A Study on Chinese-Japanese Mutual Translation Strategies for Multiple Text Types From a Functionalist Perspective

Based on Katharina Reiss’s text typology theory from the German Functionalist School, this paper systematically explores the strategic differences and practical methods in the mutual translation between Chinese and Japanese for operative, informative, expressive, and informative + expressive text types. By comparatively analyzing the linguistic functions, communicative features, and cultural cognitive differences of these four text types, the study proposes targeted translation strategies: Operative texts require tone adjustment, localized adaptation, and pragmatic compensation to maximize appeal; informative texts emphasize sentence structure restructuring and terminology standardization to ensure information transfer efficiency; expressive texts focus on formal imitation and rhetorical reproduction to preserve the original aesthetic value; for informative + expressive texts, flexible handling of idioms, proverbs, and stylistic forms is necessary to achieve an optimal balance between informational accuracy and aesthetic form. The study validates the applicability of functionalist theory in Chinese-Japanese translation through empirical case studies, while also revealing the prevalence of mixed text functions and the consequent demand for translator strategic flexibility. These findings not only expand the explanatory dimension of Reiss’s theory, but also provide an operational methodological framework for cross-cultural translation practice, holding practical significance for promoting in-depth communication between China and Japan.

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