狗嘴里吐不出象牙 // [gǒu zǔi lǐ tǔ bù chū xiàng yá] // [literal translation]: a dog’s mouth will spit no ivory // [figurative translation]: expect no fine words from the mouth of a reprobate
I publish weekly(ish) blog posts on translation, literature, China, popular culture, teaching, language and/or technology. You can follow me on Mastodon, or subscribe by email or RSS.
about me
- My name is Dave Haysom, and I’ve been translating, editing, and writing about contemporary Chinese literature since 2012
- Recent translations include a novel by 李洱 Li Er, a poetry collection by 余幼幼 Yu Yoyo (co-translated with A.K. Blakemore), a collection of short stories by 文珍 Wen Zhen, and many other shorter works
- I was joint managing editor of Pathlight magazine from 2014 to 2018, and editor-in-chief of the Read Paper Republic project (a year-long initiative to release a weekly translation online) from 2015 to 2016
- I have organised and participated in a range of literary events, including panels and translation workshops, in collaboration with organisations such as the the Southbank Centre, the Free Word Centre, Leeds University Centre for New Chinese Writing, the Poetry Translation Centre, Beijing Bookworm Literary Festival, and Spittoon
- My essays and reviews have appeared in publications such as Granta, Words Without Borders, The Millions, China Channel, and SUPChina
- I teach English Language & Literature and Theory of Knowledge in the Diploma Programme at an IB school in Beijing