


































Education, Language and Sociology Research
ISSN 2690-3644 (Print) ISSN 2690-3652 (Online)

Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023
www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr

107

Original Paper

A Multimodal Intersemiotic Translation Study of Book Covers

of Translated Versions of The Three-Body Problems
Zhang Ke1

1School of English Studies, Xi'an International Studies University, Xi'an, China

Received: April 26, 2023 Accepted: May 15, 2023 Online Published: May 30, 2023

doi:10.22158/elsr.v4n2p107 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/elsr.v4n2p107

Abstract

As The Three-Body Problem is translated into languages overseas, the diversified features that the

cover design of the translated version of The Three-Body Problem are worth exploring. The covers of a

series of Chinese science fiction with different characteristics construct various narrative styles

through different symbols and present the uniqueness and readability of the content of this Chinese

science fiction. From the perspective of multi-modality in social semiotics, respecting the

representational meaning, the cover design of these translations can be divided into two categories:

low-image and high-image, and at the same time, it also presents visual continuum features; In terms

of interpersonal meaning, these versions display visual patterns; Concerning compositional meaning,

the designers of these covers convey the information values from different countries through layout

design and visual salience. The cover design organizes meaningful elements into coherent text and

creates new meanings through specific structures. Although some misunderstandings exist in some

translated versions of The Three-Body Problem, most of the translated versions originally restore the

original grand story about the future of the Earth, the only home to humans, reflecting reality and

humanism in a unique manner with Chinese characteristics.

Keywords

The Three-Body Problem, Intersemiotic Translation, Multimodality

1. Introduction

This chapter will introduce the backdrop information about The Three-Body Problem, multimodal

intersemiotic translation applied to study book covers, research significance and purpose in analyzing

the features of multilingual book covers of The Three-Body Problem, and the whole structure of the

paper in order.



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

108
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

1.1 Research Background

Nowadays, due to the diversity of cultures and discrepancy of development across the world, it is

impossible for all human beings to share identical values and a way of life (ordinary concept), and to

abolish exploitation or injustice (Wang, 2021). Therefore, Chinese culture, with its diversity and long

history, has giant potential and advantages for spreading Eastern culture at an age when Western culture

dominates global cultural transmission. Plus, increasing the national cultural soft power’s influence

overseas serves as one of the major tasks for China. Accordingly, it is necessary to step up further

efforts to promote Chinese culture, a significant part of which is literary works, especially science

fiction, which has been developed abroad for a long time but is developing domestically at home.

Since people are more and more used to collecting and transmitting information through images and

audio symbols on the Internet. Consequently, to follow the trend of picture reading and the Internet era

as the traditional media, paper books strive to develop not only high-quality content but also

meticulously-designed book covers, leading to more intersemiotic translation activities.

1.2 Research Significance

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin is defined as a milestone in Chinese sci-fi literature, which

effectively changes the one-way flow of Chinese and international sci-fi works. Meanwhile, it also

serves as a model for China’s outstanding cultural wisdom to enter the global vision. In recent years,

Liu Cixin’s sci-fi works or their adaptations have been sought after at home and abroad. According to

statistics, up to now, The Three-Body Problem has been translated into 20 languages and published

overseas (Zhao, 2021). Multimodal intersemiotic study on the covers of multilingual versions is an

important topic in the field of linguistic and cultural studies. There may be differences in the cover

design of The Three-Body Problem, a representative Chinese science fiction, in different languages and

cultural backgrounds. Through the multimodal study of the covers of these multilingual versions, we

can deeply understand the symbolic communication and cultural exchange between various cultures, as

well as how translators express and transform their creativity in cross-cultural communication. This

study is significant for promoting cross-cultural communication and promoting cultural diversity and

cultural innovation At the same time, it can also provide some enlightenment and reference for

publishing and design circles.

1.3 Research Purpose

Analyzing the book cover design of the multilingual versions of The Three-Body Problem, the research

is about studying how verbal symbols are translated into nonverbal symbols in intersemiotic translation

and provides practical suggestions for other scholars to make full use of book covers when promoting

Chinese science fiction in the world. The paper applies intersemiotic translation to analyze the

multilingual book covers of The Three-Body Problem in order that the features of the multimodal

design of translated book covers of The Three-Body Problem can be analyzed and summarized. The

general presentation of Chinese sci-fi works’ content overseas can thus be examined.



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

109
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

To conclude, the study intends to offer a panorama of the current situation of this book’s transmission

abroad and provide useful information to develop strategies for further advertising The Three-Body

Problem as a successful example of promoting Chinese culture and image.

