The Concept of Family Across Cultures: Examining Differences Between the UK and China Through Museum Translations

Abstract

This study explores the concept of family across cultures within the context of translation studies. It focuses on how the Chinese translation of the British Museum website presents the family by using the Cultural-Conceptual translation (CCT) model and Chinese perspectives on the family. This paper finds that the English version of the British Museum website primarily promotes a nuclear family model, whereas the Chinese version emphasises a broader family structure, which highlights intergenerational bonds and a collective orientation. Comparisons with the National Museum of China reveal how family-oriented activities differ: the English website of the British Museum encourages interactive engagement among family members, while the National Museum of China focuses on educational experiences where parents are more observers than active participants. Notably, the Chinese website of the British Museum removes family activities altogether, further highlighting the educational function of museums. The study follows a top-down approach, first analysing cultural aspects before moving to translation analysis.