Translator's lament: When words bridge worlds, but respect falters | Metaglossia: The Translation World | Scoop.it

The promise echoed in diplomatic halls and joint venture signings embedded in a partnership forged in "mutual respect" (互相尊重) and "win-win cooperation"   (共同利益) seems to have lost its true definition


 


Translation must breed respectful relationships
Translator's lament: When words bridge worlds, but respect falters
Dr Lucy Anning
Jun - 04 - 2025 , 09:57


The promise echoed in diplomatic halls and joint venture signings embedded in a partnership forged in "mutual respect" (互相尊重) and "win-win cooperation"   (共同利益) seems to have lost its true definition.


For Chinese-to-English translators, particularly those in Ghana, these are not mere slogans but the very foundation upon which our professional existence is supposed to rest.


Translators are the linguistical bridges, the cultural interpreters and the vital conduits facilitating the vast economic engagement between China and Africa.


Yet, for too many of us, the reality behind the boardroom doors and factory floors is a soul-eroding indignity that starkly contradicts the official rhetoric.


This is the hidden ordeal of the translator, caught between nations and battling for basic human dignity.


The challenges within the ecosystem of Chinese companies operating in Ghana are not merely professional hurdles; they are profound assaults on personhood.


The core wound, as articulated with raw pain by one translator, is the pervasive sense of being viewed as "lower than human beings."


This dehumanisation manifests in chillingly tangible ways.


Many translators have reported salaries that are an insult to their skilled labour, a sheer pittance, "nothing to write home about."


Beyond the financial disrespect lies a spectrum of mistreatment consisting of routine bullying, verbal abuse that stings in any language, blatant infractions of Ghanaian labour laws and even alleged physical intimidation.


The workplace becomes a pressure cooker of injustice for these staff.


Rule of law, FDI initiatives?
The dissonance deepens when considering the broader context. These companies operate in the Ghanaian economy, extracting significant profit, often amidst accusations of tax avoidance and aggressive acquisition of local assets.


As one victimised voice starkly put it, "They are buying lands and properties like crazy. In tandem, for Zhongguo (Chinese economy), no foreigner has these kinds of privileges there."


This economic imbalance fuels the bitter question: Why must Ghanaians (and other African economies), particularly those facilitating this very enterprise, endure such degradation within their own homeland?


The principle seems grotesquely one-sided, in that "Chinese can mistreat African people within their jurisdiction, thus home country.


However, Africans can't take this abuse within their jurisdictive home countries... and allow these foreigners to go scot-free."


Corrupts leaders
The litany of grievances extends to unethical practices encapsulated in bribes, illegal dealings and opaque connections, creating an environment where workers, translators included, feel treated not as partners or even employees, but as expendable machines.


This is not just about poor working conditions; it’s a fundamental betrayal of the translator’s purpose. Our mastery of Putonghua is not merely a technical skill to facilitate transactions; it is the power to communicate as equals.


"It is also to be able to address them, speak to them like equal men, for them to hear us in a language that they understand," the source implores.


Yet, the language of respect we translate for official pronouncements rarely permeates daily interactions.


The grand narrative of mutual benefit rings hollow when met with daily doses of contempt.


Mitigating mechanisms
Mitigating this deep-seated crisis demands concerted, multi-level action.


Firstly, translators must organise. Collective voices are harder to ignore.


Forming professional associations or leveraging existing unions provides a platform to share experiences, document abuses systematically and advocate collectively for fair contracts, decent wages and dignified treatment.


Secondly, legal empowerment is non-negotiable. Translators need accessible legal resources and unwavering support to challenge labour law violations, unsafe conditions and illegal practices.


Reporting channels must be strengthened and protected.


Thirdly, Ghanaian (and other African countries) authorities must enforce their sovereignty.


This means rigorous application and monitoring of labour laws, tax regulations and investment codes pertaining to foreign businesses.


Permissiveness towards exploitation because of investment is a Faustian bargain that erodes national dignity and long-term stability.


Diplomatic channels must also be utilised to consistently raise these specific worker grievances, moving beyond abstract cooperation principles.


Finally, translators must wield their unique power, thus using their linguistic skills not just to transmit, but to assert.


Clearly articulating boundaries, expectations of respect and legal rights in the language understood is a form of resistance and empowerment.


Conclusion
From whispered grievances to a roar for respect, the whispered frustrations in translation booths and on factory floors are coalescing into an undeniable roar.


The ordeal of the Chinese-to-English translator in Ghana is a microcosm of a partnership dangerously out of balance.


It exposes the chasm between the polished language of diplomacy and the raw language of daily indignity.


Ghanaian translators are not mere linguistic tools; they are Ghanaian professionals, deserving fundamental respect on their own soil.


To ignore their suffering, to tolerate the blatant hypocrisy where "mutual respect" is preached but subjugation is practised, is to undermine the very foundation of the Ghana-China relationship itself.


The path forward isn't a revolution born of desperation, but a resolute demand for the respect already promised.


It’s time for Ghana to ensure its laws protect its people, for companies to uphold their professed values and for translators to cease being the unheard interpreters of their own oppression. Enough is indeed enough.


The bridges we build must be walked upon with dignity by all, or they will crumble under the weight of hypocrisy.


The next words translated must herald genuine change, or they will be the last before the silence of defiance falls.


The writer is with the DevAfrica Institute,
Accra, Ghana.
E-mail: Lucyann@
devafricainstitute.org"
https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/ghana-news-translators-lament-when-words-bridge-worlds-but-respect-falters.html
#metaglossia_mundus