A Relevance-adaptation Study On Strategies For Interpreting Vague Information In Diplomatic Discourse

As an indispensable part of the translation studies, the interpretation study hasenjoyed tremendous development in recent years. Of all the categories of interpretationstudies, the study on diplomatic interpretation, which is directly related with a country’simage and its national dignity, is the one that attracts particular attention. One of the mostprominent features of the diplomatic discourse is that it is often embedded with aconsiderable amount of vague information. In translation studies, theRelevance-Adaptation Theory has showed its advantages compared with other theories inexplaining the translation of vague information. After reviewing previous studiesconducted on diplomatic interpretation, the author of this thesis found that few of themwere conducted under the theoretical framework of Relevance-Adaptation Theory.Therefore, in this thesis, the author proposes her own Relevance-Adaptation InterpretationModel (RAIM) in the study of vague information interpretation in diplomatic discourses,and offers concrete strategies with ample examples.This thesis carries out the study on vague information interpretation in five parts. Inthe introduction chapter, the author explains the research background, purpose andorganization of the study. In Chapter Two, the author conducts literature review ondiplomatic interpretation, vague information and Relevance-Adaptation Theory, andproposes her own Relevance-Adaptation Interpretation Model (RAIM). Chapter Threedivides the interpreting process into two phases, the comprehension phase and theproduction phase, and explains each of the two phases in the RAIM. In Chapter Four, theauthor offers five strategies in interpreting vague information in diplomatic discourses withexamples from Premier Wen Jiabao’s press conferences. In the end, the author comes to aconclusion of this thesis and points out that more studies need to be done.