1.4 Structure of the Thesis

Chapter 1 primarily provides a brief overview of the research backdrops, research purpose, significance,

and the thesis’s overall framework for studying multimodal intersemiotic translation study of book

covers of translated versions of The Three-Body Problems.

Chapter 2 presents previous research relevant to this study. First, the studies about The Three-Body

Problem are summarized. Secondly, this chapter reviews studies on intersemiotic translation. Based on

an analysis of these two kinds of studies, the paper summarizes the contributions of previous studies

and points out the limitations of the previous studies on intersemiotic translation and The Three-Body

Problem, and clearly shows the significance of studying the intersemiotic translation on the

multilingual versions of The Three-Body Problem.

Chapter 3 briefly introduces the theoretical framework of this paper. This chapter first introduces

Jakobson’s Tripartite Division of Translation and discusses its value to the new field of translation,

laying the foundation for semiotic translation research. On the other hand, the paper introduces the

three meanings of multimodal analysis, in which covers coming from different countries are analyzed

to conclude the translation patterns of the book cover of the multilingual versions of The Three-Body

Problem.

In Chapter 4, the paper will analyze the related book covers of The Three-Body Problem in terms of

intersemiotic translation, and explore the features of different cover designs as well as the general

development trend through multimodal analysis of these book covers.

Chapter 5 will conclude the paper with a comprehensive summary of the research findings, and finally,

the paper will point out some shortcomings of the study.

2. Literature Review

2.1 The Multimodal Intersemiotic Translation Study

Nowadays, multimodal intersemiotic translation, which integrates verbal text and non-verbal

information, is more suitable for today’s diverse non-verbal communication activities at the cultural

levels. There is growing concern among researchers studying translation over multimodal intersemiotic

translation, despite its complexity as well as interdisciplinarity.

Based on the relatively complete theory system of semiotics, intersemiotic translation study has been

developed fully by international scholars in recent years, although it is not a substantially hot topic in

academia at home and overseas.

In the theoretical aspect, Hu (2007) discusses the difference between multimodal semiotics and

multimedia semiotics and then introduces computer semiotics owning media and modal properties.

Mossop discusses the possibility of defining the switch between language and other sign systems as a



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

110
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

kind of translation, given that the comparison is made to interlingual translating that features a high

degree of variance (2019).

Some scholars focus on multimodal intersemiotic translation research close to reality.

Some of them explore the translation from literary works to film. Cahir (2006) discusses the process of

translating literature to film from the perspective of filmmaking and appreciation. Zhao and Lin (2022)

explore the method of translating the metaphor of the novel “The Joy Luck Club” in the process of the

film adaptation.

For comic book multimodal translation, by analyzing the intersemiotic translation of the symbols in the

pictures of the Chinese classic “Cartoon Confucianism”, Zeng (2022) tries to provide a method and

model for analyzing the projection model of intersemiotic translation in terms of interpersonal meaning

and its evaluation.

Although there are translation studies on various types of print media, some studies attach importance

to the contents, for example, Yang, Le, and Wu (2019) explore how the art forms of “Dream of the Red

Chamber” can develop its originals in new global contexts of communication and culture with the help

of intersemiotic translations. Fan and He (2020) explore the intersemiotic translation method in Lin

Shu’s translation of “Aesop’s Fables”. The article focuses on the cover of print media instead of their

contents as the cover of a book is like the “face of the book” and is also seen as an expression of the

“condensed theme of the book” (Kohei Urakawa, 2017).

2.2 The Previous Study on The Three-Body Problem

The Three-Body Problem can win the attention of readers all over the world, which owes to its own

aesthetic and cultural value. As for its successful “going out of China to the World”, translation is

indispensable, so some questions about the background, experience, and acceptance of The Three-Body

Problem’s transmission overseas appear naturally and deserve attention. In addition, as the first

Chinese volume to win the Hugo Award in 2015, The Three-Body Problem can also take responsibility

for promoting Chinese culture in that science fiction is the ideal medium through which to reveal the

“Chinese Dream” (Gaffric & Peyton, 2019).

Plus, The Three-Body Problem discusses the present situation and future trends of human civilization

by describing the interaction between the three-body civilization and the earth civilization. This kind of

thinking helps us to better understand the course of human civilization and make wiser decisions for the

future.

By describing the evolution process, technical level, and reaction to the three-body civilization, The

Three-Body Problem reveals the contradiction between science and technology and human nature. This

contradiction exists not only in the novel world but also in reality. Therefore, The Three-Body Problem

can help us better understand the relationship between science and technology and human nature and

promote the coordination between science and technology and society.

As science fiction, it covers many fields of science and technology. Through reading this novel, people

can not only understand many novel scientific and technological concepts but also know more about



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

111
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

the existing scientific and technological fields. This kind of technology and the popularization of

technology is not only to improve the scientific literacy of the public but also to promote the future

development of science and technology.

