A Study Of The Translation Of Foreign Ministry Spokespersons' Remarks:a Rhetoric Perspective

The regular press conference of the Foreign Ministry, as a mechanism of response, has played an increasingly important role in globally complex political situation, so its translation which presumably determines effects of the official response and influences the international audience's interpretation of relevant policies and stances deserves much attention. With a view to changing prejudiced attitudes towards China and improving China's international image, translating for Foreign Ministry's spokespersons can be regarded as a rhetoric action for foreign publicity stimulated by certain political situation.Translations of spokespersons' remarks which concern significant political questions are the object of this translation study based on the Lloyd Bitzer's theory of rhetorical situation constitutive of exigencies, audience and constraints. This study is aimed to assess relevant translations in a rhetoric perspective and seek for improvement in foreign publicity. Conclusions can be drawn from this study:the political context is critical for translators in understanding and translating remarks; the audience's understanding is shaped by their global status and social and cultural background, which in turn influences translation strategies; although translators are sophisticated in wording, substituting culture-loaded expression and reproducing modal effects, they are still subjected to Chinglish logic in expression; it is necessary for translators to pay attention to foreign media's reports and commentaries for better assessing translations' rhetorical effect and improving foreign publicity.