Interpreting shifts as discursive acts: exploring the dual role of Chinese diplomatic interpreters in the Chinese Premier’s Press Conferences

Abstract

This study examines interpreting shifts in personal pronouns observed in Chinese Premier’s Press Conferences (CPPCs), with the aim of exploring how such shifts reveal the dual role of Chinese diplomatic interpreters. To this end, the study adopts Role Theory (Biddle, 1979) and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) (Fairclough, 1995; van Dijk, 1997) as its theoretical framework, allowing for a context-sensitive examination of how interpreters’ roles are negotiated and enacted through language. These dual responsibilities—professional fidelity and institutional alignment—are explored through the discursive impacts of interpreting shifts on the construction of power dynamics, interpersonal positioning, and the Premier’s public image.

Thesis is embargoed until 31 December 2030.

Date of Award	Dec 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Sponsors	China Scholarship Council
Supervisor	Kathleen Kaess (Supervisor) & Chen-En Ho (Supervisor)