At present, the translation academic circle mainly chooses to start their studies on this sci-fi work from

the text.

Analyzing translators’ translation strategies, translators can decipher the reasons why it goes to the

international stage smoothly. Different translated versions of the sci-fi works are studied to investigate

the factors that Chinese contemporary sci-fi works gain popularity abroad, according to the large

circulation of Liu Cixin’s sci-fi works in Russian, American, German, etc., and develop strategies to

promote Chinese literature to “go out of China and enter the International community” (Zhao, 2021;

Wu & He, 2019; Sun & Chen, 2020; Gu, 2017).

As a classic science fiction, its research significance is far-reaching, covering many fields such as

science, technology, culture, and philosophy. Therefore, it is not only a science fiction worth reading,

but also a precious resource for deep thinking and exploration.

Adopting various theories, scholars probe into new translation strategies to lift the translation quality of

The Three-Body Problem to the next level. With the help of Steiner’s translation hermeneutics, Zhang

and Qin (2018) dedicate their energy to studying Ken Liu’s English translation of The Three-Body

Problem, summarizing feasible approaches to preserving the literary elements of original sci-fi works

and enhancing the target audience’s acceptance of Chinese literature. Yuh-Wen Huang (2022) applies

the manipulation theory to study the strategy of translating culture-loaded words in Ken Liu’s English

translation of The Three-Body Problem. Bai (2018) emphasizes the establishment of Chinese cultural

context in the translation of Chinese sci-fi works. Wang (2019) advocates that the core idea of

translation should be transformed into “entering” the target language readers’ minds and the ideological

concept of the international literary world.

Corpus-based translation studies are also conducted to study sci-fi work. For example, the translated

text of The Three-Body Problem is analyzed in terms of translation universals, such as implication and

explication (Chen & Wang, 2017); Cai (2023) constructs a corpus to analyze the translation norms

followed by the translated version from the perspective of linguistic features.

According to the previous studies, it is obvious that the text and translation strategy is the center of

research on translated The Three-Body Problem. The multimodal translation studies on The Three-Body

Problem are not enough, although multimodal studies can create totally different strategies to

disseminate Chinese literature. Therefore, this paper will offer a completely new vision to develop

translation strategies by studying the book cover of The Three-Body Problem, an expression of the text

meaning in another form, namely, image.



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

112
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

3. Theoretical Framework

3.1 Intersemiotic Translation

Jakobson (1959) divides translation into three categories: intralingual translation, interlingual

translation, and intersemiotic translation from the perspective of semiotics. (Jakobson’s Tripartite

Division of Translation)

1) Intralingual translation or rewording is an interpretation of verbal signs employing other signs

of the same language. That is to say, intralingual translation happens in the same language,

translating from one type of language symbol to another type of language symbol, for example,

Beowulf is translated from old English to modern English.

2) Interlingual translation or translation proper is an interpretation of verbal signs using some

other language. In other words, it means that translation activities are conducted between

different languages, for example, “我是中国人” in Chinese is translated into “I am Chinese” in

English.

3) Intersemiotic translation or transmutation is an interpretation of verbal signs using signs of

nonverbal sign systems.

The basis of intersemiotic translation is built upon the similarity of different semiotic systems between

culture and meaning construction (Dusi, 2015). And intersemiotic translation aims to make the same

meanings in different forms similar to each other (Kress & Leeuwen, 2006), therefore, its key lies in

trying to maintain the same semiotic meanings among various semiotic systems. As we all know, it is

common that verbal signs to be translated into nonverbal images. When the images are chosen to

express the original meanings of language, what translators should take into consideration includes not

only original meanings but also the forms of images, such as colors, layouts, fonts, etc.

In a word, intersemiotic translations, just as any other analysis centering on the transformational

passage (or otherwise) between levels, whether intratextual or intertextual, promote discussion of the

dynamic nature of cultures and languages (Dusi, 2015).

3.2 Three Meanings of Visual Multimodality

Guided by Halliday’s social semiotic approach to language, Kress and Leeuwen (2006) divided the

meaning of visual multimodality into a model of three different accounts, including representational

meaning, interpersonal meaning, and compositional meaning.

According to Kuang Ping (2018), representational meaning refers to the faithful reproduction of the

objective world of people, human activities, places, and even the inner world of people. It is related to

the application of colors, image elements, and visual continuum. The elements, included in the

interactive meaning, are contact, attitude, distance, and modality. Modality is grouped into a visual

continuum of three kinds: high modality, middle modality, and low modality which can be

demonstrated by color, illumination, etc. High modality uses those color photographs, middle one

adopts sketch drawings while low modality only applies simple sketch lines with white or black colors.



