On English Translation Of Words And Phrases With Chinese Characteristics In Diplomatic Interpreting―from Perspective Of Skopos Theory

Over the past30years since the implementation of reform and opening up, everycause of China has made great development and the exchanges with foreign countries havebecome more and more frequent. China is playing a role of super power in the world affairsand its foreign affairs is in the ascendant. The success of China’s diplomacy can not berealized without the successful interpretation. In the diplomatic interpreting more and morewords and phrases with Chinese characteristics spring up and their effect in the foreignaffairs is increasingly important. Through occasions such as press conferences, speeches ofdiplomacy and government work reports and etc, we have learnt about the glamour andeffect of these WPCC. Due to the characteristics of WPCC, features of seriousness, politicalnature and instantaneity of the diplomatic interpreting, the translation of these WPCC offoreign affairs is rather difficultThe skopos theory considers that translation is a human action with purpose, thetranslation purpose determines the methods and strategies of translation and the criterion oftranslation text is that whether it can realize the purpose of translation. In the view ofskopos theory, the translation text is influenced and determined by the responding society,culture, history and etc. the different purposes of translation will lead to varied emphasis ofthe same source text in the translation process. The skopos theory does not focus on theequivalence of the source text and translation text but choosing translation strategies aimingat specific translation purpose in line with the expectant purpose of translation text based onthe full analysis of the source text. Meanwhile, the need of receivers should also be takeninto consideration when adopting translation strategies. As significant breakthrough of thetraditional equivalence theory and important complement of translation theory, the skopostheory explore a brandnew angle for translation practice and research. The three dominatingrules of the skopos theory can be applied and guide the WPCC in diplomatic interpreting.This paper discusses the translation of WPCC in diplomatic interpreting from theangle and guide of the skopos theory. It initially introuces the definition and development ofthis theory and states the three major rules of it and its characteristics and then renders the WPCC in diplomatic interpreting and its classifications and factors that affect its translationand principles be paid attention to and observed. Through the analysis of specific cases thepaper discusses the application of the three major rules of skopos theory in the WPCC indiplomatic interpreting, together with the translation strategies guided by it in thetranslation of WPCC in diplomatic interpreting such as literal translation, free translation,literal translation plus paraphrasing, borrowing and etc. This paper illustrates theavailability and validity of these translation strategies by using representative cases, andproves the feasibility and necessity of the skopos theory in guiding the translation of WPCCin diplomatic interpreting.