Translation As Rewriting: From Deconstruction To Reconstruction

Traditional translation studies regards "faithfulness" as an absolute norm for translation practice. After the "cultural turn", translation studies achieve a breakthrough both in scope and profundity. Focus has been shifted from text to extra-textual factors. Deconstructionism questions the existence of the original meaning of a text and shatters the binary oppositions of author and translator, the source text and target text. Target text is not secondary to the source text, but the life of the original text should be continued by the translated one. Deeonstructionism has provided dynamic and pluralistic thoughts to translation studies and practice.This essay, grounding on Derrida's uncertainty of meaning and Foucault's power discourse theory, analyzes the necessity of rewriting in translation from different aspects, namely, linguistic, hermeneutic and power. Deconstructionism is an abstract critical theory, so this essay illustrates it with concrete examples. Positive rewriting which can promote the communication between different nations should be advocated, while the rewriting on the purpose of establishing cultural hegemony should be resisted for rewriting can only be meaningful on the basis of translation ethics. After all, rewriting is different from writing. Translation as rewriting is more or less confined by the original. This paper illustrates the translation ethics from intersubjectivity, equal dialogue and diasporic consciousness respectively. There is no denying that deconstructionism has provided a brand-new perspective for translation studies.The aim of deconstructionism is to subvert the absolute authority, so when it is applied to practice, it is easy to establish another logos after deconstructing one. In order to realize an equal communication between different cultures, binary opposition must be discarded first. Translation is a kind of medium to transfer different languages and cultures. It is a form of dialogue. As an intercultural communication, translation requires reciprocal trust and respect.