《论语》英译本的海外读者接受状况调查

A Study on Readers’ Acceptance of English Translation of “The Analects of Confucius”

本文以美国亚马逊网站《论语》英译本的销量和读者评价为数据来源,统计了各译本的星级评级和五星评价,梳理了销量最高译本的读者书评。通过对销售数据及书评内容的分析发现:刘殿爵《论语》英译本销量最高,在海外普通读者群中的接受度好评度甚佳;刘译本的成功接受对中国典籍外译提供一些启示:读者关注的核心要素是原作的思想内容及对现实生活的指导意义;翻译的可读性、充分的背景知识介绍、译本编排、出版社等也是影响译本接受的关键因素。

Based on data of the sales and readers’ evaluation of the English versions of "The Analects of Confucius" on the American Amazon website, this paper counts the star rating and five-star evaluation of each version, sorts out the book reviews of the highest-selling version. Through analysis of sales data and book review, this paper finds that D.C. Lau’s "The Analects of Confucius" has the highest sales volume and the translation has been well received and praised by the overseas general readers. The success of acceptance of D.C. Lau’s version provides some inspiration for the English translation of Chinese classics: the core elements of readers’ concern are ideas and contents of the original work and its guiding role in real life. In addition, the readability of the translation, the sufficient introduction of the background knowledge, the version’s arrangement, publishers are also key factors that affect the acceptance of the version.