The Discursive Construction Of National Image

National image plays an important role in international exchange.A good national image can promote communication between countries.However,the previous researches about national images mainly focused on how foreign countries construct China's national image.The studies about the self-constructed image of China are relatively few.Strengthening self-construction of national image is of great significance to the improvement of national discourse abilities,the enhancement of China's voice in the international arena,and the promotion of China's comprehensive competitiveness.The report to the 19 th National Congress of the Communist Party of China(NCCPC)is delivered by President Xi Jinping on Oct.18,2017.The publication of it has attracted worldwide attention.The English version of the report is important for China to show its national image.As a part of national discourse,the translation of national discourse is one of the effective ways to show national image.Therefore,this paper aims to explore how national images are constructed through language resources in the translation of national discourse.This study aims to answer the following three questions:1.What linguistic resources are employed in the English version of Xi Jinping's report to the19 th NCCPC?2.How are national images constructed discursively?3.What national images are constructed?Based on the above three questions,this paper takes Halliday's Systemic Functional Linguistics(SFL)as the theoretical framework,and uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the construction of China's national image in the English version of the report to the 19 th NCCPC.High frequency words,transitivity,modality and theme are used as the main analytical instruments in this study.The result shows that this report constructs a positive and objective national image in general.From the perspective of linguistic resources,the high frequency words like “party”,“people” and “develop” highlight the theme of the report.As for the transitivity system,the frequent use of material process and relational process presents the real condition of China's development.When it comes to modality,median value and high value modal verbs are two prominent processes which reflect China's determination and willingness to develop.In the analysis of theme,two dominant marked themes,time adverbial and place adverbial,are used to show the critical time points and key areas for China's reform and development.In summary,the Chinese national images are constructed as “the firm follower of Chinese Communist Party,therepresentative of the people's interests,the down-to-earth actor in national rejuvenation,the practitioner of democracy and legal system,the determined defender of incorruption,the confident and courageous socialist,the pioneer that keeps pace with time and the advocate of peace and development”.By the analysis of the national images constructed in the English version of the report to the19 th NCCPC,this study will provide a linguistic approach for the study of national image and will give some enlightenment for the self-construction of national image in the future.