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

113
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

And represented participants (RPs) usually refer to the figure representing the people in the real world

appearing in the picture and so on.

Interactive meaning or interpersonal meaning is the description of the relationship between the image

producer, the visual, and the viewers. Royce indicates that some visual techniques used to analyze

interpersonal meaning are the absence or presence of facial expressions towards the viewer, gestures

that make commands, and offers of information or offers of goods and services to the viewer (2007). In

most cases, the interpersonal relationship also has to do with social distance and perspective, as Kress

and Leeuwen (2006) state two points: first, the degrees of social distance and intimacy can add

information that can’t be transmitted by verbal mode. Second, the degree of participation in a visual

between the image-producer, viewers, and RPs is expressed in the horizontal angle, including frontal

and oblique planes. In terms of the vertical angle, Royce (2007) holds that the high angle forces the

viewers to look down on the RPs, which is suggestive of their superiority. A low angle forces the

viewers to look up at them, implying the viewer’s inferior position. An eye-level angle is suggestive of

a sense of equality between the viewer and the RPs.

And compositional meaning focuses on the application of layouts and visual salience. Moya and Pinar

(2008) show that the compositional features of a multimodal text are related to a study of page layout

aspects of how the visual and verbal elements attain a sense of unity to the whole unit. Apart from the

visual study of the verbal elements, compositional intersemiosis includes the visual study linked to the

distribution of information value, visual salience (size, color, focus), and visual framing. In addition to

the layouts and visual salience, the position of elements on the left or right of the page, the figures’ size

in the image, and the use of framing are all important compositional elements (Unsworth & Wheeler,

2002; Kress & Leeuwen, 2006).

4. A Multimodal Analysis of the Book Cover

This chapter will develop a multimodal analysis of the representative 11 covers of The Three-Body

Problem in 10 languages, finding out the diverse characteristics of translating the textual message of

The Three-Body Problem into the image information in different language versions.

4.1 The Translation Mechanism of the Design of Book Covers

Laying the foundation on a deep understanding of the book content, book covers’ design emphasizes

the language transformation from verbal symbols to visual signs, thus the design of book covers, to

some extent. is a kind of intersemiotic translation, Gottlieb (2005) states: translation activities always

are conducted in “the semiotic networks.” And some of them happen in the same semiotic systems, and

others adopt different semiotic systems. Some of them belong to the same semiotic system (i.e.,

interlingual translation), while others span different semiotic systems (i.e., intersemiotic translation).

Interlingual translation refers to translation between one textual symbol system and another textual

symbol system, and intersemiotic translation refers to translation between textual symbol systems and

non-textual symbol systems. The design of the book covers of a translation involves, on the one hand,



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

114
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

the transformation between different texts (e.g., translation of the book title), and, on the other hand,

the change of symbolic properties (from textual to visual symbols), i.e., interlingual translation.

Multiple symbolic attributes constitute multimodalities. The translation mechanism in the design of the

translation cover can be expressed in the following pattern:

At the first stage of interlingual translation, the original text (Chinese text) is learned so that its key

information (content and title) can be distilled from it and translated into another textual symbol. The

second stage of intersemiotic translation starts when the translated textual information is transcoded

into the image information of the book cover in another language.

Based on the intersemiotic translation, the study attaches importance to analyzing the design of

multilingual versions of 11 book covers of The Three-Body Problem. The representative covers

collected are as follows:

Portuguese English Japanese Greek

Ukrainian Vietnamese Russian Chinese



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

115
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

4.2 Analysis of Book Covers

These book covers will be analyzed within the framework of three meanings of visual multimodality,

including representational meaning, interpersonal meaning, and compositional meaning. Based on

some key concepts including visual continuum, color usage, visual salience, etc., they will be studied,

being divided into groups, in order that the whole image analysis maintains logical and feasible.

4.2.1 Representational Meaning

In terms of representational meaning, the cover’s color, image elements, and visual continuum are to be

discussed further.

In the representational meaning, the covers are more colorful, using richer image elements and reaching

a middle modality. Black color is used to color the common information, and red, as usual, is used to

emphasize the major information of the title. Other colors, including blue, dark red, yellow, green, and

so on, are all presented in the figure picture. And the appearance of the picture removes the viewers’

attention from the title, therefore, the title is colored light red, while the background color of the picture

is colored with dark red. Only in this way can the title, the most important information, be the first

information captured by the viewer. The rich elements of the third picture dramatically promote the

information volume of the cover. The textual information, the use of abundant colors, and the figure in

the picture of the cover offer viewers more complete messages of the book increasing the viewers’

curiosity to learn the book.

