A Study on the Translation Strategies of English-Chinese Subtitles in Intangible Cultural Heritage Documentaries: A Case Study of Inheritance on the Fingertips

Abstract

Amid globalization and cross-cultural communication, ICH-themed documentaries have emerged as pivotal carriers for international Chinese cultural dissemination, bridging linguistic and cultural gaps effectively. This study takes Inheritance on Fingertips—which spotlights three quintessential Chinese crafts: Zisha pottery, gold-painted wood carving, and Su embroidery—as its research corpus, conducting an in-depth analysis from four core dimensions: terminology accuracy, translation of culture-specific items, handling of colloquial expressions, and adaptation to video time constraints. Findings reveal that subtitle translation for such documentaries must adopt an “art form-tailored strategy”: For Zisha pottery, priority should be given to balancing technical details and cultural symbolism; for gold-painted wood carving, the focus lies in conveying both craftsmanship expertise and folkloric connotations; for Su embroidery, a multidimensional expression integrating technical standards, emotional heritage, and innovative concepts is essential. Additionally, a “layered decoding” method is recommended for culture-specific elements to ensure cultural essence is retained, while the “core information priority” principle must be strictly followed to fit video time limits and guarantee audience comprehension.