Lost and Found: Defying the Challenges of Chinese in Translation
- Date: Wednesday, January 14th, 2026
- Time: 8:00-9:30pm US Eastern | 5:00-6:30pm US Pacific
- CE Points: Those who attend the Zoom session live will be eligible for 1 ATA-approved CE point.
- Venue: Zoom (event link will be shared via Email to registered attendees)
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Register at: https://forms.gle/BMRaETnvo8PbHeKi7
Session Description:
Translation and interpreting professionals work to bridge the gap in language and culture, but some concepts defy direct translation. In Chinese-to-English translation and interpreting, beyond idioms and cultural references, there are structural, tonal, and contextual nuances that require reformulation to convey the intended meaning naturally. Being able to convey these nuances gives the human linguist an edge in an era of increasing competition with artificial intelligence. This session will explore key challenges faced by translators and interpreters when encountering these nuanced elements in Chinese and propose practical strategies to navigate the complexities while maintaining fidelity and idiomaticity in English translations.
Presenter’s Bio:
- Luyi Yang, CT, is an ATA-certified translator (Chinese to/from English) and accredited conference and legal interpreter. She has a master of conference interpreting degree from York University and a BA from the University of Toronto. With extensive experience working with government agencies, multinational corporations, and high-profile clients, she specializes in complex, high-stakes translation and interpreting. Through working with challenging materials and navigating linguistic and cultural nuances, she continues to refine her expertise in idiomatic and technical translations. Beyond her client work, she contributes to professional development initiatives for T&I professionals, staying at the forefront of advancements in AI-assisted translation.
- Aaron Hebenstreit, CT, is a Chinese interpreter and translator and owns a small language services company, Sinica LS, LLC. He has worked with the United Nations and other public and private sector clients for 10 years specializing in the technical and political domains of language. Aaron is licensed as a Master Court Interpreter by the state of Texas and is a member of The American Association of Language Specialists. He is a graduate of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and the International Engineering Program at the University of Rhode Island. He is an ATA-certified Chinese-to-English translator and ATA certification exam grader, and has taught for New York University, the University of Texas, and other institutions.
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