The New York Times: The Web soothes Chinese people's craving for American TV series

Translator: Campus

First published on Meiju Mi: http://www.meijumi.com

Translator's note: The original English article was published in today's (August 9, 2006) New York Times. Please credit the author and translator and include the source link if you reprint this. Do not modify the title or original text.

The article discusses how the internet allows Chinese people to watch American TV series more quickly and conveniently, which helps with language and cultural exchange. However, this online production and distribution also pose a dual challenge to China’s censorship system and America's copyright protection.

PS: It seems that after the Xinmin Evening News and the Sunday Morning Post reported on the subtitle groups for American TV shows (the two reports can be found in the related articles after this piece), the New York Times' Shanghai correspondent wrote this article.

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The picture above shows a group of friends in Shanghai watching a subtitled version of "Friends" on Saturday. Photo by Qilai Shen for The New York Times.

Chinese Tech Buffs Slake Thirst for U.S. TV Shows

Author: HOWARD W. FRENCH Translator: Campus Date: August 9, 2006

Shanghai—On August 8, over the past one and a half years, Ding Chengtai, who recently graduated from university, has often seemed to vanish from his friends' sight.

Little Ding, 23 years old, is the network administrator for a state-owned bank and is quite witty. After work, he detaches from reality, immersing himself in American TV series like "Lost," "C.S.I," and "Close to Home."

Although he is not an ordinary fan of American TV dramas, these shows are all unavailable on Chinese television. Moreover, every night he translates subtitles for American TV dramas, and an increasing number of viewers download these dramas for free using software similar to BitTorrent (BT).

There are many people in China who produce and translate American TV dramas, but what makes this process noteworthy? Are these people entirely volunteers? Little Ding belongs to a production team called Fengruan, which is currently in fierce competition with several other American TV drama production teams. However, their goal is consistent: to freely distribute American popular culture products to Chinese audiences, bypassing China's censorship system and challenging America's copyright protection.

"Our goal is to release 40 episodes per week, basically covering all the popular shows from FOX, ABC, CBS, and NBC," said Little Ding proudly.

"This means that as soon as they air in the U.S., we translate them. Our speed is the fastest domestically, and our goal is to become the best American TV drama translation team."

The translators all dedicate themselves to the translation work out of passion for American TV dramas. Many people, including Little Ding, have learned English by watching American films and TV programs.

Some people say they've learned even more, ranging from fashion trends to medical knowledge.

"The cultural background provided by American TV dramas encompasses every aspect of life: politics, history, and people's lives," said Little Ding. "This makes American TV dramas unique. When I first watched 'Friends,' I discovered a lot of American historical knowledge, and it showcased the rapid development of America. This is much more interesting than textbooks or other methods."

On an American TV drama forum, a netizen named Plum Blossom commented: "After watching American TV dramas for a while, I found that the characters' personalities began to influence me. It's hard to describe, but I feel like I’ve discovered another way of life from them. They're good at simplifying life, and I think this is something I need to learn from American culture."

Translating American slang is quite challenging. In one episode of "Sex and the City," the line "I thought you two would hit it off" was translated into "I thought you two would generate electricity together." (Translator's note: In Chinese, it was translated as "我觉得你俩能来电", which is actually a very idiomatic translation. It seems foreigners don't understand Chinese slang either, :) )

In "Prison Break," the warning phrase "Preparation can only take you so far" was translated as "People can only try to do things. It's God's will that [...]"