Discursive Analysis of (pre-) Negotiation Behaviour in Mediated Press Conferences: Insights from the Sports Context

This study examines how pre-negotiation behaviour influences interpreter-mediated interactions in sports press conferences, with a focus on soccer player signings. Negotiation, inherently a social interaction, becomes complex when parties rely on interpreters to achieve their goals. While much of the existing literature emphasises the exchange phase of negotiation, this research highlights the often-overlooked prenegotiation stage, demonstrating its critical role in shaping discourse dynam- ics. Utilising a discourse analytic approach, the study analyzes transcripts from football press conferences, revealing that pre-negotiated power dynamics and institutional roles heavily influence both the structure and content of the interaction. Interpreters, positioned as key agents within these institutional settings, not only adhere to predefined roles but also actively reinforce pre-negotiated strategies. Their involvement in the pre-negotiation phase, although less frequently examined in the negotiation literature, allows them to align with institutional objectives, thereby impacting the negotiation outcome. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how pre-negotiated dynamics and institutional goals shape interpreter-mediated communication in sports contexts, while also stressing the need for further research into the role of interpreters in pre-negotiation phases, as their participation reveals significant insights into the broader macro-social networks that govern football negotiations.