Corpus-based critique of translator behaviour in rendering swear words: a case study of Chi-Chen Wang’s Stories of China at War

The cross-cultural translation of swear words presents significant challenges because of inherent semantic loss and complex ethical considerations. However, systematic analysis of translators’ choices in rendering offensive or highly charged expressions remains underdeveloped, particularly within specific historical and cultural contexts such as war narratives. To address these challenges and bridge this gap, we apply translator behaviour theory alongside a purpose-built Stories of China at War Chinese–English parallel corpus and use MAXQDA software to code swear words in wartime texts. A research framework is developed to analyse swear word translation across four dimensions: the referential characteristics of swear words (RSW), the classification of swear words (SWC), translator behaviour (TB), and the swear word translation strategy (TSSW). A mixed-methods (quantitative plus qualitative) analysis is conducted to examine the characteristics of the translator’s behaviour in rendering swear words in the source text. The study identifies four primary strategies employed in Wang’s translation: equivalence, substitution, euphemism, and omission. The results reveal that 106 out of 127 instances of swear words reflect a utility-attaining tendency in translator behaviour, whereas 21 instances reflect a truth-seeking inclination. Crucially, the translator’s choices are significantly influenced by the addressor’s identity, contextual factors, target audience, and cognitive–affective perceptions of the source culture. Wang strategically uses omission and euphemism to construct positive portrayals of anti-Japanese figures, reflecting both his ideological stance as a Chinese translator and his adherence to a utility-attaining translation orientation.