The Pearl on the Grassland

19:01 Jan 10, 2011 

I agree with your point. Perhaps that's the reason why there are various versions found on the internet. :)

18:36 Jan 10, 2011 

That's all very helpful background info, Sharon, thanks a lot for those insights.

Having now fully understood the meaning in the source language, it is our job as translators to make the necessary adaptations in order for the output term to work in the target language / culture.

Regarding 'pearl', there are a great many precedents in EN for using 'of' with such expressions: the Jewel of the South, the Pearl of the Orient, etc. — note that all of these relate to situations where the word pearl (etc.) is being used in a figurative sense, rather different from the cows! Using 'on' tends to turn the reader towards a more literal interpretation.

Regarding the use of the plural 'grasslands', it is common in EN to use the singular to refer to it as a type of terrain: "the area comprises a mix of scrub and grassland"; but when referring to the territory itself, EN often uses plurals: "in the mountains", "on the plains", "in the steppes of Central Asia" — so "of the grasslands" certainly wouldn't be out of place here in the target language, even if it does depart slightly from a slavishly literal translation.

18:10 Jan 10, 2011 

Ok, with regard to the issue of whether it should be of/on, I can conclusively (based on the original Chinese term) tell you that it should be 'on', and it should be grassland, not grasslands. This 'Pearl on the Grassland' is a translation of the Chinese term 草原明珠, and it is actually describing the fact that Hailar is like 草原上的一颗明珠 (literally: a pearl on the grassland). For example, you say a herd of cattle on the grassland, not of the grassland, isn't it? So, I'd say that the proper choice of word used is 'on'. IMO, there's no need for plural here. This is the background for 'Pearl on the Grassland'. Hope this helps.

P.S. The German version of 'Pearl on the Grassland' is certainly also translated from Chinese, as the origin of the term comes from Chinese. Thx.

17:58 Jan 10, 2011 

Thanks Taña,

Best regards.
Yugoslavia

17:47 Jan 10, 2011 

Thanks. However, IMO, one link is not indicative of the correct translation. There are discrepancies on the Net regarding the use of "of/on", as well as the word "grassland" or its plural form, "grasslands". Further checks are recommended. HTH and Happy New Year too.

17:37 Jan 10, 2011 

Hi Sharon and Taña,

Thanks for your help.

Please look at this link:

http://theperemechlounge.blogspot.com/2010/06/hailar-pearl-o...

The letters are capitalized

Taña is also showing the letters capitalized.

Thanks for your help and Happy New Year 2011.

Best regards,

Yugoslavia

14:40 Jan 10, 2011 

If you Google the phrase as I have, you will find a number of references to the phrase and in keeping with my findings, it is "Pearl OF the GrasslandS". I am in agreement with other colleagues - the English is poor.

Hailar District - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hailar District is located in China. Hailar District. Location in China ... Long known as the "Pearl of the Grasslands", Hailar acts as a gateway between ... Inner Mongolia, and China proper during the 1930s until the end of the Second ... and northeast China and Korea (see Soviet invasion of Manchuria (1945)). ...
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hailar_District - En caché - Similares


Hailar , city (1994 est. pop. 192400), Inner Mongolian - China ...
Long known as the "Pearl of the Grasslands", Hailar acts as a gateway between ... Located in the northeast of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, Hailar ...
www.china-city-guide.com/hailar/pages/about_hailar.html - En caché

12:32 Jan 10, 2011 

Your profile shows you as a proficient English speaker living in the US. It should be fully apparent to you that " The Pearl on the Grassland" is acceptable English (regardless of whether for use in the US or Britain). Whether it is correct as a description of the particular place in Mongolia is definitely outside the scope of this forum.

10:14 Jan 10, 2011 

I'm afraid this is not the right forum to discuss your document in this sort of detail. If you care to send me your entire document, I'll happily carry out this proof-reading assignment for you, for a fee we can discuss privately.

10:00 Jan 10, 2011 

I share the same sentiments as Tony. It is definitely poor English, and I can't help but to offer my revision suggestion based on my understanding of what it is talking about and without changing the structure too much (just for your reference, although it may not be very perfect):
Hailar, which is situated in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, is also known as the 'Pearl on the Grassland'. It is a city with long cultural history, rich ethnic customs and good strategic position, where the ancient cultures of the Huns, Xianbei and Tujue ethnic groups and that of the Mongolian hero Genghis Khan meet.

09:57 Jan 10, 2011 

Hi Tony,

What other mistakes do you see Tony?

Thanks.

Yugoslavia

09:19 Jan 10, 2011 

...I can't help noting that, while the actual term in question is fine as is (complete with capitals, please!), the rest of the translation is pretty poor EN, and certainly betrays its origins as a translation. I think you are going to have some pretty heavy corrections to do! Good luck!