A Comparative Study of Two English Versions of the Analects of Confucius From the Perspective of Polysystem Theory

论文摘要

《论语》是研究先秦儒家学派最珍贵的资料,对中国的发展产生了深远的影响。自十九世纪早期,许多专家学者便开始陆续翻译这本著作。本文选取了《论语》的两个英译本:理雅各和威利的译本,主要从多元系统论的以下三个方面分析这两个英译本。首先,根据多元系统论,文本的选择取决于目的语的多元文化系统。因此,本文从儒教与基督教交流的必要性、英国经济和政治需要、英国哲学和文化传统的影响等方面论述了理雅各选择《论语》作为翻译对象的必要性。作为对比,本文从二十世纪三十年代的英国危机、中西方哲学不同之处、家庭影响等方面论述了威利选择《论语》作为翻译对象的必然性。其次,根据多元系统论,翻译文学在文学多元系统中所占的地位决定着译者的翻译策略的选择。本文首先详细描述了理雅各时期和威利时期中国翻译文学所占据的地位,然后通过具体实例分析他们采取的翻译策略,证明了多元系统论在指导翻译实践中的实用性。总体来说,通过多元系统论研究《论语》翻译,可以看到多元系统论在拓宽翻译研究领域方面,的确贡献匪浅;在诠释文本选择方面,的确很有见地;在指导翻译策略选择方面,值得借鉴。然而,它依然有许多需要改进的地方。通过本文的分析和研究,作者希望能够起到抛砖引玉的作用,为未来翻译《论语》提供更广泛的研究空间。

论文目录

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• ABSTRACT
• 摘要
• CHAPTER Ⅰ INTRODUCTION
• 1.1 Confucius and The Analects of Confucius
• 1.2 James Legge and His Translation of The Analects of Confucius
• 1.3 Arthur Waley and His Translation of The Analects of Confucius
• 1.4 Previous Studies on Its Translations
• 1.5 General Introduction of the Thesis
• 1.5.1 Research Scope
• 1.5.2 Research Methodology
• 1.5.3 Research Significance
• 1.5.4 Text Structure
• CHAPTER Ⅱ THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
• 2.1 Key Terms
• 2.1.1 Repertoire vs. Texts
• 2.1.2 Primary vs. Second Types
• 2.2 The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem
• 2.3 Significance of The Polysystem Theory
• CHAPTER Ⅲ ANALYSIS OF SELECTION OF THE SOURCE TEXTS THROUGH POLYSYSTEM THEORY
• 3.1 James Legge’s Choice of Source Texts
• 3.1.1 Necessity of Communication between Christianity and Confucianism
• 3.1.2 Economic Needs of Britain
• 3.1.3 The Influence of British Political Demand
• 3.1.4 The Influence of British Philosophy
• 3.2 Arthur Waley’s Selection of Source Texts
• 3.2.1 The Crisis of Britain around 1930s
• 3.2.2 Differences between Chinese Philosophy and Western Philosophy
• 3.2.3 The Influence of Arthur Waley’s Family and His Work
• 3.3 Features of Translated Texts by James Legge and Arthur Waley
• 3.3.1 Features of the Translated Texts by James Legge
• 3.3.2 Features of the Translated Texts by Arthur Waley
• CHAPTER Ⅳ COMPARISON OF TWO ENGLISH VERSIONS THROUGH POLYSYSTEM THEORY
• 4.1 The Position of Chinese Translated Literature in 1860s and 1930s
• 4.1.1 The Position of Chinese Translated Literature in James Legge’s Period in 1860s
• 4.1.2 The Position of Chinese Translated Literature in Arthur Waley’s Period in 1930s
• 4.2 Features of the Original Texts
• 4.3 Foreignization vs. Domestication
• 4.4 Comparison of Translation Strategies through Polysystem Theory
• 4.4.1 on Lexical Level
• 4.4.2 on Syntactic Level
• 4.4.3 on Stylistically Level
• CHAPTER Ⅴ CONCLUSION
• WORKS CITED