An Interpretation Of Lu Xun’s Translation Thoughts From The Perspective Of Translation Ethics

Translation ethics focuses on the relationship of“Self”and“Other”in translation and affects the translation subjects’activities. The return of translation ethics sets off an upsurge of researches related to it and provides a new perspective for translation studies. In recent years, some scholars have begun to introduce and research translation ethics in China. But researches on Chinese translation thoughts from the perspective of translation ethics are not sufficient.This thesis, from the perspective of translation ethics, mainly referring to Chesterman’s models of translation ethics and Venuti’s ethics of difference, interprets Lu Xun’s translation thoughts. First of all, this thesis sorts out the origin of Lu Xun’s translation ideas, translation purpose and standpoint of material selection, and examines the inherent relationship between Lu Xun’s translation thoughts and translation ethics. On this basis, this thesis mainly illustrates the ethical values implied in his translation thoughts by analytical and inductive methods. Through interpretation of Lu Xun’s translation thoughts, this thesis points out that“hard translation”,“keep the exotic flavor”,“rather to be faithful than smooth”and“classification of the readers”can be traced to the same origin. They supplement each other and each of them has its priority. Although they were put forward at different periods and in different backgrounds, they were all in the service of translation purpose of“stealing foreign fire to serve the mass readers”. At the same time, they in turn manifest ethics of“cultivating people and founding a state”, ethics of“representation”, ethics of“reserving differences”, ethics of“commitment”. In addition, Lu Xun’s translation thoughts also give us some revelations on modern translation studies: one is the revelation on the attitudes towards Chinese culture and Western culture in the translating process, and another is the revelation on translation criticism paradigm.Lu Xun’s translation thoughts have strong historical and Chinese features. They are the results of Lu Xun’s full consideration of social status, national mentality, language and cultural characteristics in China. At the same time, we can find that Lu Xun’s translation thoughts not only permeate translation ethics, but also embody Lu Xun’s broad-minded spiritual feelings and social responsibility of inspiring citizens, saving nation and caring for citizens. The examination and analysis of Lu Xun’s translation thoughts from the perspective of translation ethics can represent the rationality and modern sense of his translation thoughts, which will help correct the misunderstandings of Lu Xun’s translation ideas. It is hoped that this research can offer some instructions to the present translation practice and translation studies.