Chinese-English Interpreting Strategies from the Perspective of Communicative Translation Theory : A Case Study of Xi Jinping’s Opening Speeches at the Belt and Road Forums
Xuemei Bao
Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
Meijuan Zhao *
Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, China has been enhancing its international collaborations and expanding its global influence. This paper examines President Xi Jinping’s opening speeches at the Belt and Road Forum, highlighting the linguistic features and discussing effective interpreting strategies based on communicative translation theory. A qualitative method is employed to explain Xi’s use of allusions and colloquialisms. It is found that effective communication strategies in interpreting from Chinese to English require careful consideration at lexical, syntactic, and discourse levels. Specifically, it suggests modifying fragmented sentence structures to align with English expressions and enhancing discourse coherence through techniques such as repetition and conjunctions. As such, it is hoped to provide interpreters with practical insights for navigating challenges in interpreting activities.
Keywords: Communicative translation, interpreting, Xi Jinping’s speeches