Norms and Norm-Taking in Interpreting for Chinese Government Press Conferences: A Case Study of Hedges

Abstract

Norms in interpreting and translation have long been an area of interest to translation studies scholars. Drawing on the materials collected from interpreting for Chinese government press conferences and translation of Chinese government Work Reports, this chapter aims to examine the norms and norm-taking in interpreting and translation of Chinese political discourse as reflected in the use of hedges. The results show that priority is given to the “faithfulness” norm in rendering hedges; interpreters’ performance indicates their adherence to the sociolinguistic norms of ‘politeness’ and ‘accuracy’, whereas the impact of other norms are barely noticeable; and the regular shifts motivated by interpreters in deploying hedges also reveal their compliance with the institutional norm of “gatekeeping”, which demands them to be loyal to the government speakers.

Appendix

List of hedge candidates examined in the present study

about allegation allegedly almost apparent apparently appear approximately argue around assume assumption at least attempt basically belief believe broadly can chance claim comparatively conceivably conjecture contention could deduce doubt doubtful essentially estimate estimation expect expectation fair fairly fear feel formally frequent frequently generally

guess hypothesize hypothetically idea ideally imply impossible improbable in general inconceivable indicate infer interpret interpretation kind of largely likelihood likely mainly maintain may maybe might more or less mostly nearly normally occasionally often on the whole opinion ought partially partly perceive perhaps perspective plausible plausibly possibility possible possibly

postulate presumable presumably presume pretty probability probable probably propose quite rare rarely rather reckon relative relatively reportedly roughly seem seemingly seldom should slight slightly somehow sometimes somewhat sort of speculate speculation suggest superficially suppose supposedly surmise suspect technically tend to tendency theoretically think

to my knowledge to…extent typical typically uncertain uncertainly uncertainty unclear unclearly unlikely unsure usually view virtually would