Bridging cultures and languages through cosmopolitan translation: a case of Macao’s Chinese-Portuguese bilingual street signs

ABSTRACT

Macao's bilingual street signs, displaying both Chinese and Portuguese inscriptions, embody a hybrid identity, revealing a dynamic interplay of translation within a cosmopolitan context. This study analyzes diverse translational practices, including awkward, favorable, mismatched, and multiple translations, observed through participant observation. It argues that these translational acts empower the Chinese language, fostering novel aesthetics and attitudes while demonstrating the harmonious coexistence and enduring integration of cross-cultural (re)inventions. The multilingual urban landscape of Macao provides a rich terrain for exploring the complexities and inherent nature of translation.

澳门的街道标识为中葡双语，既传达了一种对应关系，也展现了丰富的双语互动 和世界主义翻译图景。本研究认为，澳门路名的翻译促进澳门语境下中文美学和 跨文化态度的形成，展现了跨文化发明的动能和魅力。

KEYWORDS:

• Cosmopolitan translation
• cross-cultural (re)inventions
• linguistic landscape
• street signs
• Macao

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the 2023 Guangdong Philosophy and Social Science Foundation Youth Project entitled ‘翻译学视角下粤港澳大湾区四大中心城市语言生活共同体研究’ (Project Code: GD23YWY01); The 2023 Guangdong Education Science Planning Project (Higher Education) entitled ‘粤港澳四大中心城市的多语景观研究与高校人文社科专业的融合发展’; and BNU-HKBU United International College entitled ‘Hong Kong culture from the perspectives of sociocultural and translation studies’.

Notes on contributors

Ge Song (宋歌)

Dr. Ge Song (宋歌) is Associate Professor at Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC). He uses the perspective of translation to explore Chinese culture in global contexts, urban landscapes, cultural heritage and museum. His articles have appeared in many journals in translation and cross-cultural studies.