Staff Profile

Background

After obtaining my MA in translation and interpreting from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in the USA, I have worked as a freelance translator and interpreter. My subject areas of expertise in interpreting include environmental issues, science, energy, accounting, performance arts, education, and psychology. I have translated over 55 English books into Chinese, primarily in the fields of environmental literature, popular science, and children’s literature. I have 40 years of professional experience in English-Chinese translation. This includes 30 years in subtitle translation and 25 years in video game and website translation and localisation.

I began my doctoral studies at Newcastle University in 2004 and have been working here as a lecturer and researcher. I have a wide range of research interests within Translation and Interpreting Studies. Currently, my projects focus heavily on the intersection of emotion, cognitive processing, memory, and machine/AI translation, as well as pedagogy in translation, audiovisual translation, and interpreting.

Qualifications

2009 PhD, Translating & Interpreting, Newcastle University

1998 MA, Translation & Interpretation, Monterey Institute of International Studies, US

1989 BSc, Soil and Water Conservation with a Minor Subject in Foreign Languages & Literature, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan

Roles and Responsibilities

2025-present Co-Director of Postgraduate Research (SML)

Previous Positions

2025 (Feb. - July) Acting Director of Taught Postgraduate Studies, School of Modern Languages, Newcastle University

2023 (Feb. - July) Acting Director of Postgraduate Research, School of Modern Languages, Newcastle University

2018-2025 MA Chinese T&I Recruitment Team, School of Modern Languages, Newcastle University

2018-2022 Degree Programme Director of MA Chinese Translating and Interpreting, School of Modern Languages, Newcastle University

2000-2004, Part-time Lecturer, Interpreting courses, Dept. of Applied English, National Taipei University of Technology

1999-2004, Part-time Lecturer, Translation courses, Continuing Education Center, Chinese Culture University

Honours and Awards

2010: The Sixth WenJin Book Award by the National Library of China (中国国家图书馆第六届文津图书奖) with the Chinese Translation of the book 'DNA: The Secret of Life' (DNA:生命的秘密), written by J.D. Watson.

Research Interests

Translation/interpreting studies: I am interested in how emotions and paralinguistics influence interpreters themselves and their interpreting behaviour and performance, how translators/interpreters construe meaning, how their beliefs interact with their socio-cultural identities and learning motivation

Audiovisual translation and video game translation, especially the creative and affective aspects of multimodal interaction within audiovisual and video game contexts

Reflective and autonomous learning, especially the role that educational psychology and philosophy play in translator and interpreter education

Human-machine interaction, especially the analytical, evaluative, affective, and reflective aspects of the interaction between translators and machine/AI-powered language tools

Current Work

Completing a monograph on interpreter education: from classroom to workplace

Completing a paper on gender and interpreting

Completing a monograph on multimodality and audiovisual translation with a special focus on game translation

Current PhD students

Chen, Yang - Judicial Interpreting Policies in Chinese Courts, 1912-1949

Chen, Yufan - The Impact of Trainee Interpreters’ Engagement with ASR Support on Cognitive Load and Output Completeness in English-to-Chinese Remote Simultaneous Interpreting

Chen, Zixiao - Schema-Mediated Player Reception in Chinese-to-English Video Game Localisation: How English-Speaking Players Receive and Reconstruct Cultural Meaning from Translated RPG Narratives

Deng, Yixuan - Translating Female Body, Sexuality and Voice in Modern China: the Case of Xiao Hong into English

Guo, Anqi - Assessing the Emotional Impact of Subtitles on the Senior Population: An Audiovisual Translation Perspective

Liao, Yangsi - Investigating the Influences of AI-generated Content on the Cognitive Load of Simultaneous Interpreters

Li, Alex - Subtitling Dialect Humour: Strategies, Stereotypes, and Reception

Li, Ailin - Reloading Herstories - A Multimodal Case Study on Female Representation in Video Game Localisation

Li, Zhengchao - A Case Study of Wilt L. Idema’s Translatorial Habitus and His English Translation of China’s Four Great Folktales

Lin, Alice - A Critical Discourse Analysis of Gender Expressions and the Intersectionality with Class in the Translation of Hong Lou Meng

Qiu, Tian - Multilingual Crisis Communication Management, Practices, and Beliefs: A Comparative Study of China and the UK

