Translating Tea-related Intangible Cultural Heritage Terminology for Heritage Communication: A Case Study of Tea Cultural Landscapes in Tea: Questions and Answers

Abstract

Tea cultural landscapes integrate ecological environments, traditional techniques, and cultural values, representing an important form of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Taking Tea: Questions and Answers as a case study, this paper examines the translation of tea-related ICH terminology from the perspective of interlingual reconstruction and heritage communication. Six representative terms are classified into natural, technical, and spiritual dimensions and analysed through qualitative case studies. The findings indicate that different categories of terminology require different translation strategies, including literal translation, transliteration, explicitation, and cultural annotation. These strategies contribute to both intercultural comprehensibility and the preservation of cultural specificity. The study suggests that the translation of tea-related terminology functions not only as linguistic transfer but also as a form of heritage communication that may enhance the international dissemination of tea cultural landscapes and Chinese tea culture.