HARMONY IN TRANSLATION: SKOPOS THEORY AND ITS APPLICATION IN FOSTERING CULTURAL EXCHANGE THROUGH CULTURAL RELIC TEXTS AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CHINA

Abstract

The translation of cultural relic texts in museums is an essential part of introducing and spreading Chinese culture. As Chinese cultural soft power continues to enhance, more foreign visitors are showing boundless interest and enthusiasm in Chinese culture. The appropriate translation of cultural relic texts can help foreign tourists acquire more knowledge and have a better visiting experience while appreciating cultural heritages. This study analyzes some cases from the National Museum of China, the most representative museum in China, using the Skopos Theory to discuss different problems during the translation process and to figure out the appropriate methods to eliminate communication barriers for foreign tourists to increase their interactions with museums. The Skopos Theory emphasizes that translation should be oriented toward target readers, whereby the means of translation should be determined by the translation's purpose. This study summarizes four appropriate methods of translation, namely transliteration plus explanation, amplification, free translation, and omission, under the guidance of Skopos Theory. The research utilizes detailed analyses and categorization of typical cases that reveal the inadequacy of simple translation in conveying the cultural connotation to the target audience, resulting in the need for accurate translation with cultural amplification. Cultural relic texts' special national cultural connotation and their translation's purpose, which require different levels and dimensions in translation purpose, make them different from general text translation. This study attempts to provide some practical translation strategies for cultural relic texts through the Skopos Theory.