Translation Exploration of Culture-Loaded Words from the Perspective of High and Low Context Cultures—A Case Study of the English Version of “<i>To Live</i>”

本文以小说《活着》的英译本为研究对象，从高低语境文化的视角探讨小说中文化负载词的翻译策略与效果。首先，将《活着》中的文化负载词划分为比喻式表达和中国文化特有的表达。通过分析译者采用的翻译策略，探讨这些策略如何反映和适应不同文化语境的需求。研究发现，译者在处理文化负载词时，经常采用直译、意译、增译、加注等多种策略。通过分析具体案例，发现译者在传达中国独特的历史、社会和文化背景时，面临着保持文化特色与避免文化障碍的平衡问题。探究《活着》中的文化负载词旨在为文化负载词的英译提供更为新颖和广阔的视角，为中华文化外译贡献一份绵薄之力。This paper examines the English translation of Yu Hua’s novel “To Live” from the perspective of high-context and low-context culture theory, focusing on the translation strategies and effects of culture-loaded words. Based on the linguistic and historical characteristics of “To Live”, this study categorizes the culture-loaded words into metaphorical expressions and expressions unique to Chinese culture. By comparing the translation strategies used to handle these terms, the paper explores how these strategies reflect and adapt to the needs of different cultural contexts. The research finds that translators often employ various strategies, such as direct translation, paraphrasing, amplification, and annotation, to ensure both fidelity to the original text and the readability and fluency of the translation. Through specific case analyses, the paper points out that in high-context cultures, certain subtle cultural connotation may be simplified or overlooked when translated into low-context languages. Additionally, translators face the challenge of balancing the preservation of cultural characteristics with the avoidance of cultural barriers when conveying China’s unique historical, social, and cultural backgrounds. This paper aims to enhance cross-cultural communication of literary works by analyzing and reflecting on the English translation of culture-loaded words in “To Live” from the perspective of high and low context cultures.