Study on the TCM Products Descriptions Translation on Cross-border E-commerce Platforms

Taking alibaba as an example

Abstract

In recent years, with the vigorous development of the international internet and cross-border logistics, the cross-border e-commerce industry has gained tremendous momentum in China. Traditional Chinese medicine products have also been venturing into foreign markets in large quantities through the cross-border e-commerce platforms. However, the author has noticed that the English copywriting for some traditional Chinese medicine products on cross-border e-commerce platforms is of uneven quality, which harms the overseas sales of these products. Therefore, this article analyzes the characteristics and text types of English copywriting for traditional Chinese medicine products on Alibaba and proposes some translation strategies in accordance with Newmark's text type theory. The author believes that for titles and efficacy descriptions, which have the characteristics of both informational and vocative texts, it is advisable to utilize the domestication translation strategy as possible as we can. However, given the unique roles of product titles and efficacy descriptions, there should be some differences in the translation process. Titles translation should prioritize the use of trending keywords, while translating efficacy descriptions should primarily rely on domestication and paraphrasing strategies.