Stance mediation in translating and recontextualizing political metaphors: a case study of the U.S. media’s quotation of the Chinese leader’s metaphors

In both translation studies and journalism research, there is growing recognition that inter-lingual quotations of political speeches, though often presented as faithful renditions, frequently involve mediation in translation and recontextualization. However, little attention has been paid to how stance mediation operates when news media translate and recontextualize foreign leaders’ metaphors. Drawing on Appraisal Theory (Martin & White, 2005) and Critical Metaphor Analysis (Charteris-Black, 2014), this study investigates how metaphors from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speeches at international conferences have been translated and recontextualized in U.S. media, specifically The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. The findings reveal that these outlets systematically mediate Xi’s attitude and stance on contentious issues by (1) foregrounding negative source-domain imagery, (2) distorting or omitting key conceptual mappings from the original metaphors, and (3) embedding quotations of metaphorical expressions within narratives that invite judgment or misinterpretation. The study further explores the underlying factors driving such mediation. By illuminating these discursive strategies, the research contributes to understanding the ideological reframing of political discourse in cross-linguistic media representation.