Can You Help Others to Translate or Proofread Chinese Meeting Parts?

I occasionally get emails asking for help in preparing Chinese talks or other meeting parts. For example, a brother in a Chinese group in the USA recently asked:

“If we write up an English talk can someone help us convert [it] to Mandarin for us?”

The group he is in is likely a small one, and the closest Chinese congregation to his group that I know of is over four hours’ drive away, according to Google Earth, although perhaps that depends on who’s driving :-). I suppose that many others are in a similar situation, that sometimes they need a translator or proofreader to help them to prepare a meeting part, but it may be difficult for them to find one.

I suppose also that everyone’s busy in the Chinese field in general, and since you’re reading this blog, you’re probably still learning Chinese yourself. But consider:

1. Especially if you’ve been at it a little while, there are almost certainly a large number of people in the worldwide Chinese field who are even less far along than you are, who could benefit from your help.
2. As you may have noticed from preparing your own parts, such translation or proofreading can give your Chinese language abilities a good workout, that helps them to grow and be strengthened in the process. I have certainly found that to be so with my own meeting parts, as well as with the 3-line production work I do. So, while helping others in need, you can help yourself as well.

If you feel you may be able to make yourself available occasionally to help someone else translate or proofread a meeting part, please email me to let me know, and I will pass on the contact information you agree to supply to ones like the above-mentioned brother who need such help. (Please be prepared to provide a reference on request who can vouch for your translating or proofreading ability. Technical details about what information formats to send each other while doing the translating or proofreading work will be up to you and whomever you end up helping.)

The Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video Page Will Soon Go Offline

I am deeply disappointed to have to inform you that the elder bodies of the Mandarin congregations in my area have withdrawn even the minimal amount of cooperation needed on their part for me to be able to continue to provide Mandarin public talk audio and video recordings on the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video web page.

As a result of this development, I have decided to take the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video web page offlline at about midnight of this Saturday night/Sunday morning (June 19/20, 2010). It has been my pleasure and my privilege for several years to help make it possible for Mandarin public talks to be presented at times and in places where it would not have been possible to do so otherwise.

Remember, Jehovah God is always available to hear the petitions of his faithful servants, including those working away in places where the need is great. (Luke 11:5-12; 18:1-8) May he continue to bless your efforts and provide whatever is needed for the development of the Chinese field in your area.

Talk 152 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 152 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

For thoughts on how the April 2010 km Question Box relates or does not relate to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page and its contents, please check out the contents of this file. (The password is the same as for the files available for download from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page.)

Talk 20 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 20 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 59 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 59 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

For thoughts on how the April 2010 km Question Box relates or does not relate to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page and its contents, please check out the contents of this file. (The password is the same as for the files available for download from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page.)

Talk 77 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 77 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Note that the following section has been added to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page:

Authenticity of the Recordings

I have heard of concerns being expressed that these recordings could “easily” be altered by a malicious third party to make it appear as if the speaker were saying things that he did not actually say. While I am not sure if it is accurate to say that this would be easy to do in a way that is not obvious, or if it would still require the efforts of highly trained (and expensive) professional special effects technicians, I suppose it is theoretically possible. However, it is relatively easy to guard against such tampering:

• First, it should at least help to make sure to only use recordings downloaded directly from this page.
• Most importantly, just have a person who is qualified (both spiritually and language-wise) check each recording before it is shown, especially if it is to be shown in a Kingdom Hall.
  • Each public talk recording is now only about 30 minutes long, so this check would only add about that much time to the preparation time required for each presentation.
  • If a person who is qualified both spiritually and language-wise is not available, perhaps alternately someone qualified language-wise could translate the recording, either verbally or in writing, for evaluation by someone else who is spiritually qualified.

Of course, if you learn of any actual tampering with the recordings, let me know right away!

Talk 9 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 9 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Note that the following section has been added to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page:

Authenticity of the Recordings

I have heard of concerns being expressed that these recordings could “easily” be altered by a malicious third party to make it appear as if the speaker were saying things that he did not actually say. While I am not sure if it is accurate to say that this would be easy to do in a way that is not obvious, or if it would still require the efforts of highly trained (and expensive) professional special effects technicians, I suppose it is theoretically possible. However, it is relatively easy to guard against such tampering:

• First, it should at least help to make sure to only use recordings downloaded directly from this page.
• Most importantly, just have a person who is qualified (both spiritually and language-wise) check each recording before it is shown, especially if it is to be shown in a Kingdom Hall.
  • Each public talk recording is now only about 30 minutes long, so this check would only add about that much time to the preparation time required for each presentation.
  • If a person who is qualified both spiritually and language-wise is not available, perhaps alternately someone qualified language-wise could translate the recording, either verbally or in writing, for evaluation by someone else who is spiritually qualified.

Of course, if you learn of any actual tampering with the recordings, let me know right away!

Added Suggestion Re Checking the Authenticity of PT Recordings

In addition to the additions to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page listed in yesterday’s post, this additional suggestion has been added:

• If a person who is qualified both spiritually and language-wise is not available, perhaps alternately someone qualified language-wise could translate the recording, either verbally or in writing, for evaluation by someone else who is spiritually qualified.

Talk 148 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 148 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Note that the following section has been added to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page:

Authenticity of the Recordings

I have heard of concerns being expressed that these recordings could “easily” be altered by a malicious third party to make it appear as if the speaker were saying things that he did not actually say. While I am not sure if it is accurate to say that this would be easy to do in a way that is not obvious, or if it would still require the efforts of highly trained (and expensive) professional special effects technicians, I suppose it is theoretically possible. However, it is relatively easy to guard against such tampering:

• First, it should at least help to make sure to only use recordings downloaded directly from this page.
• Most importantly, just have a person who is qualified (both spiritually and language-wise) check each recording before it is shown, especially if it is to be shown in a Kingdom Hall.
  • Each public talk recording is now only about 30 minutes long, so this check would only add about that much time to the preparation time required for each presentation.

Of course, if you learn of any actual tampering with the recordings, let me know right away!

Talk 26 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 26 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 22 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 22 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 146 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 146 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 103 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 103 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 169 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 169 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 168 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 168 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

One thing that is notable about this talk is that it was given by a missionary brother.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 143 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 143 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 12 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 12 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen's information is also available in Simp+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you're with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 8 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 8 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen's information is also available in Simp+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you're with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 137 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 137 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen's information is also available in Simp+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you're with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 95 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 95 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen's information is also available in Simp+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you're with, who referred you to this site, etc.