Tang, Wenjing - Translating Gender from Postmodern Feminist Perspective: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando into Chinese

Wei, Feifei - The Dynamics between Verbal and Nonverbal Semiotics in Museum Interpreting: A Multimodal Approach

Wang, Jing - Stress and Syntax: A Comparative Study of Remote and Onsite Simultaneous Interpreting

Yu, Phoebe - Emotional Regulation Strategies in Simultaneous Interpreting

Yu, Tianyu - Translating Women's Gender Roles in Moment in Peking

Current visiting PhD students

Wan, Ju -  Negotiating Boundaries and Ethics in Interpreter Immigration Contexts - A Case Study of Angel Island

Past PhD students completed

2025 - Feng, Daisy - Investigating the Chinese Fan Subtitling of Lesbian Representation in Anglophone Audiovisual Texts: A Multimodal Case Study of Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)

2025 - Yang, Songling - Influence of Anxiety on Student Interpreters’ Self-repair in English-to-Chinese Simultaneous Interpreting

2025 - Cong, Cen - Exploring the Impact of Positive and Negative Emotions on the Performance of Student Interpreters in Simultaneous Interpreting

2024 - Robertson, Dariush - Investigating the Chinese to English Translation of Culture Specific Items in the Localisation of a Wuxia Role Playing Video Game

2024 - Liao, Chongjun - A Study on the Feeling of Difficulty in Simultaneous Interpreting from the Metacognitive Perspective

2023 - Wu, Jingyi - A Corpus-based Study of Collocations in Chinese-to-English Consecutive Interpreting

2022 - Cao, X., 'Translating Sexually Explicit Language in Popular Fiction from English into Chinese: Exploring Patterns and Strategies'

2017 - He, Z., 'Multiple Causality of Differences in Taboo Translation of Blockbuster Films by Chinese Fansubbers and Professionals'

2017 - Lin, Y. H., 'How suspense in detective fiction is affected when translated : a case study based on textual analysis of three Chinese translations of The Hound of the Baskervilles'

2017 - Wang, L., 'West Wind: Being “Modern” and “Chinese” through Translation'

2016 - Wang. T.W., 'Discourse markers in English-Chinese Simultaneous Interpreting'

2015 - Nunes Vieira, L., 'Cognitive Effort in Post-Editing of Machine Translation: Evidence from Eye movements, subjective ratings, and Think-Aloud Protocols'

Funding

2025 (Dec.) HaSS Global Fund, "Investigating college students’ decision-making process when using ChatGPT for the translation of creative texts"

2025 (April) HaSS Global Fund, "Investigating the soft and hard skills required of translators and interpreters in the post‑GenAI era"

2023 Research Capital Investment Fund (RCIF) part of the UoA 26 submission for RCIF for the purchase of state-of-the-art research equipment

2022 QR Enhancing Research Culture Fund (QR-ERCF), People Fund, HaSS, 'Investigating societal and emotional challenges facing young female Chinese interpreters in a patriarchal Chinese society'

2021 Covid Recovery Fund, SML, HaSS, 'Investigating societal and emotional challenges facing novice Chinese interpreters'

2021 Covid Support Fund, HaSS , 'Investigating Transcreativity through a Multimodal Analysis of the Translation of in-Game Texts'

2018 HaSS Teaching Development Fund, 'Creating an Interactive On-line Mini Game to Enhance Students' Learning Experience with Game Translation and Employability Prospect'.

2018, ULTSEC Innovation fund, 'Creating an Interactive On-line Mini Game to Enhance Students' Learning Experience with Game Translation and Employability Prospect'.

2015, International Conference Scheme fund, for supporting TTTW-2 conference.

2014, Profile Raising Fund (SML), the Newcastle Interpreting Forum project

2012, Faculty Research Fund, 'Redefining Fidelity in Chinese-English Interpreting'

2011, Faculty REF funding, 'Chinese trainee interpreters' identity conflicts and learning motivation'

2011, UTLC "Just One Thing" project on interpreting assessment and feedback

2009, UTLC Innovation Fund for developing a virtual-learning platform

2008, CCKF PhD dissertation Fellowship for the completion of my PhD.

