News Network (Correspondents: Li Tao, Xie Jinsheng) On June 28, the International Academic Symposium on “Literary Creation and Translation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” was held at the Simultaneous Interpretation Conference Center of Wenhuan Building, ZUEL. This symposium was hosted by the Translators Association of Hubei Province (TAH), the School of Foreign Studies of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, and co-hosted by the School of Foreign Languages of Hubei University of Technology, the editorial office of Foreign Literature Studies, Shenzhen Publishing House, and Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
A host of domestic and foreign experts attended the symposium, including Professor Chen Baifeng, Member of the CPC ZUEL Standing Committee and Vice President of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law; Liu Xinglong, Honorary Chairman of the Hubei Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Professor Liu Junping, President of the TAH; Professor Elleke Boehmer from the University of Oxford; and Professor Zakes Mda from Ohio University. Simultaneous interpretation services were provided for foreign guests. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Cai Shengqin, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages.
Chen Baifeng, on behalf of our school, delivered a welcome speech. He pointed out that artificial intelligence is profoundly changing the literary creation and translation, which brings new possibilities as well as new challenges like legal and ethic issues.He placed special emphasis on making good use of AI technology while staying true to the humanistic spirit and the original intention of creation, and he wished the symposium great success and fruitful outcomes.
General view of the symposium
Chen Baifeng, a member of the Standing Committee of the ZUEL Committee and Vice President, delivered a speech
Dean of the School of Foreign Studies of the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Cai Shengqin, hosted the opening ceremony.
Speech by Liu Junping, President of the Translators Association of Hubei
Hu Xiaoyue, from the Shenzhen Publishing House, made a speech and hosted the book launch ceremony
Hu Xiaoyue, chief editor at Shenzhen Publishing House, hosted the book launch ceremony of the South African Literature Translation Series, with the authors Zakes Mda and Elleke Boehmer invited to unveil the new books.
Authors and translators of the South African Literature Translation Series at the book launch ceremony
Fifteen experts and scholars from home and abroad were invited to deliver keynote speeches and engage in discussions on topics such as the essence of literary creation, as well as translation and creative writing in the AI era. On the evening of the 27th, more than 130 scholars took part in eight parallel sub-forums for in-depth mutual learning and exchanges.
Liu Xinglong, the Honorary Chairman of the Hubei Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles
Elleke Boehmer, from the University of Oxford
Zakes Mda, from the Ohio University
Du Qinggang, judge of Le Prix Goncourt, a famous literature prize in France)
Liu Junping, Wuhan University, President of the TAH
Zhu Zhenwu, Shanghai Normal University
Zhao Junfeng, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
Jiang Lin, Sichuan International Studies University
Herman Wittenberg,University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Stuart Christie, Hong Kong Baptist University
Carrol Clarkson, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Song Binghui, Shanghai International Studies University
Luo Lianggong, Central China Normal University
Wang Shirong, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
Yuan Qi, School of Foreign Studies of the ZUEL, concluded the symposium
On the evening of June 28, a writer and audience meeting was held at the Best Reading Space on campus. Guests Du Qinggang, Elleke Boehmer, and Zakes Mda, together with Hu Xiaoyue from Shenzhen Publishing House and the series’ translators Cai Shengqin, Wang Shirong, and Hu Zhongqing, engaged in lively exchanges with readers, bringing the event to another climax.
Writer and audience meeting
Auditor: Cai Shengqin
Editor: Peng Jia