A Study on the English Translation Strategies of Dunhuang Cultural Terminology and the Communication Effects of the Translated Texts

The content of traditional Chinese culture is vast and profound, with a long history. This article discusses the translation of Dunhuang cultural terms and their translation effects on the public signs in Dunhuang City. It collects 256 Chinese and English translations of terms related to Dunhuang murals and sculptures, music and dance, architecture, pattern decoration, and literature, and religious culture, and analyses some Chinese-English bilingual public signs shot by the author in Dunhuang in 2024, which involve the translation of multiple Dunhuang cultural terms. This article focuses on analyzing the translation methods and strategies of these cultural terms, and summarizes and explains them from the perspective of descriptive translation. Research has found that Dunhuang murals and sculptures, music and dance, and architecture are important carriers for the external dissemination of Dunhuang culture. There are a large number of related terms worth in-depth research, and the accuracy and dissemination effect of translation needs to be emphasized. This indicates that in the process of cultural exchange, a combination of text and images can be adopted, emphasizing the readability of the translation, promoting the dissemination of local culture, and enhancing the dissemination effect of Chinese indigenous culture. This provides a reference for the worldwide exchange and translation of Dunhuang culture and traditional Chinese culture.