The Society, in collaboration with the Centre for Translation Studies of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, successfully co-hosted the international conference titled “Translating the Humanities and Technologising Translation: Translation Master Lectures cum International Conference on Translation, Culture and Technology” (THTT2023) from 16 to 19 June 2023. The event aimed to provide a platform for scholars, researchers, practitioners, and technology service providers worldwide to exchange innovative ideas and present their latest research findings in the field of translation studies. The primary focus was on the significant impact of translation and translation technology on promoting literature and the arts, as well as fostering intercultural understanding and communication. The event, held in a successful hybrid format, attracted over 100 attendees and featured 46 presenters from various countries.

The three-day event began on 17 June with the HKTS Honorary Fellowship Conferment Ceremony, recognising the exceptional achievements of honourees in the field of translation studies in Hong Kong. This year, Prof. Leo Tak-hung Chan from Guangxi University, Prof. Douglas Robinson from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Prof. Yuan-fang Tung from Tunghai University, and Prof. Kefei Wang from Beijing Foreign Studies University received Honorary Fellowships for their outstanding contributions to Translation Studies.

Dr Janice Pan, President of the Society, presented certificates to the incoming Honorary Fellows, following citations read by Dr Elsie Chan, Dr Janice Pan, Dr Dechao Li and Dr Siu Sai Cheung, respectively. Prof. Douglas Robinson offered thanks at the end of the ceremony, after which the incoming Honorary Fellows delivered four “Translation Master Lectures”, providing attendees with the invaluable opportunity to learn from the wisdom and experience of esteemed leaders in the field.

The afternoon session comprised two parallel sessions: “Translation and Literature” and “Translation and Technology”, with scholars discussing various topics, from the role of research in literary translation to the reception of minor literature and from translation pedagogy to the implications of AI on the translation industry. The afternoon also featured two invited speeches by Prof. Haidee Kotze from Utrecht University and Prof. Sara Laviosa from the University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', addressing the typicalities of translated language and the integration of translation, cultural, and technology literacies in higher education.

The second day began with two featured speeches focusing on the role of technology in translation, delivered by Dr Dechao Li from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Dr Sai-cheong Siu from The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong. Following the speeches, two panels were held simultaneously, discussing topics related to translation and culture and interpreting studies. After a lunch break, two additional panels were held, focusing on audiovisual translation and translation technology as well as translation and literature. The day concluded with two invited speeches by Prof. Lynn Bowker from the University of Ottawa and Prof. Jeremy Munday from the University of Leeds, discussing the balance between translation technologies and the future of translation and translation studies in the age of artificial intelligence.

The third and final day of the conference began with three featured speeches by Dr. Kanglong Liu from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Dr. Janice Pan from Hong Kong Baptist University and Dr. Andrew K.F. Cheung from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University respectively. The speeches explored the intersection of technology with translator and interpreter training, with the latter two speeches focusing specifically on AI’s influence on interpreting. The following panel sessions focused on translation pedagogy and quality assessment, corpus-based translation studies, and translation and culture. The conference concluded with closing remarks by Dr Dechao Li, the Committee Chair of THTT2023.

The conference provides a timely and valuable opportunity to explore the impact of technology on interpreting and translation training, highlighting the need for collaboration between researchers, professionals and trainees in specialised settings. The conference provided a platform for both venerable masters and the younger generation of researchers in this field, with Honorary Fellows of the Hong Kong Translation Society sharing their wisdom and experience.

Conference website: http://www.cbs.polyu.edu.hk/THTT2023/about-organizer.php

Conference e-booklet (with citations of the 2023 Honorary Fellows): http://www.cbs.polyu.edu.hk/THTT2023/doc/Booklet.pdf

Event Highlight Video: https://youtu.be/ZBcLAxaqXfI