Creative interpreting: 02 (London)

 

When I was working at the Sino-British Trade Council (SBTC) — now China Britain Business Council (CBBC) — in 1985 and 1989, I heard this account of how one of their staff members, Philip, had once handled interpreting for two gentlemen oddly paired up for a conversation.

For inward missions (delegations from China visiting British factories and companies), SBTC would throw a reception on the last day and invite British businessmen to come along and meet the Chinese delegates.  To network, as we’d say these days.

On the occasion in question, the Chinese delegation consisted of ministers and high-ranking officials.

Philip found himself with a most enthusiastic British businessman and a Chinese gentleman.  Let’s call the British gentleman Mr Smith and the Chinese gentleman Mr Li.

Smith:  Can you ask Mr Li what he thinks of this visit of theirs?

Philip had discovered, when the introductions were being made, that Mr Li was only the bodyguard of one of the high-ranking officials, so he wouldn’t be particularly interested in how well the visit had gone in terms of trade opportunities between Britain and China.

Philip (in Chinese):  Mr Li, do you like sport?

Li (face lighting up):  Oh yes!  I do like sport.

Philip (to Smith):  Mr Li thinks this visit had gone very well.

Smith (getting excited):  Oh good!  Can you ask Mr Li what he thinks of future trading prospects between Britain and China?

Philip (in Chinese):  Mr Li, you said you like sport.  What kind of sport?

Li (beaming):  Oh, lots!  I like basketball, volleyball, table tennis, athletics, ice-skating.

Philip (to Smith):  Mr Li thinks future trading prospects between China and Britain are very good.

Smith:  Excellent!  Can you ask Mr Li which particular sectors he thinks will do well.

Philip (in Chinese):  Mr Li, do you actually participate in those sports you mentioned, or are you just a keen spectator?

Li (enthusiastically):  Oh, I actively participate in all of them.  Being a bodyguard, I have to keep fit, you see.  And I feel good after doing all those activities.

Philip (to Smith):  Mr Li thinks that the textiles industry will do very well, as Britain has a long history in textile production.  The light industries will do well too, he thinks.  

Mr Smith and Mr Li both went away from the reception feeling they’d had a very interesting conversation with each other.

(London, early 1980s) 

Fog capital / wùdū / 雾都 (London)

I worked on and off, 1985–1990, at a quango* called SBTC (Sino-British Trade Council), now CBBC (China-Britain Business Council).

They offered a (then-)free service to British companies wishing to do business with China, organising inward missions (Chinese delegations to the UK) and outward missions (British delegations to China).

The Chinese have a nickname for London:  wùdū 雾都 (fog capital).  We took great pains to tell them that such events were a thing of the past, the last one being the Great Smog** (or the Big Smoke***, London’s nickname) which took place in 1952.

On the day this particular Chinese delegation was due to arrive in London, their plane got diverted to Manchester — because London was fogged out.

(Event happened 1985?/1986?)

* quango:  quasi-Non-Governmental-Organisations

(from googling)  These are independent, typically non-profit organizations that operate outside of government control, often addressing social, humanitarian, or environmental issues. While many NGOs are non-profit, they may also receive funding from various sources, including government grants, private donations, and international institutions.

** (from googling)  The Great Smog of London, which occurred from December 5-9, 1952, was a severe air pollution event caused by a combination of industrial pollution and weather conditions.  The smog was so dense that it halted transportation, closed public events, and resulted in thousands of deaths.  It is considered one of the worst air pollution events in history and ultimately led to the passage of the Clean Air Act.

*** (from googling)  “The Big Smoke” is a popular nickname for London, primarily due to its history of air pollution, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries when coal burning was widespread.  The term gained prominence in the late 19th century and was used by those from rural areas to describe the smog that often enveloped the city.