I'm in Chinese!

I just received a few new copies of my book, High Impact Middle Management. It has been translated into Chinese. It's cool to look at and I am thrilled that my Chinese readers now have their own version. I do wonder about the quality of the translation and whether my intended points will come across..... I can only assume and hope that the translators know what they are doing. It is also interesting how different the covers look.

       

Comments

[Dick Richards]

Very cool Lisa. Congratulations! I know exactly what you are going through....

http://www.ongenius.com/blog/index.php/2006/01/28/culture-shock/

[Lisa Haneberg]

Dick, that is very cool, thanks for sharing it! I love the bit about the graphic on the Chinese version of your book and wisdom entering from the top of the head.

[Warren]

Lisa, Congratulations, that's great news. Maybe you can do a book tour over there!

[Lisa Haneberg]

A tour in China - that would be fun!

[James Shewmaker]

Lisa,

My current business (not the one that I am planning and have written to you about privately) is involved in visual impact as well as traffic acquisition and retention.

As a visual design professional, I was immediately hit by the difference between the visual messages of these two cover designs. Most people do not realize how much they are sub-conciously affected by the gestalt of a visual design. (I use the term gestalt, because it is the sum total of the small details and not the details themselves.)

These two covers are actually "saying" two different things, visually. The English language version is saying "This book is accessible and interesting and designed for a wide audience." The Chinese version visually says, "The author is an experienced and educated professional who knows the subject of this book. C-Level executives will be benefited by this book."

Now a word of caution - The Gestalt of Visual Design impacts the members of divergent cultures differently. It may very well be that the visual components of the Chinese design have cultural codes of which I am not aware.

Cultural codes are a fascinating topic. A language can be used in multiple countries and yet because of cultural history, the words have differing connotations. For example, many South American cultures had an egalitarian history (although dominated by dictatorships) while Mexico was impacted by 300 years of an aristocracy and a racial caste system. This affects the connotations of some words in Mexico.

Another Cultural Code has to do with respect. While Americans view the rear passenger side seat as the seat of most respect in a four door sedan, the Japanese tend to view the seat directly behind the driver as the seat of most respect.

Therefore, since I am not a member of the culture of China, I can not speak to how someone raised in that culture is impacted by the visual gestalt of the covers.

James

P.S. If you know of anyone who would benefit from the work of a cross cultural etiquette coach, I know a woman who specializes in that field.

[Lisa Haneberg]

James - How interesting! It would be great to know that what cover "says" to someone from China... Any readers from China out there?

[Kevin]

Lisa,

So appreciate your great stuff.I am your Chinese reader and buy your Chinese vision about High Impact Middle Management.but i thought the translater maybe not know what she/he do because of your point is not clear.Hope i am wrong.Anyway,so many readers like your points and books.

Regards,

Kevin

[Lisa Haneberg]

Kevin:

Your comment is interesting. Translation is a funny thing, right? Not everything - thoughts, feelings, intent can be translated by simply reading and translating each individual word.

Thanks for reading the Chinese version!