A Practical Perspective On Preparation For Interpretation On Foreign Affairs----with Special Reference To Li Keqiang’s Meeting The Press

As Dictionary of Translation Studies (English version, St. Jerome Publishing House,1997; imported version, Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2004) explicitly points out, interpretation is greatly different from translation. First of all, interpretation is different from translation in that the former is an instant oral operation of language transference and the interpreter is not likely to get much opportunity to turn back and make revisions. In other words, interpreting, unlike written translation, is both NON-CORRECTABLE and NON-VERIFIABLE. As a result, an interpreter usually experience higher pressure than a translator. One way to reduce the pressure is to get well-prepared for the interpretation beforehand so as to be "the constant winner who is always the well-informed". In the words of Dictionary of Translation Studies,"interpreters must ensure that any background knowledge which they are likely to need has been acquired in advance; seeking colleagues’advice or consulting reference works is not generally possible during the actual process of interpreting."Interpretation for the Premier’s response to the reporter’s questions has unique characteristics that are different from other kinds of translating activities. On one hand, it more than often involves the national stance and policy. Because "no foreign affair is of little importance", this policy-oriented translation activity allows for no small mistake, otherwise, it shall seriously affect the political and economic benefits of the nation, ruin the national image and reputation, and influence the international position and relationship, and thus cause irretrievable loss. On another, this interpretation concerning foreign affairs is rather time-sensitive:the time is always tight as the interpreter must always accomplish the translation task on spot. Although there are certain restrictions on the foreign reporters, it can never prevent the reporters from raising extemporaneous questions. The answers given by the Premier are always the "means to resist the punches", and shall by no means follow any prior-written draft. When Premier Li Keqiang responds to the reporters, all these features are fully manifested.The characteristics of the interpretation concerning the press meeting and the operational requirements for the interpretation of the questions and answers during Premier Li’s meeting with the foreign reporters show clearly that the preparation beforehand is critical to the interpreter. Of course, such preparation work is more than the simple recitation of the prior-written version though the interpreter must be able to manipulate the relevant expressions and sentence patterns. The interpretation concerning foreign affairs is usually made up of three aspects:1) preparation about current affairs, which include both the hot issues of the time and the correspondent policy and political stance of the nation;2) culture preparation, which consists of overcoming the cultural differences and the cultural vacancies; and3) language preparation, which requires that the interpreter should get used to the keynote speaker’s speech habits and language style. Once an excellent interpreter in good condition and order is thus well-prepared, the interpretation task will surely be accomplished successfully.