Strategies For Interpreting Metaphors In Premier Li Keqiang’s Press Conference Based On The Relevance-Adaptation Model

Metaphor has been used by many Chinese leaders including Premier Li Keqiang to tell China’s stories to the world,but interpreting metaphors poses a great challenge to interpreters.Studies on metaphor interpreting,especially strategies for metaphor interpreting,are still far from sufficient,and more research is necessary.This thesis probes into the strategies for metaphor interpreting in Premier Li Keqiang’s press conference in the two sessions from 2013 to 2022 by utilizing the method of qualitative analysis.Based on the relevance-adaptation model,this thesis summarizes the strategies for metaphor interpreting,and discusses the results of metaphor interpreting on the basis of the strategies,and patterns of the strategies for metaphor interpreting,especially the interpreting of different kinds of metaphors.This thesis finds that:(1)The core strategy based on relevance assumption is“interpreting the meaning”,which guides the relevance-adaptation process.In the process,strategies for context adaptability include general equivalence,paraphrase,recovering topic and substitution.Strategies for structure adaptability are abstraction,changing expressions,and simile.Strategies for dynamics adaptability are absolute equivalence,paraphrase and recovering topic.Strategies for salience adaptability include improving language efficiency,enhancing general knowledge,and promoting mental quality.The eight strategies for the first three dimensions are the main strategies whose results and patterns are further explored.(2)Some strategies result in situations where the form of the original metaphor is retained,while other strategies cause changes of the form of the original metaphor.(3)Different strategies are related with different dimensions of adaptability.Regarding different kinds of metaphors,most mechanical metaphors utilize “absolute equivalence”;structural metaphors,especially cultural metaphors,mostly apply “paraphrase”,but other strategies,like “absolute equivalence”,also play a critical role.