The Application of Discourse Cohesion Theory in the 2024 Government Work Report

Abstract

As an official medium and important channel for external communication, the translation of the Government Work Report into another language must maintain the coherence and cohesion of the discourse, which has a significant impact on the national image and the effectiveness of cultural value dissemination. Guided by discourse cohesion theory, this study analyzes the challenges in translating the report to demonstrate how various cohesive devices play a role in the translation of such texts. The article focuses on five aspects of translation: reference, substitution, ellipsis, conjunction, and lexical collocation, with specific examples provided for illustration. Given the notable differences between English and Chinese cohesive devices, translation methods such as addition, omission, and repetition are required to achieve effective translation outcomes. Under the guidance of cohesion theory, translators can develop a stronger awareness of discourse and a global perspective on translation, thereby enhancing the external communication effectiveness of the translated text.