Research on International Communication Translation Strategies of Culture-Loaded Words in Xiangxi Ethnic Minority Culture

In the context of the “Going Out” strategy of Chinese culture, the international communication of ethnic minority cultures has garnered increasing attention. As vital carriers of ethnic culture, the translation quality of culture-loaded words directly influences the effectiveness of communication. Focusing on the Miao, Dong, and Tujia cultures in the Xiangxi (Western Hunan) region, this paper classifies culture-loaded words based on bilingual texts from scenic spots, government publicity materials, and tourism corpora. Guided by Skopos theory, it analyzes corresponding translation strategies. The study finds significant variations in strategies across different categories: geographical environment words primarily employ transliteration and literal translation; customs and habits favor “literal translation plus explanation”; while religious beliefs and ways of thinking rely heavily on explanatory translation and functional rewriting. Furthermore, the selection of translation strategies is constrained by factors such as culture-loading intensity, cultural type attributes, communicative purposes, and audience receptivity. Based on these findings, this paper constructs an explanatory framework for selecting translation strategies for culture-loaded words, aiming to provide theoretical support and practical reference for the international communication of China’s ethnic minority cultures.