TITLE:
On Subtitle Translation of the Documentary Seasons of China—From the Perspective of Eco-Translatology E
AUTHORS:
Hongtao Liang, Xiangbin Li
KEYWORDS:
Eco-Translatology, Seasons of China, Subtitle Translation, Documentary
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Linguistics,
Vol.16 No.3,
May
29,
2026
ABSTRACT: With the implementation of the policy of “going global” regarding Chinese culture, exchanges between China and other countries around the world are becoming increasingly frequent. An increasing number of film and television works have become bridges for cross-cultural communication, among which documentaries are particularly real and vivid, and their role in cultural communication is difficult to replace. The documentary Seasons of China (China Xinhua News Network Corporation, 2019) systematically presents China’s 24 solar terms and traditional culture, clearly showing China’s long history and unique customs. Based on the theory of Eco-translatology, this paper examines the adaptation and choices of translators in subtitle translation from the linguistic, cultural, and communicative dimensions through analysis of 11 representative examples. Drawing on textual evidence from the translated subtitles, the paper finds that the subtitle translation in Seasons of China achieves multidimensional adaptation, effectively conveys important cultural connotations, and helps promote Chinese culture.