The middle modality of the third book cover is at a higher level than that of the second book cover, as

the pattern of the third cover is drawn with complicated sketch lines and color design. The character

information displayed on the cover reveals the designer’s definition of the theme of the novel.

Generally speaking, the third cover design correctly conveys the content information of the book by

expressing the image of the author Laozi and the characteristics of his works: full of wisdom, globally

popular, etc.

The type and color of the image itself affect the representational meaning conveyed by the cover.

Royce (2013) thinks that different types of images form a visual continuum from low mode to high

Korean French English



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

116
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

mode, whose theory can be summarized as a visual continuum: line sketch → sketch stick figure →

sketch → black and white picture → color picture → high fidelity picture. The covers of The

Three-Body Problem in different languages also take on some features of the visual continuum. The

covers in group 1 are more like sketches and stick strokes which emphasize lines and are more

influenced by the subjective thoughts of the visual designers, so they are considered to have low

modality.

What’s more, Group 1 is also defined as low-degree images, whose features can be summarized as

follows: (1) there is only basic information such as title, author, translator, and publishing house; (2)

highly blank space featuring monochrome background (3) the design is similar to academic works.

(Group 1) low modality and low-degree image

In addition to the detailed design of covers, color also affects the modality level, as color carries

cultural implications. Color can be used as a supplement to text translation to add more social and

cultural significance to translation. Red and yellow, as symbols of Chinese culture, are the main colors

of Group 2. In addition, colors also express different emotions and attitudes toward things. For example,

the dark blue color conveys the features such as calmness (Madden et al., 2000), thoughtfulness, and

seriousness (Grimes & Doole, 1998). The dark color-based covers in Group 3 concord with the

Western knowledge about The Three-Body Problem: a mysterious Chinese-style and physics

knowledge-based science fiction that needs to be read with calmness and seriousness. Furthermore, the

textual information on the cover includes the book title and the translator’s name. Among various

colors, two colors are mostly adopted: white and red. Although white usually colors the textual

information and red emphasizes the major information like the title, they both are effective when the

image elements are complicated. It is obvious that many covers in Group 2 and Group 3 are in line with

the white and red usage pattern. As the French cover displays, the key title “Le Problème à Trois corps”

is emphasized with red color, compare to the white author’s name and additional information.



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

117
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

(Group 2) the usage of colors

(Group 3) the dark color

4.2.2 Interpersonal Meaning

The essence of interpersonal meaning in cover design is to use images and words to establish social

relations with viewers. Designers try to provide information about the contents of books through the

cover, which is usually a narrative description of the scene. This kind of information provides

interaction between the designer and the viewer. One of the important means to produce interpersonal

meaning is the construction of visual patterns.

In Group 4, the cover designers of different countries all attract the viewer through the so-called

“image behavior” (such as the gaze of the viewer on the figure). Most of designers in Group 4 present

human beings in a tiny size and a back or side position at the bottom of the covers to the viewer. This

kind of figure presentation suggests a low level of participation in interpersonal interaction as the cover

figures are presented without any visual interaction with the viewer, which increases the distance

between them.

In addition to the effects that back or side views have on the interpersonal interaction with the viewer,

different covers have produced a series of design schemes in terms of framing distance. As far as visual

distance is concerned, the bust can shorten the distance between the viewer and the figures on the cover,



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

118
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

which is beneficial to establish a friendly interpersonal relationship between them. For example,

Chinese doll in Korean cover in Group 4 is placed at the cover center, bring the viewer closer to the

book. While the whole-body image in small size intentionally lengthens the distance between the

viewer and the figures, which is convenient, objective, and comprehensive to show the activities, status,

and attitudes of human beings facing the extraterrestrial intelligence in the picture. The choice of

full-body images of people at the bottom of these covers reflects the creators’ desire to distinguish the

three-body civilization represented by buildings on the covers from the Earth civilization represented

by humans, from which the viewers grow up. This design serves as a “distance” strategy to increase the

distance between the viewer and the figures on the covers, offering the viewer a more objective and

omniscient view to observe the civilization on Earth as just “one of civilization in the whole universe”

when the whole story presented in front of them.

In addition, the power relationship between the viewer and the figure on the covers can be clarified

from overlooking perspective, upward view, and horizontal perspective. In Group 4, many designers

mostly offer the audience an upward view to see the figures, augmenting the power gap between them

in order that the sense that humans are small, curious, and even scared when facing a more advanced

extraterrestrial civilization represented by the giant buildings can be conveyed to the viewer through

these book covers.

