从跨文化交际角度理解商务口译本科毕设论文

上海海事大学SHANGHAI MARITIME UNIVERSITY 硕士学位论文

MASTER’S DISSERTATION

论文题目：从跨文化交际角度理解商务口译

学位专业：外国语言学及应用语言学

Understanding Business Interpretation from the Perspective of Cross-cultural Communication

By

Ma Huiqin

Under the Supervision of

Professor Mao Liqun

A Thesis Submitted to

Shanghai Maritime University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts

May, 2009

Acknowledgements

This thesis has benefited from a number of insights and assistance from many different writers and authors whose names have been listed respectfully in bibliography. On the completion of this thesis I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Professor Mao Liqun, my supervisor, for his warm and considerate encouragement, insightful suggestions, and painstaking work in scrutinizing the outline and the draft of this thesis, for the meticulous guidance he has generously offered me during the whole process of my postgraduate studies here, and above all for his lofty personality and scrupulousness in doing academic research, which will surely benefit me.

Thanks are also given to all the respectable teachers such as Professor Wang Dawei, Professor Han Zhonghua, Professor Shi Yanyan, Professor Mao Junchun, Professor Qu Zongde, Professor Zheng Lixin, Professor Weng Fengxiang and Professor Yuan Yongfang for their informative lectures, which have enriched my knowledge in linguistics and broadened my academic horizon.

My heartfelt thanks also go to those who have generously offered me their help and advice in my preparation for this thesis, especially in the collection of the data.

No words can express my gratitude to those professors and friends I mentioned above. Without their invaluable and timely help, I could not have brought the thesis into a reality. Any criticism and comments on this thesis will be highly appreciated.

Abstract

With the rapid development in cross-cultural communication, interpreters, especially business interpreters play more and more significant roles in economic arena.With their bilingual and bicultural competences, they act as mediators and bridges in helping the communicative participants exchange views and ideas successfully.

The topic of this paper is to understand business interpretation from the cross-cultural perspective. This paper is divided into six chapters in total.

Chapter one gives brief introduction to interpretation, business interpretation in particular.Meanwhile, cross-cultural communication as well as relevant concepts such as culture and communication are introduced briefly. Priority is given to the explanation of interpretation, its categorization and the features of business interpretation and so on. Those efforts may give a better idea of the theoretical background of the main topic in this thesis.

Chapter two pays attention to the two types of connections, that is the relationship Between culture, language and communication, the relationship between business interpretation and cross-cultural communication. Then through reviewing the contributions having been made both at home and abroad in terms of business interpretation, the necessity and feasibility of the study in this thesis will be fully understood by the readers.

Chapter three makes elaborate study and analysis about business interpretation with typical examples. Cross-cultural communication successes and failures in the real practice of business interactions are also classified according to the two main channels of communicaiton.Thus the reader will better understand the significance of business interpretation---a specific act of cross-cultural communication.

Chapter four describes different cross-cultural barriers in business interpretation. Those barriers are derived from five types of cultural differences: differences in value systems, in specific social and cultural background, in customs and conventions, in political and economic knowledge and in language expressions.

Chapter five introduces the roles of business interpreters. To be specific, interpreters usually serve as a bridge between languages and cultures. They also work as favorable atmosphere creators. At last, the basic requirements for qualified business interpreters are presented with examples.

Chapter six makes concise summary to the whole thesis and reaches some important conclusions that provide guidance for future studies.

Key Words: Business Interpretation; Cross-cultural Awareness; Cross-cultural Competence

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摘要

随着全球化进程日益加快，跨文化交际活动日趋频繁，商务口译应运而生。且在商务有关的场合，比如商务会晤，商务谈判、签订合同，商贸互访，运输包装，贸易展览，投资与贸易等等发挥越来越重要的作用。商务口译员凭借其双语能力及双文化知识，在跨文化交际中扮演着不同文化，不同语言之间桥梁的角色，帮助来自不同国家，拥有不同文化背景的人进行积极有效的沟通。

本文试图从一个新的角度----跨文化交际的角度来理解商务口译，全文共由六个章节组成。

第一章介绍了口译尤其是商务口译，同时也介绍了跨文化交际等相关概念和术语，比如文化，交际等等。其中着重介绍了口译的定义、类型、商务口译的特点。目的是让读者对本文主题的理论背景有一个基本的了解。

第二章引出本论文必不可少的两种关系，即语言、文化及交际的关系，商务口译与跨文化交际的关系。最后，作者对中西方在口译研究中的各个阶段，趋势及出现的问题作了简单的回顾和介绍，从而使读者明白该研究的必要性及意义。

第三章作者通过大量的例证详细分析了跨文化交际在言语交际，非言语交际等方面的成功与失误。从而读者会更好地认识到:商务口译，是一种特定的跨文化交际行为。

第四章讲述了商务口译中存在的一些障碍，指出在跨文化商务交际中，东西方民族常常会因为价值观念、社会文化积淀以及思维、行为方式等方面的不同而遭遇文化冲突。

第五章探讨了商务口译译员在跨文化交际中的作用。口译者作为交际双方的使者，穿梭于两种不同语言和文化之间。他们应自觉培养自身的跨文化意识，增强跨文化交际能力，提高文化差异的敏感性，促使国际商务成功开展。

第六章对全文进行了高度归纳和总结。

关键词：商务口译；跨文化意识；跨文化交际能力

Table of Contents Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………….I Abstract……………………………………………………………………………..II 中文摘要……………………………………………………………………….......IV

