The present work is based on my doctoral thesis completed at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China). Therefore, my deepest gratitude goes to my supervisor Prof. Hu Kaibao1 for his constant encouragement, insightful comments, and unfailing guidance throughout all phrases of this research project. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to other experienced translation scholars in China, including Prof. Zhang Boran from Nanjing University, Prof. Chai Mingjiong and Prof. Sun Huijun from Shanghai International Studies University, Prof. Huang Libo from Xi’an International Studies University, Prof. Wang Jiankai from Fudan University, Prof. Wang Zhenhua, Prof. Liu Huawen, and Prof. Yang Bingjun from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, all of whom offered critical and constructive suggestions on my research proposal and writing. My special thanks go to Mr. Chen Mingming, the former Director of Department of Translation and Interpreting, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who kindly accepted my invitation for a telephone interview and responded to my questions with patience despite his busy schedule at work. I am grateful to my colleagues and friends at the Center for Translation and Intercultural Studies, including Prof. Tao Qing, Dr. Zhu Yifan, Dr. Kyung Hye Kim, Dr. Li Tao, Dr. Pan Feng, Dr. Liu Huidan, Dr. Meng Lingzi, Dr. Xie Lixin, Dr. Li Xiaoqian, Dr. Hei Yi, and Dr. Sheng Dandan, who have given me encouragement and support in different ways. I have also been blessed with the help and support from many respectable scholars in the field of Translation and Interpreting Studies home and abroad. In addition to warm encouragement and positive suggestions they gave me through personal communication, Prof. Qin Hongwu from Qufu Normal University kindly provided technical support for my data coding and statistical analysis, Prof. Mona Baker from the University of Manchester, Prof. Xiao Xiaoyan from Xiamen University, Prof. Miriam Shlesinger from Bar-Ilan University and Dr. Sun Tingting from Beijing Foreign Studies University all generously shared otherwise unob tainable academic resources that I needed for my research. Last but not least, I would like to thank my amazing family for their support, understanding, and unconditional love over the years. In particular, I would like to dedicate the present work to my son Yuchen, whose warm hugs and brilliant smiles have lit my life and pulled me through whatever difficulties in my research and writing.