Based on the content, it is clear that many covers can convey the original meaning of the book, yet it is

evidenced that the Korean cover misreads the book. Different types of image elements are organized

with strong Chinese-style icons, and at the center of the whole cover is a Chinese doll as the major

figure. The figure has eye contact with the viewer in a front bust pose from a horizontal perspective,

displaying an equal relationship with the audience, yet it is never mentioned in the whole story of The

Three-Body Problem, causing a wrong perception of the book on the book cover. Therefore, it is

obvious that the cover only scrabbles the element mentioned in the book, without consideration of

delivering the real story. Despite the misunderstandings of the book content in the Korean version, the

figures on most of the covers display human beings’ status and their relationship with the three-body

civilization by objective and artistic narrative technique.



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

119
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

Group 4. Interpersonal meaning

4.2.3 Compositional Meaning

Well-organized cover composition is helpful to convey information value and highlight book content

and narrative theme. The translation process included in the cover design does not always lead to the

loss of information but also creates new meanings in different aspects. The cover text of a book usually

includes the title of the book, the name of the author, the translator, and the publisher. The book cover

serves as a kind of independent communication (Kress & Leeuwen, 2006). Reasonable cover

composition helps to convey information value and highlight book content and theme.

In terms of the layout rules, Western cultures prefer a left-right reading path horizontally, so the

elements are more often placed in the left area. With more abstract information at the top and more

detailed and concreted messages at the bottom, the key information like symbols is centered on the

cover. Covers in Group 5 adhere to the left-to-right reading pattern, no matter where the textual

information is placed vertically, the Western designers tend to put them in the left part, which is a

traditional layout for their target readers. In Group 6, all the abstract information such as the book title

and author’s name is set at the upper part of the cover, naturally, detailed information, for example, the

publishing houses and the awards of the book, are listed at the bottom.



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

120
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

Group 5

Group 6

In East Asian culture, the elements in the central region are usually more significant than those in the

marginal region, and the information value in the central area is higher. For instance, on the Japanese

cover, the book title is placed at the center of the cover. What’s more, using a visual pattern in the

center can better emphasize the book’s core contents or major figures than language, for example, the

figure Ye Wenjie, the first discoverer of the three-body civilization, is placed in the center of the

Chinese cover above the book title. The picture designed for presenting the three-body problem is

placed in the center part of the Vietnamese cover, with the less crucial information like awards that the

book receives and the symbol of the publishing houses at the margin area.

Although differences exist in the Western and Eastern approaches to designing and presenting the same

book contents, there are still some cross-cultural common information values in visual design. 8 of the

11 covers collected in this paper (including covers from Asian countries like Korea and Vietnam) put

the title and author’s name at the top (more generalized and abstract information) and other elements

(more concrete images) at the bottom. This reflects the dominant position of Western culture in the

global publishing industry.

As the cover is shown, the noticeable contrast between the book titles and their background clearly

conveys its top visual salience by larger elements, compared with other additional information on the

cover.



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

121
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

It is easy to find out that the major information (the book’s name and the author’s name)’s font size in

nearly all covers is bigger than that of the minor information. This adoption of visual salience

efficiently conveys the key messages of the book.

In addition, the picture with complicated colors, and various icons occupies most part of the covers,

improving its visual salience and the attention of the viewer. Yet the relatively brighter color and larger

size of the font of major information still can be clearly presented by virtue of the visual contrast,

making sure its largest visual effects of the whole cover.

5. Conclusion

5.1 Major Findings

Through these representative multilingual covers of The Three-Body Problem, it is discovered that the

intersemiotic translation of The Three-Body Problem in different languages adopted a balanced strategy

between foreignization and domestication, as The Three-Body Problem as Chinese science fiction was

completely new and unique to Western readers in terms of style, culture, ideology. Therefore, when

maintaining the Chinese elements and original style, proper foreignization intersemiotic translation

allows only elements in Western culture to appear on the book cover such as their own languages, their

traditional design for the book cover, and only awards of the book which are familiar to them.

In addition, as the technique of book cover design is different in countries, the cover design took on a

different degree of image, visual salience, color design, modality, image elements.

In a word, the design of a book cover needs to consider the cross-translation between text, picture, and

visual mode. The conception and design of the cover are not only related to formal aesthetics but also

involve the construction of social relations with the viewer and the loyalty to the original work. Based

on intersemiotic translation and visual modality techniques, the book cover design of The Three-Body

Problem in 10 languages utilizes symbolic elements in different forms so that the textual information of

book contents can be conveyed more completely and vividly by the book cover in another semiotic

form. Only in this way can the book cover design create greater convenience for international readers,

strengthen its competitiveness as the print media, and contribute more to national cultural

communication.

5.2 The Disadvantages of the Study

In the study, the scale of the corpus is not large enough, as there are only 10 covers collected for the

study. It is necessary to choose more representative book covers in more languages.

