Translation and the Virus

Abstract

This chapter offers a firsthand account of the translation process, highlighting some of the unique challenges of this project. These challenges include the simultaneous nature of this translation (it was being translated as it was still being written) and how the unprecedented attacks that targeted the book impacted the translation process—beginning with a brief overview of some of the author’s experience as a translator, reflections on translation as performance, and how the experience translating Wuhan Diary challenged many of his preconceived notions of translation. The author reveals pro-nationalist actors who, fearing the publication of the book would damage China politically, were actively developing plots to attack Wuhan Diary by directly targeting flaws in the translation. This led the author to err on the side of literalism when undertaking the translation, in order to prevent any mistranslations or inaccuracies from providing additional fodder for more attacks. Examples are also provided to illustrate how the threat of attacks directly impacted the translation process.