Abstract ii

摘要 iii

1 Introduction 1

2 Literature Review 2

2.1Research on Interpretation 2

2.1.1 Definitions of Interpretation 2

2.1.2 Classifications of the Interpreting 2

2.2 Research on Culture-loaded Expressions 3

2.2.1 The Definition of Culture-loaded Expressions 3

2.2.2 The Classification of Culture-loaded Expressions 4

2.2.3 The Interpretation of Culture-loaded Expressions 4

3 An Introduction of the Interpretive Theory 6

3.1 The Development of the Interpretive Theory 6

3.2 The Main Concepts of the Interpretive Theory 7

3.2.1 Sense. 7

3.2.2 Sense Unit… 8

3.3 The Process of the Interpretive Theory in Interpretation--The Triangular Model 8

3.3.1 Comprehension… 10

3.3.2 De-verbalization 11

3.3.3 Expression…11

4 The Application of the Interpretive Theory in Interpreting Culture-loaded Expressions 13

4.1 Comprehension of Culture-loaded Expressions 13

4.2 De-verbalization of Culture-loaded Expressions 15

4.3 Expression of Culture-loaded Expressions 16

5 An Investigation of Interpretation Acquisition of Culture-loaded Expressions 17

5.1 The Purpose of the investigation 17

5.2 The Questions and Results of the Investigation 17

5.3 The Analysis of the Result 20

5.4 Limitation of the Investigation 21

6 Conclusion 22

6.1 General Review of the Thesis 22

6.2 Implication of the Study 23

Bibliography 24

1 Introduction

With the promotion of globalization, cross-cultural communication becomes much more frequent than before. Interpreters serve as an important medium for people from different countries to communicate with each other. Interpretation nowadays is not merely a linguistic activity, but rather, it is a kind of communication between two cultures.

Yet, different culture has its own historical background. Thus, one type of words are therefore produced to reflect every perspective cultural phenomenon. That is culture-loaded expressions which are also called culture-bounded words. They are accumulated in the course of history and now become a symbol of different culture. Although it is an unique cultural phenomenon, it poses great challenges to interpreters to translate culture-loaded words in an instant.

The Interpretive Theory, proposed by Danica Seleskovitch and Marianne Lederer in 1960s, was the first systemic theory of interpretation. It consists of De-verbalization Hypothesis, the Triangular  Model and ESIT Model. The essence of the Interpretive Theory is the interpretation of sense in the process of interpreting rather than merely lexical correspondence. The theory also discusses the interpreters’ role during the interpreting process. Since it has been brought into the academic field, it has been the foundation for other interpretation theories and has been developed and continuously improved.