Re-semiotization Strategies in the Multimodal Translation of Zhuang Medicine: A Case Study of a Color Atlas

As an important component of the Chinese nation’s excellent traditional culture, Zhuang medicine is significant in terms of its translation and transmission to the world, particularly in promoting the globalization of Chinese culture. In the face of diverse communication media demands, traditional single-modal language and text translation is ineffective for spreading knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine. The study examines the knowledge re-semiotization strategies employed in the English translation of the Zhuang medical monograph Commonly Used Zhuang Medicinal Herb Color Atlas. By analyzing the transformation of semiotic modes, including images and texts and producing a text integrating word and image elements by re-semiotization strategies, this study reveals how Zhuang medical knowledge is reproduced through new symbols. The study identifies three common translation issues that require resolution in the target text: register reconstruction, academic semantic gaps, and symbol substitution. The results of the study focus on specific strategies to address these issues: symbol transference, symbol supplementation and symbol reconstruction in a multimodal environment. Such translation not only strengthens the communication between Chinese nation and world, but also provides a model for the international transmission of traditional medicine.