (南朝陈) of Southern Dynasties, Chen Shubao (陈叔宝). The full title was 《玉树后庭花》 Jade Arbor and Flower in the Bower .

As the demise of some dynasties could be traced to decadence of their rulers who indulged in wine, women and song, certain songs associated with these rulers became representations of the declines of the states.

During the Tang Dynasty, 《旧唐书·音乐志》引杜淹对唐太宗语："前代兴亡，实由于乐。陈将亡也，为《玉树后庭花》；齐将亡也，而为《伴侣曲》。行路闻之，莫不悲泣，所谓亡国之音也。" Du Yan said to Emperor Taizong the rise and fall of dynasties were due to the music.
Jade Arbor and Flower in the Bower doomed the Chen Dynasty, Companion Melody doomed the Northern Qi.

 

Ur mentioned that AsiaPac's boss is a friend of Lingzhi.

 

First thought is could the translator have asked for help from friends, and Lingzhi supplied CHF as a reference?

 

Second thought is to check Lingzhi's real name is not the same as translator's name listed in the book, it's not.

 

I doubt if any ill-intent was meant, but I still feel things should be put right.

 

After a brief consultation with Ur and Lingzhi, I decided to email AsiaPac books, asking about the translation they used, pointed out its similarities to my sentence.  At that time, I also thought I might have made a mistaken to list the Qi dynasty as Northern Qi instead of Southern Qi.

 

As it was near Christmas, I did not expect a reply soon, and I was not disappointed.  Nonetheless, impatience got the better of me and I posted a follow-up, requesting an acknowledgment of my query, which I got from the publishing director, who promised it was being looked into and they will get back to me if the sentence was lifted from my post.

 

Fast forward to the end of January 2008 (without a week passing when I did not wonder about it), and I sent another follow-up.  The reply came back the following day that they had not gotten back because their writer did not admit to copying from my post, and gave an online source for the research to show that Northern Qi was the correct dynasty in question.

 

I replied immediately that while I was happy to learn there was a source identifying which Qi dynasty it was, the rest of the answer given did not actually satisfy clarifying that the translator had not shown the translation used was made independently of my post.  I highlighted again that my translation was not literal nor verbatim from the original classical Chinese text, but interpreted for elegance, which meant my choice of terms was not meant to be an exact translation of the original term.

 

Another couple of days passed, and this time, I decided to call the publishing director.  That was Friday.

 

Both of us kept the conversation cordial, without demanding our respective views to be accepted, but represented clearly where we're coming from.

 

On her part, the translator said a variety of sources (including online) were used, but there was no recollection of visiting my post in CHF.  Asiapac has to give her the translator the benefit of doubt, and a single sentence was insufficient to prove it was a lift.

 

Nonetheless, she did inquire whether I'd prefer Asiapac not to use the same phrasing as I had used, or whether I think I should be credited for it in the book.

 

I explained that my interest was not in possessiveness, nor copyright protection (<EM>though she did give an advice on this if there was a phrase I composed which I feel is particularly distinctive and put it a lot of work into</EM>), not glory-seeking.

 

One sentence is not rampant plagiarism.  If the translator did read my post, a courtesy message requesting my okay would have been sufficient for me.  I had allowed another CHF member to submit my translation of Battle of Poyang Lake for a magazine, in return for full acknowledgment and nothing else, not even partial fee.

 

Looking back, I marvelled at how I managed to keep cool through it all.  I am open to the possibility that the translator did arrive at the translation independently, but given what is known to me at this time, I am doubtful about it.

 

As I expressed where I was coming from, I told the publishing director that I have an interest in this, and use such posts as a way of developing experience and portfolios for future opportunities.

 

That was when she offered me a translation job for one of their works.  I was told frankly that the pay was below market rate.  S$60/1000 words for first time translators, S$80 for established translators.  Asiapac Books try to keep cost down to make books more affordable, mostly under S$10.  She offered me the term for established translator, given my postings in CHF, but I declined.

 

Yes, I'm interested.  At this juncture, without the translator of Origins of Chinese Music being grilled for more info, there isn't much less we can do except listen and understand where each other is coming from.  And I'm not inclined to embark on an inquisition.

 

We agreed to move forward and explore this new possibility, and made an appointment for me to visit the Asiapac Books office on Monday.

 

When I mentioned this to wifey, she asked me to get the contact of the staff in charge of sales - wifey is in charge of MRL (Media Resource Library) in the school she teaches, and buying books is part of her job.  By contacting the publisher directly, it might be possible to get better value for money.

 

I met with Lydia Lum and I thought the work was possibly within my capability.  After talking about their requirements, and how the contents go in the draft-to-print process, I got the manuscript, one published book as sample for format, and the contact of the staff in charge of sales.

 

It was on the way back from the meeting that I realised I shouldn't have done that last thing.

 

Snowylady has to act as purchasing officer on behalf of the school, and deal with a variety of bookstores and book vendors.

 

If I were to become a freelance translator accepting assignments commissioned by AsiaPac Books, Snowylady's using the school budget to buy from AsiaPac Books would make us "interested parties" but representing different interests.

 

This is Singapore, and for people like us, we got to be whiter than white, or there could be a lot of trouble.

 

That I got the contact for the sales staff for Snowylady the same time I was offered an assignment from AsiaPac Books can be cast in very bad light, and I cannot discount it would not be beneath people to make the worst of it (Snowylady said she'd won't have thought of it).

 

I wanted to reject the assignment now but Snowylady said to go ahead, she can continue buying from bookshops, and contact AsiaPac when I'm not associated with them anymore.

 

But I still don't think it'd work.  Not because it'd disappoint AsiaPac Books if Snowylady doesn't contact them directly.  But because AsiaPac Books will still benefit indirectly if Snowylady purchase their books through the distributors.

 

And as for my association with AsiaPac, if it works out, I might become a regular freelancer and extend the association with the publisher indefinitely.

 

This just won't work.  I cannot accept the assignment now unless Snowylady doesn't buy any AsiaPac books for her school.

 

The translation fee is really a trifling amount, but I could well be accused for wanting to be published, and some people would do anything to get published.

 

Tonight, the only possibility I could think of is to make open declaration of this arrangement to the Ministry of Education, or maybe even CPIB or CAD, and seek clearance.

 

This is Singapore.  Whiter than white may not be good enough.