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A Corpus-based Study of China’s Self-Shaping Image —Taking the English Translation of the Report on the Work of the Government (2023–2024) as an Example

Linguistics / 2025,7(3): 212-224 / 2025-09-10 10 2

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• Authors: Ling Yuan* Ruiyang Cai
• Information:

  School of Foreign Languages, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang

• Keywords:
  National Image; Self-Shaping Image; English Translation of the Report on the Work of the Government
• Abstract: With China’s rising international status, the strategic shaping and effective communication of the national image have become increasingly crucial. Current international perceptions of China remain predominantly other-shaping rather than self-shaping. This thesis employs corpus analysis tools to study the textual features and self-shaping national image in the English translation of the Report on the Work of the Government. Through analyzing high-frequency nouns, high-frequency verbs, and keywords from textual analysis dimension, three key textual characteristics are displayed: (1) High-frequency nouns such as “development,” “reform” and “investment” predominantly focus on economic development theme; (2) Highfrequency verbs such as “promote,” “strengthen” and “enhance” reflect critical self-assessment and commitments to continuous improvement; (3) The keyword “we” is frequently collocated with the medium-value modal verbs “will” and “should.” These features collectively portray China as development-focused, people-centered, strategically forward-thinking, and modest in its self-shaping image. What’s more, the thesis further proposes possible areas for future research.
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.35534/lin.0703022
• Cite: Yuan, L., & Cai, R. Y. (2025). A Corpus-based Study of China’s Self-Shaping Image—Taking the English Translation of the Report on the Work of the Government (2023–2024) as an Example. Linguistics, 7(3), 212-224.