Translation of Chinese Traditional Costume-related Texts from the Perspective of Cross-cultural Communication

With the globalization of cultural exchanges, the accurate translation of traditional costume texts has become pivotal for disseminating cultural heritage internationally. Focusing on the China National Silk Museum’s collection translations, this study investigates strategies for rendering culturally specific elements, such as color terms, pattern descriptors, culture-loaded phrases, and technical nomenclature, into English. By analyzing translation cases through the lens of cross-cultural communication theory, the research highlights the necessity of balancing cultural fidelity with target-language accessibility. Key findings reveal that hybrid approaches, combining literal translation, transliteration, and contextual adaptation, effectively preserve cultural authenticity while ensuring clarity for international audiences. The study underscores the role of translators as cultural mediators, advocating for strategies that prioritize functional equivalence and intercultural sensitivity. This work contributes practical methodologies for translating traditional textile texts, emphasizing the harmonization of linguistic precision and cultural resonance to advance global understanding of China’s sartorial heritage.