Keith Chi-hang Tam 譚智恆: What is the definition of ‘coexistence’?

• Should the content of the languages be direct translations of each other in order to qualify as being ‘coexisting’?
• Is ‘direct translation’ even possible, given the different literary traditions of the different languages (especially true for Chinese/English).
• When one language is ‘embedded’ into the other, does that qualifies as ‘coexisting’ (knowledge of both languages is required in order to gain meaning from the text)? Do books for learning languages qualify as ‘coexistence’, and should they be included in our studies? Are we getting into the realm of linguistics, translations and comparative literature?
• Sometimes translations are only partially available. In this case one language will be dominant and the other, subordinate. This could be for various reasons: not enough people in the subordinate language group to justify time and cost; no means to produce the piece of communication in the subordinate language. The partial translation might simply be for people in the subordinate language group to identify what the piece of communication is about (for example only title is translated). Readers who cannot read the dominant language may then seek translation if they feel that it might matter to them. In Vancouver, the city council sometimes publishes material in languages other than English, but sometimes they only publish in English and put a message in other languages – ‘This is important information. Please have it translated.’.
• Is our study about ‘translations’ primarily – both in terms of the linguistic and the graphic aspects? • In our studies, should we include language versions of the same piece of communication, even though they are produced and distributed separately, or do the languages have to physically be on the same ‘page’?

• We need to have a consensus as to what we really mean by ‘coexisting’. What are your thoughts?