The Pragmatics Of Chinese Culture-loaded Words In Consecutive Interpreting

This research is based on Relevance Theory, taking press conference interpretingof Chinese culture-loaded words as an example. It mainly discusses the achievementof optimal relevance from SL to TL by employing contextual assumptions made bythe interpreter in the interpreting process. In order to make the application of theRelevance Theory more intuitive in this study, examples taken from press conferenceinterpreting will be analyzed in detail.At the very beginning, the author introduces the purpose and reasons of doingthis research, and then gives a general introduction to previous studies of therelationship between culture-loaded words and translation, as well as the applicationof Relevance Theory in consecutive interpreting. Contributions and insufficienciesdiscussed in relation to relevant study in the field are also pointed out. By establishinga relevance-theoretic framework, the author introduces the notion of context andoptimal relevance as its theoretical basis, arguing that these two concepts have a greatinfluence on Chinese culture-loaded words interpreting in press conference. Moreimportantly, this research focuses on explaining how an interpreter achieves optimalrelevance through contextual assumptions made in different situations. And it issuggested that interpreters should pay more attention to the Chinese culture-loadedwords in press conference interpreting, trying to achieve optimal relevance from SLfrom the contextual assumptions made through their inferences. The interpreters areencouraged to promote their interpreting skills, gather experiences, and be culturalmediators in interpreting activities. Through the analysis of various examples in pressconference interpreting, it is found that workable strategies are distinctly important ininterpreting, because these strategies contribute significantly to the effectivecommunication between speakers and listeners, as well as the promotion ofinterpreters’ individual and professional abilities.This research is not comprehensive; therefore there is much room forimprovement, encouraging more studies relevant to this one. The author hopes thatthis paper can at least make a little contribution to future development and willing tosee that pragmatics will play a more prominent role in consecutive interpreting.