Translating like a conduit? A sociosemiotic analysis of modality in Chinese government press conference interpreting

Semiotica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (221) ◽  
pp. 175-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongbo Fu
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Press Conference ◽  
General Increase ◽  
Chinese Context ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Concordance Analysis ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Language Pair

AbstractThis paper is a corpus-based sociosemiotic inquiry into the translation of linguistic modality in government press conferences in the Chinese context, with an eye to its indication of interpreter’s identity. Viewing translation (including interpreting) as a process of social semiosis, the paper draws on theoretical insights from Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and applies them to the analysis of modality in both English and Chinese – the language pair that concerns the present research. Results of the study show that, while modality distribution in the two languages are basically maintained at the same level, interchangeable uses between volitive and obligatory subtypes of modality plus the general increase of modality value in interpreted vis-à-vis source speeches indicate that interpreters are not deprived of mediating latitude which is believed to contradict their prescriptive stereotypes. Also, exemplary parallel concordance analysis of modality reveals that interpreters adopt various solutions to translating the same modal element. Further, the paper proposes a taxonomy for the analysis of modality shifts in interpreter-mediated encounters, with illustrative cases of each subclass examined and discussed. The findings are expected to shed light on the interpreter’s identity in political institutional settings.

Mediation through modality shifts in Chinese-English government press conference interpreting

Babel ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Xin
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Press Conference ◽  
Institutional Identity ◽  
Chinese Context ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
The Press

Abstract This paper investigates the mediation role of interpreters through modality shifts in Chinese-English diplomatic interpreting. Based on the custom-built corpus of interpreted government press conferences, this article conducts a Systemic Functional Linguistics-informed analysis of modality shifts by examining the ST-TT sentence pairs that present high-frequency Chinese or English modality markers. Results show that: (1) the degree of mediation by the interpreters is fairly high in terms of modality, with 44% of the investigated sentence pairs involving modality shifts; (2) shifts mostly occur in modality value (91%) and orientation (64%) rather than modality type (5%), thus the basic speech function of the clause is minimally changed; (3) shifts within the three dimensions point to general tendencies towards “weakening,” “subjectivization” and “de-obligation,” which reflect the interpreters’ efforts to construct the Chinese officials’ image as audience-friendly and proactive, and to adapt the TT to the English communicative norms; (4) “strengthening” and “objectivization” shifts occur frequently around issues concerning the Chinese government’s responsibility or ability, which reveals the interpreters’ active involvement in presenting the Chinese government as responsible, confident and powerful. The study argues that the press conference interpreters’ active mediation is motivated by their institutional identity as “diplomatic workers” and “government representatives” in the Chinese context.

scholarly journals Chinese NGO-Firm Partnerships and CSR from an Institutional Perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 41-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Institutional Perspective ◽  
Institutional Dynamics ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
Government Institutions ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Corporate Social

NGO–firm partnerships have been well studied in the literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) (Marano and Tashman 2012; Dahan et al. 2010; Oetzel and Doh 2009). However, these studies have generally limited their focus to Western multinationals and Western NGOs and, moreover, not by-and-large examine in depth the institutional settings under which either the firm or the NGO operates Building on recent institutional approaches to CSR (Brammer, Jackson, and Matten 2012; Kang and Moon 2012; Matten and Moon 2008), this paper examines how the institutional dynamics of several partnerships between Chinese firms and NGOs affect the manifestation of CSR (e.g. “implicit” vs. “explicit”). The paper also looks into how CSR and NGO–firm collaboration plays out within a changing state-corporatist framework in Chinese context (Unger and Chan 1995, 2008; Hsu and Hasmath forthcoming). The paper then argues 1) that the involvement of an NGO in the partnership reflects a changing institutional setting in China, and 2) that type and level of involvement of Chinese government institutions affects whether a given firm takes an “implicit” or an “explicit” approach to CSR.

