Faculty Publications and Conference Presentations

The inherent semantic relatedness and closeness of near-synonyms pose difficulties to second language (L2) learners in comprehending and applying lexical knowledge in real situations. Previous studies have shown a sophisticated corpus-based method of distinguishing Chinese near-synonyms from a more ‘theoretical-based’ approach, the application of corpora in learning near-synonyms in an L2 classroom, however, is underexplored. This study reports both the ‘theoretical-based’ and ‘pedagogical-application’ of using corpora in studying ‘business’ related near-synonyms, and a significant gap between the ‘theory’ and the ‘application’ is identified. Our findings not only affirm the ‘theoretical-based’ method in capturing subtle nuances of near-synonyms but suggest implications of ‘pedagogical-application’ in teaching and learning near-synonyms with corpora. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.

Human sensations and emotions are our primary embodied feelings in experiencing the outside world. The two systems are closely intertwined and jointly contribute to cognitive processes such as language use. However, how the two systems interact as manifested in our languages is still not well understood. This paper utilizes perceptual strengths and affective ratings to delve into the interaction between specific sensory modalities and emotional valence-arousal in Chinese. We found that smell and interoception, considered the two sensations directly linked to emotional processing, are more emotional and can elicit higher arousal levels than words associated with other senses. This study demonstrates the relevance and significance of the relationship between sensorimotor and affective information. It further sheds light on the embodied effect and associated emotional implications in the Chinese language. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

自港英政府時期，縱有大量中英翻譯作品，香港譯者及其翻譯策略取態對讀者的影響 甚少被研究。回歸將至，原創九七劇及改編的翻譯劇廣受大眾歡迎，但此現象亦未被 深入探討。國外翻譯學於早年已大量借用如女性主義、後殖民主義等的文學及文化理 論探討翻譯在社會意識形態所擔當的角色。相比之下，香港的翻譯研究忽略了譯者與 社會意識形態之間的重要關係，此等具文化意義的翻譯現象並未被理論化。此報告透 過翻譯在香港社會被普遍假設的定位，探索翻譯學及其所謂的理論在香港被邊緣化的 原因