A Corpus-based Study on the Translation of Shallow Needling Related Chapters in Huangdi Neijing

Objectives This study aims to analyze chapters related to shallow needling in Li Zhaoguo's and Wu Liansheng & Wu Qi's English versions, identify the reasons for differences and draw a certain reference for its translation in the future. Methods In this study, the two translations and Chinese original version were constructed into a corpus. WordSmith 4.0, AntConc 3.4.4w, and SPSS 26 were employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis at the lexical, syntactic, and discourse levels of translations related to shallow needling. Results 1) Similarities: There is no significant difference in vocabulary density and quantity between the two translations (P>0.05), and both emphasize the use of conjunctions to express semantic relations. 2) Differences: Wu’s translation has longer word lengths compared to Li’s (P<0.01). Li often uses transliteration with literal translation and annotation, while Wu tends to apply free translation. The differences in sentence length are relatively small in Li's translation (P<0.05), and sentences are more balanced. The two translations have significant differences in using “when” (P<0.05). These differences are closely related to the translators' purposes, strategies, methods, and personal expression habits. Conclusion For the international dissemination of shallow needling, vocabulary translation can draw inspiration from Li's methods and strategies to convey more cultural knowledge related to shallow needling. Sentence translation can benefit from Wu's explicit representation of underlying medical information, facilitating the dissemination of medical knowledge. In terms of discourse, attention should be paid to conveying semantic relationships within passages.