The "International Conference on Translation, Literature, and Cross-Cultural Understanding" co-sponsored by CityU's Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics and Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies (CCS) was held from 22 to 23 April.

Translation has always played an important role in understanding and communication across linguistic and cultural gaps. In comparative literature and world literature studies, what role does translation play in expanding our range of knowledge? How does translation operate in cross-cultural understanding? Does translation have any negative influence in

representing a different literature and culture? These and many other questions were explored during the Conference, attended by world-renowned scholars, including: David Damrosch, Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, the US; and Harish Trivedi, Professor of English at the University of Delhi, India. Both scholars are also participating in the regular, ongoing Cross-Cultural Studies Lectures series at CityU.

Professor Zhang Longxi, CCS Director, observed, "This event does not just showcase CityU's research expertise and quality teaching, but also serves to support the internationalisation of our campus, as it can help to raise cross-cultural awareness among staff and students. East-West studies are highlighted as the best scholars augment a global perspective on our world and our time." Professor Zhang was the first Chinese scholar to deliver the prestigious Alexander Lectures at the University of Toronto, Canada, this spring.

CityU's Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies promotes research on the interactions between Chinese and other cultural traditions. Taking advantage of the international characteristics of Hong Kong and maintaining connections with eminent academics and research centres overseas, the Centre is well situated to make significant contributions to scholarship locally and internationally. 

The Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics, formerly called the Department of Applied Linguistics, was founded in 1989. It offers programmes of study designed to address the growing needs of Hong Kong and other Chinese communities for language professionals well-versed in translation and interpretation, comparative literary and cultural studies, and linguistics and language technology. Teaching and research in the Department are characterized by a strong emphasis on both the scientific and humanistic study of language and communication with the aim of achieving a balanced approach to the pursuit of theoretical insight and practical application. State-of-the-art facilities, including one of the best equipped phonetics laboratories in Asia, provide support for both teaching and research.