Impacts of regulatory focus and institutions on innovation

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 939-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birton J. Cowden ◽  
Joshua S. Bendickson
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Prevention Focus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Cognitive Motivations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Shed Light

Purpose Many factors influence entrepreneurs, some of which influence the level of innovation (i.e. innovative or imitative) of new products or services pursued. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the psychological motivations of the entrepreneurs and their institutional setting on the innovativeness of the new venture they pursue. Through this exploration, we can gain a better understanding of how innovative new ventures still occur in varying institutional environments. Design/methodology/approach In order to deliver the authors’ propositions as they pertain to innovation, the authors review the literature on entrepreneurs’ default regulatory focus (i.e. promotion or prevention seeking) and the strength of the institutions in which they are operating. Findings The authors theorize that promotion focus enhances innovativeness of ventures while prevention focus enhances imitativeness of ventures. The authors also provide a conceptual framework for the interplay among institutions and regulatory focus and provide a typology for how these varying combinations impact innovativeness or imitativeness of venture type. Originality/value In this study, the authors discuss and unpack the entrepreneurial mindset in order to bridge gaps between institutions and cognitive motivations of entrepreneurs as they pertain to innovativeness of venture type. By synthesizing several areas of research, the authors shed light on entrepreneurs’ innovativeness by proposing how these factors work together in determining whether an entrepreneur’s venture is more or less innovative based on regulatory disposition and in different institutional settings.

Translation universals in the oral production of bilingual children

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Álvarez de la Fuente ◽  
Raquel Fernández Fuertes
Keyword(s):  
Bilingual Children ◽  
Translation Research ◽  
Oral Production ◽  
First Languages ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Language Pair

This paper investigates two of the most widely analysed universals in translation research, namely simplification and explicitation. We examine the oral production of bilingual children with different language pairs as available in the CHILDES project (MacWhinney 2000) (i.e. the FerFuLice, Ticio, Deuchar, Vila, Genesee and Pérez-Bazán corpora) as well as in other compilation forms (i.e. Ronjat 1913; Leopold 1939–1949; Swain 1972; Lanza 1988, 1997, 2001; Cossato 2008). We address two main issues: whether instances of simplification and explicitation appear in the production of non-instructed interpreters and, if so, how their occurrence relates to the type of data (i.e. spontaneous or experimental) and the language pair involved. The results show that children acquiring two first languages often translate and use simplification and explicitation at varying degrees irrespective of the language pair. We conclude that the analysis of acquisition data can contribute to shed light on the nature of these translation universals.

Analysis of Spatial Co-Working Property of a Long-Span Cantilevered Awning

2011 ◽  
Vol 243-249 ◽  
pp. 1355-1359
Author(s):  
Dan Dan Kong ◽  
Hai Xia Zhang ◽  
Xin Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Structural Study ◽  
Formation Mechanism ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Long Span ◽  
Working Property ◽  
Shed Light

A chamfering rectangular long-span stadium awning is introduced in this paper. To fully understand the spatial co-working property of the cantilevered structure, the function of connecting members in this cantilevered structure is studied. Analysis results identified the formation mechanism of spatial stiffness of the whole cantilevered structure. The research results can shed light on structural study and designing of the same kind.

scholarly journals Language Education and Systemic Functional Linguistics

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sthephanny Moncada Linares ◽  
Zhi-Ying Xin
Keyword(s):  
Text Analysis ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Literacy Intervention ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Shed Light

The purpose of the present paper is to offer a state-of-the-art review on the topic of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and its theoretical and practical implications on the field of language education, being the former widely recognized due to its potentiality to encourage both reflection and action for the participants involved. Recent empirical studies were located and thoroughly reviewed, which shed light on the three most researched areas including text analysis and literacy intervention, classroom discourse, and the language teaching and learning processes. As a final remark and taking into account the literature analysis, some prospective studies are briefly proposed.  

scholarly journals China's Experimental Pragmatics of 'Scientific Development' in Wind Power: Algorithmic Struggles over Software in Wind Turbines

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-24
Author(s):  
Julia Kirkegaard
Keyword(s):  
Wind Power ◽  
Market Development ◽  
Scientific Development ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Experimental Pragmatics ◽  
Software Algorithms ◽  
Core Technology ◽  
Experimental Market ◽  
Path Dependent ◽  
Shed Light

