Interpretation Practice Analysis: From Functionalist Perspective

Interpreting has been playing an indispensable role in foreign affairs, foreigntrade and cultural exchanges. It promotes the communications among people withdifferent cultural background and accelerates social progress and prosperity.Domestically, the history of the studies of interpreting is not long and thetheoretical foundation is mainly interpretive theory. As one of the schools oftranslation theory, functionalism emphasizes the making of translation strategiesaccording to expected purposes. It breaks the constraint brought by functionalequivalence and brings a new direction for the interpreting theories studies.The text typology by Reiss, the translational action theory by Mantari, theskopos theory by Vermeer and the function-plus-loyalty principle by Nord are themain theories of functionalism. According to the related principles of functionalism,the author will firstly study what preparations the interpreter should make before theinterpreting practice considering the translation brief. Secondly, according to theprinciple that communication purpose decides communication strategies, the authorwill study the necessity of adopting some public speaking skills with an aim ofrealizing the purpose of this interpreting practice because this is the interpretation ofTCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) courses for foreign students and doctors all overthe world. Thirdly, the author will point out other strategies required in order toachieve the function of this interpreting. Fourthly, according to the role of translatorsemphasized in the skopos theory, the author will point out what kinds of abilitiesinterpreters should cultivate and what kinds of preparations they should make in dailylife.