A Study on the Translation Strategies of Miao Embroidery Visual Symbols from the Perspective of Intercultural Communication

Abstract

Amid globalization, culturally rich traditional ethnic visual symbols often face semantic dilution or misinterpretation in cross-cultural communication. Focusing on the butterfly motifs of Miao embroidery, this study investigates how visual translation design can enhance the cross-cultural comprehensibility of ethnic symbols while preserving their cultural authenticity. Through literature review and theoretical analysis, the study integrates semiotics and cross-cultural communication theories to construct a three-stage analytical framework: “symbolic decoding–cross-cultural analysis–principle induction.” Based on this framework, the paper proposes three specific translation principles—visual simplification, cultural semantic reconstruction, and contextualized communication—alongside a systematic translation framework. While the three principles address specific communication barriers at the levels of visual form, cultural meaning, and communication context, the framework integrates them into a progressive operational path: “visual form optimization–cultural semantic reconstruction–communication context adaptation.” Ultimately, this framework not only applies to Miao embroidery but also provides a theoretical and design reference for the cross-cultural communication of other traditional ethnic visual symbols rooted in specific cultural contexts.