This article presents a case study on the development of China's wind power market. As China's wind industry has experienced a quality crisis, the Chinese government has intervened to steer the industry towards a turn to quality, indicat-ing a pragmatist and experimental mode of market development. This increased focus on quality, to ensure the sustainable and scientific development of China's wind energy market, requires improved indigenous Chinese innovation capabili-ties in wind turbine technology. To shed light on how the turn to quality impacts upon the industry and global competition, this study adopts the micro-proces-sual, socio-technical, relational and empiricist lens of Science & Technology Stud-ies (STS). It illustrates how Sino-foreign collaborative relations around the core technology of software (in control systems and simulation tools) have become politicised, and how controversies unfold over issues associated with intellectual property rights (IPRs), certification and standardisation of software algorithms. The article concludes that the use of this STS lens makes a fresh contribution to the often path-dependent, structuralist and hierarchical China literature, offering instead a possibility- and agency-filled account that can shed light on the dynam-ics of China's fragmented governance and experimental market development.

scholarly journals A Functional Study of zhi 之 in the Chinese Nominal Group

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
Weiwei Zhang ◽  
Manliang Li
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Character ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Chinese Language ◽  
Nominal Group ◽  
Functional Study ◽  
Grammatical Structure ◽  
Contrastive Study ◽  
The Past ◽  
Nominal Groups ◽  
Shed Light

Over the past decades, subjects concerned with the Chinese character “zhi之”, i.e. grammatical structure, in ancient Chinese language, have been widely explored. This paper conducts a research from a new dimension: the Cardiff Grammar, an integral part of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) which is famous for its “problem-oriented theory”. In order to shed light on the semantics and syntactic functions of “zhi之” in the Chinese nominal group, this study examines five distinctive nominal groups involving “zhi之” with elaborate tree diagrams which are presented in each of the following sections. Through the contrastive study, we find that the Chinese character “zhi之” has some various functions in different situations: as genitive element (g), as modifier trigger (mtr), as selector (v), as qualifier introducer (qint) and as deictic determiner (dd).

Intervening to Reduce Satisficing Behaviors in Web Surveys

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chan Zhang ◽  
Frederick G. Conrad
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Item Nonresponse ◽  
Web Surveys ◽  
Online Surveys ◽  
General Increase ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
The Web ◽  
Interactive Medium

Most online surveys still look and feel much like paper questionnaires. In particular, although the web is an interactive medium, web surveys rarely exploit this interactive capability. One exception is a series of demonstrations that online survey respondents seem to become more conscientious when prompted (usually with a brief textual message) in response to behaviors like item nonresponse, nondifferentiation, and answering very quickly. While these earlier studies have found that interactive intervention can reduce the occurrence of these behaviors, the underlying mechanism—why the intervention works—remains unclear. To shed light on this, we conducted two experiments to explore why respondents might change their behavior after being prompted. Part of the explanation lies in whether the benefits of the intervention are specific to the targeted behavior or lead to a general increase in conscientious responding. The findings show that intervention can lead to genuine improvement in respondent behaviors, but it also runs the risk of producing socially desirable bias in survey answers.

A rhetorical approach to translation

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-290
Author(s):  
Duoxiu Qian ◽  
David Kaufer
Keyword(s):  
Native Speaker ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
The West ◽  
Chinese Context ◽  
The Past ◽  
Government Documents ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
The Many ◽  
Effective Transmission

AbstractOver the past three decades, the Chinese government has repeatedly called for the effective transmission of its policies to the West through translation. Yet the effectiveness of translation and its evaluation has remained a ticklish issue, particularly for texts with a political agenda. Fidelity to literal denotative meaning at the grain of words and phrases is generally insufficient for the translation of such texts. Texts in these sensitive domains of the Chinese context call for exacting fidelity in tone, register, genre, stance, connotation, and, overall, rhetoric. The Chinese government, wishing to avoid misinterpretation, is concerned with sharing their policies with foreigners as closely as possible to the way the many authors of these policies understood them from the inside. In this paper, we think of a “rhetoric” of translation holistically as capturing the “inside contours” of words and phrases as understood by a native speaker. For this purpose, we present a rhetorical approach to translation that can help explain the translation standards of Chinese government documents marked for wide-scale distribution abroad. The approach and method can be applicable in the assessment of other translations when rhetoric or the overall effect is the major concern.

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