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An SFL Approach to the Untranslatability of English and Chinese CLWs: Functional Types and Stratificational Compensation Strategies
College of Chinese Language and Literature, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
School of Foreign Languages, Yangtze Normal University, Chongqing, China
- 1 College of Chinese Language and Literature, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
- 2 School of Foreign Languages, Yangtze Normal University, Chongqing, China
Open Journal of Modern Linguistics·Volume 15 (2025)·Pages 736–753·Published 12 September 2025·DOI10.4236/ojml.2025.155043
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Abstract
This study investigates the untranslatability of Cultural-Loaded Words (CLWs) between English and Chinese through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). By analyzing functional mismatches across phonological, lexicogrammatical, semantic, and contextual strata, the paper proposes a stratified compensation framework to bridge cultural-linguistic gaps in translation. Case studies demonstrate the efficacy of multi-stratum strategies. The findings offer both theoretical and practical contributions to cross-cultural translation, particularly in the context of Chinese cultural globalization.
KeywordsUntranslatabilityCultural-Loaded Words (CLWs)Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL)StratificationTranslation StrategiesEnglish-Chinese Translation
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