Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 4, 2024

The Construction of Media Cognition under Sino-Western Mutual Interpretation—A Perspective Based on the Evolving Chinese Translation of “Newspaper” in the 19th Century

(Abstract)

Cao Ruiqing

In the 19th century, newspapers were introduced to China, initiating a process of mutual interpretation between Chinese and Western media that led to a distinct Chinese perception of the concept. The translation of “newspaper” into Chinese provides insight into the mutual interpretive process underlying cognitive disparities. The translation underwent several iterations, including “King Pao(京报)”, then “Sin wan che (新闻纸)”, “Sin Pao(新报)” and finally “Pao(报)”. Each translation mobilized several aspects of Chinese communication culture and reflected evolving perspectives on media classification, particularly as regards to settling the relationship between “newspaper” and King Pao. “Sin wan che” differentiated between “newspaper” and King Pao, while “Pao” implied that King Pao served as the local source of the term. The internal logic of translation evolution indicates that the cognitive construction of “newspaper” in China is an ongoing process of interpretation and innovation, influenced by pre-existing communication culture, while also elucidating it in the context of cultural transformation. Such cognition not only aids in the understanding of the practical characteristics of Chinese newspapers, but also reflects the logic of “embedded creation” in cross-cultural communication.