The English Translation The Governance of China V from the Perspective of Skopos Theory

Abstract

With China's growing participation in global governance, the English translation of official political discourse has become increasingly important for international communication and cross-cultural understanding. The Governance of China Volume V serves as a key publication for presenting China's governance philosophy, strategic development goals, and policy orientations to a global audience. Consequently, ensuring the accuracy and effectiveness of its translation is paramount for fostering accurate international perceptions. Based on Skopos Theory, this paper analyzes the English translation of a selected passage which focuses on the construction of a financial culture with Chinese characteristics. Through a comprehensive comparative analysis of the source text and the target text, the study systematically examines how specific translation choices and strategies are guided by the three foundational rules of Skopos Theory: the skopos rule, the coherence rule, and the fidelity rule. The analysis further confirms the hierarchical relationship among these three rules, illustrating how the overarching purpose of the translation dictates the linguistic and cultural adaptations required in the target text. By evaluating these strategic adaptations, the research demonstrates the robust applicability of Skopos Theory to the translation of contemporary Chinese political discourse. Ultimately, this study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of external publicity translation, offering practical implications for translators working with highly sensitive and culturally specific political texts, and contributing to the broader academic discourse on political translation and international communication strategies.