In addition, the thesis language is not as concise as it should be. The repeated use of the same words

and sentence pattern should also be taken seriously. Improving writing skills is a necessary part of

producing a high-quality research paper.

The ability to write a literature review should be promoted as soon as possible. First, the lack of reading

ability will influence negatively the understanding of the articles that are read. Second, knowing how to

choose articles mostly related to the research is also a skill that needs to be mastered in the future.



www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

122
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

The reflection of the academic research should also be done in the daily study so that future studies can

be dealt with more professionally as a postgraduate student.

References

Bai, G. (2018). Translation and introduction of modern and contemporary science fiction and

construction of Chinese cultural context. Novel Review, 1, 108-113.

Cahir, L. C. (2006). Literature into Film: Theory and Practical Approaches. North Carolina:

McFarland, Print.

Cai, Y. L. (2023). A Corpus-based Study of Translation Norms in English Versions of Trisomy.

English Abroad, 6, 21-23.

Chen, F. H., & Dong, C. J. (2017). A study on the intersemiotic features of multimodal translation on

Xi Jinping, The Governance Of China. Academic Exploration, 10, 90-95.

Chen, J. S., & Wang, Q. (2017). A Corpus-based Study on Explicitation Features of The Three-Body

Problem in English. Foreign Languages and Literature, 3, 175-186.

Chen, J. S., & Wang, Q. (2017). A Corpus-based Study on Simplified Features of The Three-Body

Problem in English. China Light Industry Education, 4, 15-20 +47.

Dusi, N. (2015). Intersemiotic Translation: Theories, Problems, Analysis. Semiotica, 206, 181-205.

https://doi.org/10.1515/sem-2015-0018

Fan, H. X., & He, J. M. (2020). Appreciation of Illustration Translation in Lin Shu’s Translation of

Aesop’s Fables from the Perspective of Symbolic Translation. Journal of Huizhou University, 2,

62-67.

Gaffric, G., & Peyton, W. W. (2022). Liu Cixin’s Three-Body Trilogy and the Status of Science Fiction

in Contemporary China. Science Fiction Studies, 46, 21-38.

https://doi.org/10.5621/sciefictstud.46.1.0021

Gottlieb, H. (n.d.). Multidimensional Translation: Semantics Turned Semiotics. Retrieved December,

13, 2019 from http: //www.euroconferences.info/proceedings/2005_Proceedings/2005_Gottlieb

_Henrik. pdf

Grimes, A., & Doole, I. (1998). Exploring the Relationships between Colour and International

Branding: A Cross Cultural Comparison of the UK and Taiwan. Journal of Marketing

Management, 14, 799-817. https://doi.org/10.1362/026725798784867581

Gu, Y. Q. (2017). Chinese Imagination in Science Fiction World: Translation and Acceptance of The

Three-Body Trilogy in America. Oriental Translation, 1, 11-17.

Hu, Z. L. (2007). Multimodality in the Study of Social Semiotics. Language Teaching and Research, 1,

1-10.

Huang, Y. (2022). A Study on the English Translation of Culture-Loaded Words in The Three-Body

Problem from the Perspective of Manipulation Theory. International Journal of New

Developments in Education.

https://context.reverso.net/%E7%BF%BB%E8%AF%91/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AF%AD-%E4%B8%AD%E6%96%87/XI+JINPING%2C+THE+GOVERNANCE+OF+CHINA
https://doi.org/10.1515/sem-2015-0018
https://doi.org/10.5621/sciefictstud.46.1.0021
https://doi.org/10.1362/026725798784867581


www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

123
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

Jakobson, R. (1959). On linguistic aspects of translation. On Translation, 23, 232-239.

https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674731615.c18

Jiang, M. Y., & Sun, H. J. (2018). The external communication of Chinese contemporary literature

from the perspective of intersemiotic translation and post-translation studies from Wives and

Concubines Humnatas to Raise The Red Lantern. Foreign Language Teaching, 5, 90-94.

Kress, G. R., & Th. Marius, v. L. (2006). Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design. Milton

Park: Routledge. Print. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203619728

Kuang, P. (2018). A Visual Grammar Analysis of Lesaffre’s Website. Advances in Language and

Literary Studies, 9, 38-41. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.9n.6p.38

Li, H. (2004). The wonderful work of translation in the era of communication and dialogue-Xu

Yuanchong’s English-Chinese translation of Tao Te Ching by Laozi. China Book Review, 7,

28-30.

Li, S. H. (2019). A Corpus-based Multimodal Approach to the Translation of Restaurant Menus.