Chapter1 Brief Introduction to Business Interpretation& Cross-cultural Communication (1)

1.1 Introduction to Interpretation (1)

1.1.1 Definition (1)

1.1.2 Categorization (2)

1.2 Introduction to Business Interpretation (2)

1.2.1Definition (2)

1.2.2 Features of Business Interpretation (2)

1.3Introduction to Cross-Cultural Communication (3)

1.4 Introduction to Culture (4)

1.5 Understanding Cross-cultural Communication (4)

1.6 Summary (5)

Chapter2 Literature Review (6)

2.1 Necessity of Studies on Business Interpretation (6)

2.2 Relationship between Language ,Culture and Communication (7)

2.3Relationship between Business Interpretation and Cross-cultural

Communication (8)

2.4 Previous Studies of Interpretation in the West and in China (9)

2.4.1.History of Interpretation Study (9)

2.4.2Interpretation Study in the West (10)

2.4.3 Interpretation Study in China (12)

2.4.4 Existing Problems (14)

2.5Summary (16)

Chapter 3 Business Interpretation in Cross-cultural Communication (18)

3.1 Business Interpretation: An Act of Cross-cultural Communication (19)

3.2Elements of Cross-cultural Communication (20)

3.2.2Verbal Communication (21)

3.2.2.1 Sound (21)

3.2.2.2 Words with Vague Meaning (22)

3.2.2.3Modifiers (23)

3.2.2.4 Word Order (24)

3.3 Cultural Factors That Interfere with Verbal Communication (24)

3.3.1 Differences in Greetings and Farewells (24)

3.3.2 Addressing (25)

3.3.3 Compliments, Thanks and Apologies (26)

3.3.4 Privacy (27)

3.3.5 Politeness (28)

3.3.6 Gifts Giving (31)

3.3.7 Idioms, Proverbs,Slangs, Euphemisms (31)

3.3.8 Use of Humor and Metaphor (34)

3.4 Nonverbal Communication (36)

3.4.1 The Significance of Study on Nonverbal Communication in Interpretation

(36)

3.4.2 Categorization of Nonverbal Communication (38)

3.4.2.1 Eye Contact and Facial Expression (38)

3.4.2.2.Silence (38)

3.4.2.3 Phonetic Variation (39)

3.4.2.4 Posture (39)

3.4.2.5 Body Gestures (40)

3.4.3 Suggested Solutions for Difficulties the Interpreter May Face (40)

3.4.3.1 Taking in Complete Message (40)

3.4.3.2 Understanding Meaningful Silence (41)

3.4.3.3 Avoiding Misunderstanding (41)

3.4.3.4 Making Right Decisions (42)

3.4.3.5 The Importance of a Shared Culture (43)

Chapter4 Business Interpretation against Cross-cultural Communication Barriers (45)

4.1 Differences in Value Systems (46)

4.2 Differences in Specific Social and Cultural Background (47)

4.3 Differences in Customs and Conventions (50)

4.4 Differences in Political and Economic Knowledge (52)

4.5 Differences in Language Expressions (54)

4.6 Summary (55)

Chapter 5 The Roles of a Business Interpreter (57)

5.1 The Roles of a Business Interpreter (57)

5.1.1 A Bridge between Two Languages (57)

5.1.2 A Bridge between Two Cultures (60)

5.1.3 Favorable Atmosphere Creator (61)

5.2 Basic Requirements for Business Interpreters (63)

5.2.1 Interpretation Techniques and Business Knowledge (63)

5.2.2Abundant Extra-linguistic Knowledge (63)

5.2.3 Cross-cultural Awareness.................................................... .. (64)

5.2.4 Cross-cultural Competence (65)

5.2.5 Business Awareness (66)

5.3 Summary (67)

Chapter 6 The Conclusion (69)

Bibliography (71)

Chapter 1 Brief Introduction to Business Interpretation and Cross-cultural Communication

Interpretation is one of the oldest professions in the world and there are a number of definitions about it. Before exploring business interpretation further, its definition is necessary to be introduced so as to set an area for further discussion (sometimes referred to as interpreting).Moreover, some relevant terms are going to be introduced so as to make the readers have a better idea of the topic to be covered.

1.1 Introduction to Interpretation

1.1.1 Definition

Interpretation is a form of translation, converting one language to another so that the target language could convey the intended message in source language. It can also be described in simple terms, that is,” to put (something spoken)into one language into the words of another language”(L ongman Dictionary of Contemporary English,1976:552).Or it is a process that the interpreter first listens to the speaker, understands and analyzes what the speakers says,resynthesizes or reconstructs the speech in the appropriate form, and tells the listener or the audience in a different https://www.360docs.net/doc/715933760.html,ly,it is a process that turns a spoken language into another.Nevertheless,other scholars such as Zhong Shukong(1999:1) apprehends it in this way:“Interpretation,essentially,means an extempore oral reproduction, in one language, of what is said in another language.” Daniel Gile(1983) thinks it essentially is “an oral translation of oral discourse.” According to professor Mei Deming(2000),interpretation is a process in which the interpreter obtains certain amount of information in one language and transfers it into another language orally on the spot. It is a basic means of cross-cultural communication between different peoples and cultures in human society.

From these definitions, it is clear that interpretation happens

1) across at least two different languages；

2) with two or more parties of interlocutors as well as interpreters contributing to

the same current event;

3) by way of oral expression but nevertheless not all out of spoken language; and