Research on English Translation Strategies of the 2024 Government Work Report from the Perspective of Skopos Theory

Abstract

Against the backdrop of globalization and China’s growing role in global discourse, the English translation of the 2024 Government Work Report is crucial to international understanding of its policies and image. Guided by Skopos Theory, this study analyzes the translation strategies used in the Report, examining their applicability, influencing factors, and implications. It focuses on six strategies—literal translation, free translation, omission, amplification, conversion, and explicitation—as illustrated through concrete examples. Strategy choice is shaped by extra-textual factors such as political communication objectives and readership expectations, as well as intra-textual factors like linguistic differences and terminology standardization. The findings reveal a purposeful “purpose-strategy-effect” framework that effectively adapts Chinese political discourse to English, enhancing communicative efficacy and providing insights for interdisciplinary research in political translation.