On Cultural Awareness In Business Interpretation

After China's access to WTO, this country has witnessed a much rapid growth ineconomic and technological exchange with outside world. The frequent businesscooperation generated a huge demand in domestic business interpreters. Businessinterpretation, with its variety in mode and features, is attracting more and moretalents. The previous research on business interpretation was, more often than not,conducted from lexical teaching and skill coaching perspective. However, as businessinterpretation is saturated with lots of cultural factors, the interpretation is not likely tobe successful without a clear understanding of culture and proper awareness. Thispaper, based on the"intercultural communication"theories, proposes that businessinterpreters should be equipped with cultural awareness in order to conduct their workproperly; also the methods of cultivating cultural awareness are discussed.Chapter one explicates the reason, purpose and the structure of this paper. Chapter twois literature review, including a brief presentation on interpretation and interculturalcommunication theory. The specialties of business interpretation are also studied whencompared with general interpretation. Chapter three highlights the significance ofcultural awareness in business interpretation. In chapter four, some major activitiesthat reveal the cultural difference in business interpretation are discussed. Based on thefindings, Chapter Five provides some strategies for successful interpretation withexamples.