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ArticleInterdisciplinary Studies of Translation http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/tfll.2026.02.019

Knowledge Reconstruction in Intercultural Communication and Translation: Where Binarity of Language Comes in

Yunyun Qian1,*, Rong Zhao2

1Faculty of Arts, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China.

2School for Continuing Education, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai 200083, China.

*Corresponding author: Yunyun Qian

Published: February 28, 2026

Abstract

This paper argues that Transknowletology redefines translation as knowledge reconstruction, bridging Intercultural Communication (IC) and Translation Studies (TS). It introduces Binarity of Language (BOL) as a linguistic universal to re-duce cultural overemphasis and advocates a dialectic (truth-virtue-beauty) ap-proach to culture. The paper reviews Eurocentric and Chinese translation theories, positions translation as intercultural communication, and calls for knowledge reconstruction in translator training and IC teaching. The traditional paradigm of considering translation as a mere intertextual and intercultural transfer between two languages has been changed by Transknowletology, a new translation theory which specifies translation as knowledge reconstruction, processing knowledge embodied in the source text and realizing knowledge dissemination in the target text. This paper verifies the importance of knowledge reconstruction in the two overlapping disciplines of Intercultural Communication and Translation Studies. Besides, translation can be a part of and a form of intercultural communication. Although culture is conceived as knowledge in the process of translation in Transknowletology, culture in intercultural communication should also be understood by means of knowledge reconstruction with a dialectic approach that corresponds to the triadic methodology of Truth-Virtue-Beauty in Transknowletolo-gy. It is argued that cultural differences should not be overemphasized and cultural and linguistic universals should be highlighted in both disciplines. This is where Binarity of Language (BOL) as a linguistic universal comes in. BOL and the dialectic approach of perceiving culture as knowledge in both disciplines can offer theoretical orientation in training translators, teaching IC as a course, and developing intercultural competence of foreign language learners.

Keyword

Culture; Knowledge Reconstruction; Intercultural Communication; Binarity of Language

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How to cite this paper

Knowledge Reconstruction in Intercultural Communication and Translation: Where Binarity of Language Comes in

How to cite this paper: Yunyun Qian, Rong Zhao. (2026). Knowledge Reconstruction in Intercultural Communication and Translation: Where Binarity of Language Comes in. Translation and Foreign Language Learning2(2), 307-312.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/tfll.2026.02.019