A Study Of Interperter's Role In Qing Dynasty From Skopos Perspectives

Interpretationhistoryhaslongbeenoverlookedbymostscholarsprimarilyduetoitslack of references and historical records; on the one hand, the immediacy ofinterpretationmakesithardtokeeprecords,andontheotherhand,theinterpretersbackinhistoryenjoyedsuchalowsocialstatusthattheywerenotincludedinthehistory. Limitedastherelevantreferencesare,somescholarshavestartedtonoticethe prejudice against interpretation history these years. But the researchapproachesandperspectivesarenotasmultipleastext‐translationhistory. Sothepurposeofthisthesisistodigintointerpretationhistoryfromadifferentangletofillintheblanktoacertainextent.Vermeer agrees that Skopos theory should also be applicable to the research ininterpretation. The key‐point is to find more specific purposes besides facilitatingcommunication. TheinterpreterintheQingDynastywentmuchmorebeyondtheirresponsibility to accomplish their commissions, and their behavior, which in turnimpactsontheirrole,wasdeterminedbyspecificpurposesorrequests.Therefore,itmakessensetoanalyzetheroleoftheinterpretersintheQingDynastyagainstthetheoreticalbackdropofSkopostheory.The research is approached by the case studies of interpreting activities from 3aspectsoftheQingEmpire‐‐foreignaffair,tradeandmilitarynegotiations,focusingoninterpreter'sresponsibilityandrole. TheSkopostheoryisemployedinthecasestudytorevealtherelationsbetweeninterpreter'spurposeandrole.