Research Article
A Study on the Interpretation of Cultural Heterogeneity in Chinese Classics Translation — Taking the English Translation of The Classic of Tea as an Example
Li Huifang*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 4, December 2025
Pages:
100-106
Received:
11 September 2025
Accepted:
20 September 2025
Published:
27 October 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijalt.20251104.11
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Abstract: Translation is a cross-cultural interpretive activity that requires respect for the uniqueness of “the other” in the source language culture and reconciliation of its heterogeneity within the target language environment. Taking two English translations of The Classic of Tea as research subjects, this paper explores the interpretation of cultural heterogeneity in Chinese classics and the similarities and differences in their compensatory strategies from the perspective of translation motivations. The study shows that the two translations adopt sharply different interpretive strategies. Carpenter’s version, produced at the time of the Cold War for Western audiences who knew little about the East, tends to adopt domestication, smoothing away cultural friction so the text would be accepted more easily. Jiang’s, by contrast, appears under China’s cultural “going-out” initiative: here the translator speaks as a self-appointed cultural envoy, foregrounding foreignness through an alienating lens. What drives the swing from one pole to the other is a mix of imagined readers, ideological stance, and the quiet pressure of institutional patrons. This research also demonstrates the dynamic reconciliation mechanism between foreignization and domestication in the translation of Chinese classics, providing theoretical and practical references for enhancing the effectiveness of China’s tea culture dissemination abroad.
Abstract: Translation is a cross-cultural interpretive activity that requires respect for the uniqueness of “the other” in the source language culture and reconciliation of its heterogeneity within the target language environment. Taking two English translations of The Classic of Tea as research subjects, this paper explores the interpretation of cultural he...
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Research Article
A Comparative Study on the Translation Quality of Chinese Diplomatic Discourse by NMT and LLMs Based on Multidimensional Quality Metrics
Dong Lu*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 4, December 2025
Pages:
107-115
Received:
26 September 2025
Accepted:
10 October 2025
Published:
27 October 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijalt.20251104.12
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Abstract: Chinese diplomatic discourse plays a crucial role in articulating China’s position and enhancing its influence in global forums. However, machine translation (MT) often struggles with culturally nuanced and abstract expressions, highlighting the need to compare various advanced MT tools. This study assesses and compares the translation quality of Neural Machine Translation (NMT) systems and Large Language Models (LLMs) in translating Chinese diplomatic texts, focusing on the 2025 China-US tariff statements by China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, with China Daily’s official English versions serving as references. Four NMT tools (Niutrans, Youdao, Google, DeepL) and four LLMs (DeepSeek, Ernie-4.5, ChatGPT-4.0, Gemini) were examined. Using the Multidimensional Quality Metrics (MQM) framework, the study evaluated translations, especially for phrases like “奉陪到底” (fight to the end) and “得道多助,失道寡助” (A just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust one finds little). Results show that LLMs outperform NMTs: 50% of LLMs (DeepSeek, Ernie-4.5) accurately translated both phrases, while only 25% of NMTs (Google) did so for “奉陪到底,” and none for “得道多助,失道寡助.” Both systems faced issues such as undertranslation, omission, and a lack of diplomatic formality. The findings suggest that LLMs have greater potential to handle cultural nuances and abstract content in diplomatic texts, providing insights for enhancing domain-specific MT training and striking a balance between accuracy and acceptability in conveying Chinese diplomatic messages.
Abstract: Chinese diplomatic discourse plays a crucial role in articulating China’s position and enhancing its influence in global forums. However, machine translation (MT) often struggles with culturally nuanced and abstract expressions, highlighting the need to compare various advanced MT tools. This study assesses and compares the translation quality of N...
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