2004-2007, Newcastle University International Postgraduate Scholarship

Postgraduate Teaching

CHN8024 Consecutive Interpreting II
CHN7003 Translating I (module leader)
SML7000 Information Technology for T&I (module leader)
CHN8035 Chinese-English Subtitle and Video Game Translation (module leader)
MA dissertation/project supervision

PhD supervision 

• Article

  • Callicott JB, Chen YY(co-trans.). 保育價值與倫理學[Conservation Values and Ethics]. 鵝湖學誌(Legein Society) 2002, 25, 145-188.

• Authored Books

  • Loewen JW, Chen YY (trans.). 老師的謊言：美國高中課本不教的歷史[Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong]. Taipei: UnderTable Publisher, 2015.
  • Pellatt V, Liu E, Chen YY. Translating Chinese Culture: The process of Chinese-English translation. London, UK: Routledge, 2014.
  • Chen YY(trans.). 改變電影的100個觀念[by David Parkinson]. Taipei, Taiwan: Faces Publishing, 2013.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 消失的天才 [by Masha Gessen]. Taipei: Faces Publishing, 2012.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 人．魚．海的兩種未來: 從餐桌的盛宴到海洋的盡頭, 一位漁夫作家從魚市出發的溯源之旅 [by Paul Greenberg]. Taipei: Faces Publishing, 2012.
  • Hempton G, Grossmann J, Chen YY (trans). 一平方英寸的寂靜 [One Square Inch of Silence: One Man's Search for Natural Silence in a Noisy World]. Taipei: Faces Publishing Ltd, 2011.
  • Langer EJ, Chen YY (trans.). 逆時針 [Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility]. Taiwan: The EURASIAN Publishing Group, 2010.
  • Barrett D, Chen YY (trans.). 綁架本能的世界：影響所有決定的「超常刺激」理論 [Supernormal Stimuli: how primal urges overran their evolutionary purpose]. Taiwan: The EURASIAN Publishing Group, 2010.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 誓言為什麼變謊言 [by Robin L. Smith]. Taiwan: The Commonwealth Publishing Co, 2007.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 科學大哉問 [edited by Harriet Swain]. Taiwan: The Trio Publications, CITE Publishing Ltd, 2007.
  • Chen YY (trans.). DNA：生命的秘密 [by James D. Watson]. Taiwan: The China Times Publishing Co, 2006.
  • Graham I, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是阿波羅13號太空人[You Wouldn’t Want To Be On Apollo 13!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Malam J, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是長毛象獵人[You Wouldn’t Want To Be A Mammoth Hunter!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Hicks P, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是美國西部警察[You Wouldn’t Want To Live In A Wild West Town!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Malam J, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是羅馬格鬥士[You Wouldn’t Want To Be A Roman Gladiator!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Malam J, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是海盜船囚犯[You Wouldn’t Want To Be A Pirate’s Prisoner!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Green J, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是極地探險家[You Wouldn’t Want To Be A Polar Explorer!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Cook P, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是捕鯨船水手[You Wouldn’t Want To Sail on A 19-Century Whaling Ship!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Ford M, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是希臘運動員[You Wouldn’t Want To Be A Greek Athlete!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Stewart D, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是埃及木乃伊[You Wouldn’t Want To Be An Egyptian Mummy!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • MacDonald F, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是哥倫布的小水手[You Wouldn’t Want To Sail With Christopher Columbus!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • MacDonald F, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你是中世紀騎士[You Wouldn’t Want To Be A Medieval Knight!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Stewart D, Chen YY(trans.). 如果你搭上鐵達尼號[You Wouldn’t Want To Sail on the Titanic!]. Taipei: Salariya Book Company, 2005.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 休想困住我 [by Keith Yamashita & Sandra Spataro]. Taiwan: The Commonwealth Publishing Co, 2005.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 費曼的彩虹－物理大師的最後24堂課 [by Leonard Mlodinow]. Taiwan: The EURASIAN Publishing Group, 2004.
  • Earle SA, Chen YY(trans.). 珊瑚礁[Coral Reefs]. Taipei: Choice Publishing Company, 2004.
  • Prager EJ, Chen YY(trans.). 火山[Volcano!]. Taipei: Choice Publishing Company, 2004.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 海中精靈：鯨、海豚與鼠海豚 [by National Geographic Society]. Taiwan: The Choice Publishing Company Ltd, 2004.
  • Tomecek S, Chen YY(trans.). 泥土[Dirt]. Taipei: Choice Publishing Company, 2004.
  • Prager EJ, Chen YY(trans.). 沙子[Sand]. Taipei: Choice Publishing Company, 2004.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 模糊的未來：從社會、科學到晶片中的天堂 [by Bart Kosko]. Taiwan: The EURASIAN Publishing Group, 2004.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 改變世界的簡單法則 [by Mark Buchanan]. Taiwan: The EURASIAN Publishing Group, 2004.
  • Heiligman D, Chen YY(trans.). 寶寶[Babies]. Taipei: Choice Publishing Company, 2004.
  • Prager EJ, Chen YY(trans.). 地震[Earthquakes]. Taipei: Choice Publishing Company, 2004.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 一動一靜都是策略 [by Bruce Pandolfini ]. Taiwan: The Commonwealth Publishing Co, 2004.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 獅子、獅子 [by National Geographic Society]. Taiwan: The Choice Publishing Company Ltd, 2003.
  • Davis W, Chen YY(co-trans.). 世界的臉譜[Peoples of the World: A Guide to Cultures]. Taipei: Choice Publishing Company, 2003.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 從零開始－追蹤零的符號與意義 [by Robert Kaplan]. Taiwan: The EURASIAN Publishing Group, 2002.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 男人來自火星，女人來自金星：愛的絮語－關於男人 [by John Gray]. Taiwan: Commonwealth Publishing Co, 2001.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 演化進行曲:從大象的耳朵談起 [by Chris Lavers]. Taiwan: The Walnut Tree Publishing Co, 2001.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 日本巨變:從日本經濟文化變革到全球勢力的重分配 [by Milton Ezrati]. Taiwan: The Yuan-Liou Publishing Company, 2001.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 出診叢林妙獸醫 [by William B. Karesh]. Taiwan: The Commonwealth Publishing Co, 2001.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 踏入宇宙的一小步－黑洞、蟲洞、時光機 [by Jim Al-Khalili]. Taiwan: The EURASIAN Publishing Group, 2000.
  • Chen YY(co-trans.). Love愛情. Taipei: Commonwealth Publishing, 2000.
  • Chen YY(co-trans.). Happiness快樂. Taipei: Commonwealth Publishing, 2000.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 沼澤地夢遊者-烏龜生活記事 [by David M. Carroll]. Taiwan: The Commonwealth Publishing Co, 1999.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 哈囉，獸醫先生！[by J. McCormack]. Taiwan: The Commonwealth Publishing Co, 1999.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 夏日走過山間 [by John Muir]. Taiwan: The Commonwealth Publishing Co, 1998.
  • Chen YY (trans.). 依然是我 [by Christopher Reeve]. Taiwan: The Commonwealth Publishing Co, 1998.

