From Translational Non-equivalence to Variations in Cognitive Patterns: Construction of a Multidimensional Explanatory Framework

Starting from the cross-linguistic translation dilemmas surrounding core concepts such as “equivalence,” this article argues that linguistic differences are manifested not only in grammatical structures and lexical forms, but also in systemic variations across multiple dimensions of cognitive patterns, including conceptual packaging density, degree of contextual dependency, and modes of syntactic organization. On this basis, the present study constructs a theoretical framework for explaining cross-linguistic differences in cognitive patterns by integrating characteristics of the writing system, modes of linguistic organization, and preferences in cognitive processing into a multidimensional analytical model, with Chinese and English serving as the primary cases for illustrative comparison and analysis. The research holds that Chinese exhibits a relatively higher tendency toward conceptual packaging and contextual dependency in certain semantic domains, while English follows distinct configurational paths in analytic expression and explicit formal encoding. The article positions itself as framework-building research; its goal is to propose a comparable and operationalizable analytical model and to demonstrate its explanatory potential through illustrative analyses of Chinese–English contrasts, rather than to provide comprehensive statistical data or experimental verification. The framework offers a set of testable theoretical hypotheses and analytical pathways for subsequent research in cross-linguistic cognition, translation studies, and artificial intelligence-based language understanding.