《道德经》核心术语英译诠释多样性研究:蒯因的翻译不确定性视角

On Multiplicity of Interpreting Core Terms in English Translated Daodejing:A Perspective of Quine’s Indeterminacy of Translation

《道德经》多译本的存在使其核心术语翻译诠释具有多样性。本研究以理雅各和安乐哲的《道德经》英译本作为研究对象,应用蒯因的翻译不确定性理论概念框架探析“道”的翻译诠释差异本质。研究发现,理雅各和安乐哲对“道”的“刺激意义”的感知水平相似,造成其翻译诠释差异的原因主要在于两者不同的“分析假设”或“移情”方式,而这又进一步反映着两位译者的跨文化翻译价值观差异。研究认为,公允地探析翻译诠释差异本质有助于更好地理解和弥合差异,并为“和而不同”的中国经典文化外译观建构提供理论思考。

The various versions of translated Daodejing have led to interpreting diversity of its core terms.This research takes James Legge’s and Roger T.Ames’English translated Daodejing as objects,and investigates the nature of the differences in their interpretations of dao by applying Quine’s translation indeterminacy theory.This research finds that two translators have similar perception of dao’s“stimulus meaning”,the reason for the difference in their interpretations lies mainly in their different“analytical hypotheses”or“empathy”method,which further reflects the difference in the cross-cultural translation values of the two translators.This research argues that an objective and fair analysis on the nature of interpretation differences contributes to a better understanding of cultural differences,and thus enhancing their commeasurability,also,it provides theoretical considerations for the construction of a“harmonious but different”view of translating Chinese classic culture.