Professor Pui Yiu Martha Cheung, of Hong Kong Baptist University, passed away on 10 September 2013, at the age of 60.
She is best known for her editing, annotation and part-translation of An Anthology of Chinese Discourse on Translation, Volume One: From Earliest Times to the Buddhist Project (2006), which was part of her ongoing project to make Chinese translation history and theory better known. In this, as in her dedication to knowledge and lively personal relations with scholars and students, she played a key role in international Translation Studies.
She is much missed.
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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The Translation Programme and Arts Faculty at Hong Kong Baptist University will be producing a memorial booklet with condolence messages and photos of Prof. Cheung. A memorial webpage is also being set up where these will be posted.
Please send any condolence messages or photos to Esther Kwok at the Centre for Translation, ctn@hkbu.edu.hk , by 17th September. If sending photos, please provide brief details about the occasion and date of the photo.
Thank you,
Centre for Translation
Hong Kong Baptist University
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The President of Hong Kong Baptist University has issued the following statement.
| Dear colleagues, students and alumni,
It is with deep sadness that I share with you the news of the passing of Professor Martha Cheung, Chair Professor in Translation at the Department of English Language and Literature, and Director of the Centre for Translation, on 10 September 2013. Professor Cheung was a beloved figure among colleagues and students since she joined us 18 years ago. She was one of the top translation scholars in the world and a much respected teacher and mentor whose contribution to the University in teaching, research and service was uniformly and consistently excellent. Her tremendous energy, enthusiasm, good humour, professionalism and integrity made her a role model to fellow colleagues and students. Professor Cheung joined HKBU in 1995 as Associate Professor, and was promoted to Professor in 1998 and Chair Professor in 2007. Over the years, she held a number of concurrent posts, including Director of the Centre for Translation, Head of the BA (Hons) in Translation programme, and Associate Vice-President responsible for the implementation of the four-year undergraduate curriculum. She also served on numerous HKBU committees, both at the university and faculty levels. Professor Cheung’s dedicated service won her several honours and awards from HKBU. She was twice awarded the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Scholarly Work, and once received the President’s Award in Teaching. A prolific writer and researcher, Professor Cheung’s contributions to the research and academic community and the discipline of translation studies were powerful and highly esteemed both locally and internationally. Her groundbreaking Anthology of Chinese Discourse on Translation, volume 1 of which, titled From Earliest Times to the Buddhist Project, made her a much sought-after speaker on the international conference circuit, and at prestigious doctoral research training programmes such as that at CETRA in Leuven, Belgium, and the Nida School in Misano, Italy. Professor Cheung continued work on volume 2 of her Chinese Discourse project even through her illness. She also served as advisory member to several international organisations and editorial board member to a number of international academic journals. As a teacher, Professor Cheung had a genuine desire to help her students achieve more, and the same caring attentiveness was channeled into mentoring colleagues as well. Such demonstrations of complete commitment to the cause of cultivating up-and-coming scholars were part of a philosophy that sought always to nurture the positive in people. Please join me in extending our heartfelt condolences to Professor Cheung’s family at this time of bereavement. She will be missed by the HKBU community, especially those who had the opportunity to work with her or were taught by her. Her contributions to HKBU, the tertiary education sector and the discipline of translation studies will always be remembered. The funeral of Professor Cheung will be held at 9:00 am on 30 September 2013 at the Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point. A memorial gathering will be organised by the Faculty of Arts in early October, with details to be announced in due course. Albert S C Chan 12 September 2013 |