Conceptual Metaphors In Interpreted Chinese Diplomatic Discourse

Diplomatic occasions are crucial for an independent country since it is the window to express a country’s idea,display its attitude and demonstrate national influence.Numerous rhetorical devices,such as metaphors are often applied to polish the diplomatic discourse on these occasions.The Foreign Minister’s Press Conference is a typical diplomatic occasion of China,during which the Foreign Minister answers foreign journalists’ questions by employing metaphors sometimes.Metaphors are not merely a stylistic choice,but they also serve to simplify intricate concepts and bridge cultural differences.Proper interpretation of these metaphors plays a vital role in accurately conveying the voice of China to the world.Adopting a cognitive linguistic perspective and guided by the Conceptual Metaphor Theory,this study examines the types and methods used in interpreting metaphors within Chinese diplomatic discourse.The study is based on Chinese to English transcripts of the former Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s press conferences from 2018 to 2022.Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis,the study identifies more than 600 conceptual metaphors in more than 10 types.Five main types of metaphors were identified:JOURNEY,BUILDING,WAR,HUNAN and NATURE metaphors.In the interpretation of these metaphors,coping methods such as retention,paraphrasing,deletion,and substitution were used with varying frequency.And it has been observed that culturally incompatible metaphors are seldom used,and in cases where they are omitted or substituted,it is usually not due to insurmountable cultural differences but rather other factors.Various methods are available for interpreting metaphors,and the selection can be influenced by a combination of cultural,contextual,and linguistic factors.