A Report On Interpreting For The 16th China International Agrochemical & Crop Protection Exhibition

Originated in the 1960s, the Interpretive Theory leaves its distinct marks in the study of translation theories. Its research scope has expanded from conference interpreting to literary translation, scientific and technical translation, legal translation and the teaching of translation. Languages involved have also grown from French, English, and German to over 20 other languages including Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish. Applying the theoretical framework of the Interpretive Theory, the author analyzes the interpreting task during the 16th China International Agrochemical & Crop Protection Exhibition. This report tries to find out and summarize feasible strategies in the application of Interpretive Theory in exhibition interpreting. Hopefully, these strategies can be of reference to interpreters under similar circumstances.Cognitive complement and de-verbalization are two core concepts of the Interpretive Theory which holds that the sense of a text can only be obtained by combining both the linguistic meaning and cognitive knowledge. The object of interpreting is not the linguistic meaning but the non-verbal sense. To that end, the interpreter should gain a thorough understanding of the source text and go through a process of de-verbalization before expressing it in the target language. In this process, cognitive complements, including cognitive knowledge, cognitive context, and emotions, plays a key role in facilitating the correct understanding of source text. De-verbalization enables the sense of the text to be temporarily stored in the brain independent of linguistic form.Looking back on the whole process of the above-mentioned interpreting task, the author finds that, as an interpreting activity with its own characteristics, exhibition interpreting provides favorable conditions for the interpreter to apply the Interpretive Theory. Exhibition interpreting features more flexibility and freedom, a communicative environment with not only Chinese-English and English-Chinese conversations, but also Chinese-Chinese business talks, and relatively long time to stay with and know about the speakers. These characteristics of exhibition interpreting make it easier to carry out cognitive complements and de-verbalization. Combined with case study, the author proposes interpreting strategies from the perspectives of cognitive complement and de-verbalization. It is suggested that in understanding the source language, one should accumulate enough cognitive knowledge, take full advantages of the cognitive context and pursue emotion equivalence; while in processing information, one should proceed from three dimensions, including generalization of main ideas, adjustment of information and reorganization of information.