Translation of World Heritage Names from the Perspective of Cultural Translation Theory: A Study on Macau

Abstract

In the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, the translation of a city’s cultural publicity to the outside world is of great significance in improving its international image. Based on the cultural translation theory of postcolonial theorist Homi K. Bhabha, this study discusses how to retain the heterogeneous otherness in the translation of the World Heritage names in Macau, so as to preserve the exotic richness and manifest cultural confidence in the translation of cultural publicity. Based on the basic concepts of "heterogeneity", "hybridity" and "third space", it is found that the translators tend to adopt restorable literal translation to retain the heterogeneous otherness in the source language and culture, and reconstruct the context of the Other so that the translated text present rich linguistic and cultural hybridity, create a third space between the source and target cultures, as well as enhance the city's international influence and communication power. Most importantly, the Macau culture, which is pluralistic, tolerant and harmonious, could be highlighted.