The Application of Domestication and Foreignization Strategies in Translation of Tourism Texts

Abstract

With the implementation of China’s reform and opening-up policy and economic development, the tourism industry has also grown rapidly, attracting an increasing number of foreign tourists to choose China as their travel destination. To better promote and introduce scenic spots, the English translation of tourist attractions is crucial. The choice of translation strategy has become a focal point and core in the translation work of tourist texts. Newmark’s text function theory provides theoretical guidance for the application of domestication and foreignization translation strategies in translating tourist texts. Therefore, the translation of tourist texts demands not only accurate conveyance of the original information but also linguistic simplicity. Tourist texts belong to the typical “vocative” functional category, primarily aiming to convey information and induce action. Simultaneously, they contain a wealth of highly distinctive cultural information. Therefore, the translation of tourist texts should accurately convey the original information while maintaining linguistic simplicity and accessibility. This requires translators, during the translation process, to integrate the different functions and communicative purposes of the text, considering the audience’s receptiveness and determining the application of domestication and foreignization translation methods based on practical considerations. This paper, based on the two translation strategies of domestication and foreignization, combines the Wudalianchi Global Geopark Text for Outdoor Interpretation Panels and Outdoor Discovery Land for Popularization of Science as an example to explore how to apply domestication and foreignization strategies in the translation of tourist texts, aiming for better communication effectiveness.