Translating culture-specific lexis in the PRC Civil Code from the perspective of Conceptual Integration Theory

Abstract

Th is paper examines the cognitive translation of culture-specific lexis in the Chinese Civil Code into Russian through the lens of conceptual integration theory. The study focuses on analyzing two Russian translations of the PRC Civil Code (2021 and 2024 versions) and employs corpus-based methods. It assesses how the cultural nuances embedded in legal terminology are transferred between languages, with a focus on the cognitive processes involved in overcoming difficulties associated with culturally specific terms. The analysis shows that the 2024 translation more accurately conveys the cultural and legal aspects of the original text, while the 2021 translation demonstrates greater fluency but is inferior in its accuracy in conveying nuances. The findings of the study off er new insights for optimizing translation practices of legal texts and enhancing intercultural communication in the legal domain.