• Book Chapters

  • Chen YY. Assessing Translation Students’ Reflective and Autonomous Learning. In: Huertas-Barros, E; Vandepitte, S; Iglesias-Fernández, E, ed. Quality Assurance and Assessment Practices in Translation and Interpreting. IGI Global, 2019, pp.288-314.
  • Chen YY. Translating films. In: Pellatt,V;Liu,E;Chen,YY, ed. Translating Chinese Culture: The Process of Chinese-English Translation. Routledge, 2014, pp.151-166.
  • Chen YY. Trainee Translators' Reflective Learning in Small Group Discussion. In: Pellatt, V., Griffiths, K., Wu, S.C, ed. Teaching and Testing Interpreting and Translating. Oxford and New York: Peter Lang, 2010, pp.81-95.
  • Mench JA, Chen YY(trans.). 農場動物福利 [Farm-Animal Welfare]. In: Bekoff,M;Meaney,CA, ed. 動物權與動物福利小百科[Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare ]. Taipei: Laureate Book, 2002, pp.173-175.
  • Waldau P, Chen YY(trans.). 工廠化農場(集約飼養)[Factory Farming]. In: Bekoff,M;Meaney,CA, ed. 動物權與動物福利小百科[Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare ]. Taipei: Laureate Book, 2002, pp.172-173.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Chen YY. Trainee Translators' Awareness-raising: A Process-oriented Study on Diary, Think-aloud and Small Group Discussion. In: The Proceedings of the 2007 International Conference on TESOL and Translation. 2007, Taiwan: Chang Jung Christian University.