Perspectives-Studies in Translation Theory and Practice, 1, 1-19.

https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2018.1483408

Madden, T. J., Hewett, K., & Roth, M. S. (2000). Managing Images in Different Cultures: A

Cross-National Study of Color Meanings. Journal of International Marketing, 8, 90-107.

https://doi.org/10.1509/jimk.8.4.90.19795

Mossop, B. (2019). Intersemiotic Translating’ Time for a Rethink? Translation and Interpreting

Studies, 75-94. https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.00031.mos

Moya, J., & Pinar, M. J. (2008). Compositional, Interpersonal and Representational Meanings in a

Children’s Narrative: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis. Journal of Pragmatics, 40, 1601-1619.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2008.04.019

Pratama, A. D. Y., & Dewa, A. D. P. P. (2022). Intersemiotic Translation in Balinese Menu. Linguistics

and Culture Review. https://doi.org/10.21744/lingcure.v6n1.2228

Royce, T. D. (2007). Intersemiotic Complementarity: a Framework for Multimodal Discourse Analysis.

In T. D. Royce, & W. L. Bowcher (Eds.), New Directions in the Analysis of Multimodal Discourse

(pp. 63-110). Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah.

Sun, G. L., & Chen, Y. (2020). Research on Translation, Introduction and Acceptance of Liu Cixin’s

Novels in Germany. Southern Literary World, 6, 106-111.

Unsworth, L., & Wheeler, J. (2002). Re-valuing the Role of Images in Reviewing Picture Books.

Reading: Language and Literacy, 2, 68-74. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9345.00189

Wang, X. (2021). Construing Community with a Shared Future in President Xi Jinping’s Diplomatic

Discourse (2013-2018): The Role of Personal Pronouns we and they. Critical Art, 35(3), 35-51.

https://doi.org/10.1080/02560046.2021.1985154

https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674731615.c18
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203619728
https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.9n.6p.38
https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2018.1483408
https://doi.org/10.1509/jimk.8.4.90.19795
https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/18762700
https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/18762700
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.00031.mos
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2008.04.019
https://doi.org/10.21744/lingcure.v6n1.2228
https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9345.00189


www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/elsr Education, Language and Sociology Research Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023

124
Published by SCHOLINK INC.

Wang, Y. W. (2019). Improvement of translation, introduction, and dissemination ability of Chinese

native literature: from going out to going in--Taking The Three-Body Problem as an example.

China Publishing, 1, 23-26.

Wu, Y., & He, M. (2019). Translation and introduction of The Three-Body Problem in America:

context, subject, and strategy. Foreign Languages (Journal of Shanghai International Studies

University), 1, 94-102.

Yang, S., Le, Y. T., & Wu, Xu, L. Y. (2019). Overseas Symbolic Translation, Communication and

Research of A Dream of Red Mansions [C]. Sichuan Western Literature Compilation Research

Center. In Research on Foreign Language Education and Translation Innovation (Vol 8). Sichuan

Normal University Electronic Press.

Yasuhiro, P. (2017). The Birth of Modeling: Image Cosmology (pp. 128-131.). Beijing: China Studies

Press.

Zeng, L. (2022). A Preliminary Study on the Interpersonal Meaning of Projecting Intersemiotic

Translation in Chinese Comics with Functional Approach--Taking the Picture Page of Comic

Confucianism ‘Thirty Years Old’ as an Example. A Study on Functional Approach Translation,

2022, 55-72.

Zhang, S. X., & Qin, J. (2018). English Translation of Genre Literature from the Perspective of

Hermeneutics--Taking The Three-Body Problem as an Example. Contemporary Foreign

Language Studies, 3, 57-63.

Zhao, C. Y. (2021). Research on Translation, Introduction and Communication of Science Fiction

Works in Russia--Focusing on The Three-Body Problem. Contemporary Writers Review, 4,

193-198.

Zhao, H. Y., & Lin, Y. H. (2022). A study of intersemiotic translation of The Joy Luck Club metaphor

from the perspective of multimodality. Journal of Dalian University, 5, 58-64.


	1. Introduction
	1.1 Research Background
	1.2 Research Significance
	1.3 Research Purpose
	1.4 Structure of the Thesis

	2. Literature Review
	2.1 The Multimodal Intersemiotic Translation Study
	2.2 The Previous Study on The Three-Body Problem

	3. Theoretical Framework
	3.1 Intersemiotic Translation 
	3.2 Three Meanings of Visual Multimodality 

	4. A Multimodal Analysis of the Book Cover 
	4.1 The Translation Mechanism of the Design of Boo
	4.2 Analysis of Book Covers 
	4.2.1 Representational Meaning
	4.2.2 Interpersonal Meaning 
	4.2.3 Compositional Meaning


	5. Conclusion
	5.1 Major Findings
	5.2 The Disadvantages of the Study 


