Comparative Study On Two English Versions Of Laozi From The Perspective Of Intertextuality

The thesis conducts an exploration of intertextuality in translation. Acomprehensive and systemic analysis is provided on the intertextuality between sourcetext and target text and between two distinct target texts. A comparative analysis ontwo English versions of Laozi by Professor Gu Zhengkun and Arthur Waley isimplemented on the basis of Leech’s seven types of meaning, Hatim and Mason’stransference of intertextual signals, Beaugrande and Dressler’s “standards oftextuality”. A qualitative research method is opted for in this thesis.In view of the intertextuality between source text and target text and between twodistinct target texts, this thesis conducts a comparative analysis from two differentlevels, that is, lexical level on the basis of three of Leech’s seven types of meaning,connotative meaning, social meaning and reflective meaning; syntactic and textuallevel on the basis of two of Beaugrande and Dressler’s senven “standards of textuality”,cohesion and coherence. The thesis finds that Professor Gu Zhengkun’s version ismore appropriate and clear to a certain extent from lexical level, whilst, ArthurWaley’s version is more vivid and appropriate from syntactic and textual level.The current research can shed new light on the understanding of the pre-Qinclassic Laozi, by means of the intertextuality in the translation of the book, thus a newperspective can be applied to understand intertextuality in translation.