Translation Strategy Used in the Four-Character Words Translation of a Chinese Government Document
Abstract
Translation of culturally rich and semantically dense Chinese four-character words into English has unique challenges in the globalization era. This paper discusses the strategies adopted in the translation of Respecting and Protecting the Rights of All Ethnic Groups in Xinjiang, with special attention to Domestication and Foreignization strategies as framed by Lawrence Venuti. The qualitative analysis yields that an approach of Domestication strengthens understand ability at the cost of risky cultural losses and that Foreignization retains local peculiarities but may undermine proper comprehensiveness. To guarantee understanding and preservation, especially transnationals a balance between two strategies is important. It uses translation analysis of the four-character word translations in the white paper by classifying them into Domestication and Foreignization approaches and determining their effectiveness with respect to readability, cultural fidelity, and feedback from readers. The findings highlight how the respective strategy would be apt for both audience and text type. Domestication increases comprehension and may risk a loss of cultural depth, while Foreignization retains most of the cultural essence of the original through an increase in cognitive load. Both strategies may meet in a quality translation sensitive to cultural shades but acceptable to a wide audience. The present study contributes to the development of optimum translation practices within high-culture texts and delineates a series of topics that can become the object of research, including the use of technological tools to support the so-called balanced translation.
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References
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