A Cross - cultural Translation Study of the Civil Code Based on Cognitive Linguistics

Abstract

In the context of deepening global exchanges in legal culture, the translation of the Civil Code has become a strategic issue in the international dissemination of China's legal achievements. This study, anchored in the theoretical framework of cognitive linguistics (conceptual metaphors, frame theory, and intentional schemata), integrates textual analysis with case studies to systematically explore the path for adapting cultural terms and syntactic differences in legal translation. Research has shown that the metaphorical theory of concepts can unravel the interpretive conundrum in translating cultural-specific terms, the frame theory enhances the precise conversion of four-character phrases, and the intentional figure-of-speech theory effectively bridges the semantic gaps across legal systems. Furthermore, this research confirms the synergistic role of three principles of legal translation (accuracy, professionalism, consistency) in safeguarding the authority of legal texts, while revealing the theoretical limitations of traditional translation paradigms in tackling deep-seated cultural differences within the legal context. This study not only provides methodological support for the multilingual translation of the Civil Code but also offers theoretical references for the innovation of overseas dissemination mechanisms for the Sinicist discourse system.