Abstract:

Metaphor is of great importance in the major-country diplomatic discourse system with Chinese characteristics for its vital role in the expressiveness and functionality of diplomatic discourse. Studies on the translation strategies of metaphors contribute significantly to facilitating the effective communication of diplomatic discourse and enhancing China's international discourse power. This paper conducts a case study of Chinese Foreign Ministry's 2019 regular press conferences on strategies for interpreting metaphors in diplomatic discourses from the perspective of political equivalence Yang Mingxing proposed as a criterion for the translation of diplomatic discourse. The metaphors employed in 2019 regular press conferences can be categorized into two types: shared and non-shared metaphors between China and the West. The former includes metaphors of the same source domain and metaphors of different source domains. It is advisable to retain or convert metaphors with comprehensive consideration of the number and political connotations of metaphors and the usages of the source and target languages. The latter includes new metaphors for the target audiences and metaphors originating from Chinese neologisms. The authors propose a strategy of retaining the metaphors plus explanation in the target text for consideration of the audiences' understanding of the cultural and political connotations of the metaphors.