A Study Of The Philosophical Translation Of The Analects From The Perspective Of Translator’s Ethics

In recent years, ethics has been stressed in the world of learning. As a result, it has attracted more attention in the relative field. Taking translator’s ethics as its theoretical framework, this thesis will make a study on Ames’ ethics, translation actions and strategies.Two of the representative figures who have been influential in the research of translator’s ethics are Chesterman and Venuti. To Chesterman, translation actions have something to do with changes in the state of affairs. The core concepts of translator’s ethics are translation actions and ethical values. Venuti was interested in philosophical translation. He suggested some strategies for philosophical translation and held that translators should be motivated by ethics in choosing translation strategies.Outside China, people become increasingly interested in the splendid Chinese culture and Chinese philosophical ideas. As a result, many scholars begin to translate The Analects under the new social, political and cultural situations.Translator’s ethics provides a new perspective for the study of English versions of The Analects. This thesis hopes to make an effective analysis of translation actions and translation strategies in Ames’ version under the guidance of translator’s ethics.There are six chapters in the thesis.Chapter 1 begins with an introduction. It first gives an overall account of the research background and points out the significance of the research. Next, it reveals what the objective of the research is and what questions should be solved. Third, it tells what methodology it adopts and the source of data collection. Finally, it gives a complete structure of the thesis.Chapter 2 is a literature review. It introduces some previous researches on the various English versions of The Analects. Based on those materials at home and abroad, we can not only get a general understanding of the previous researches but also know what to learn and how to be more innovative in this thesis.Chapter 3 introduces the theory used. It clarifies the relationship between translation ethics and translator’s ethics. It introduces some core concepts of translator’s ethics such as translation actions and ethical values. And it also introduces some ideas of philosophical translation put forward by Venuti.Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 constitute the major parts of this thesis. In Chapter 4, Ames’ ethics is studied in the first place. Then, it uses four ethical values to justify Ames’ translation actions in the version of The Analects. Chapter 5 makes an overall analysis of Ames’ translation strategies.Chapter 6 ends with the following findings. First, Ames has his own ethics as a translator. Second, Ames’ translation actions can be justified by the four ethical values put forward by Chesterman. Third, in order to make his translation a philosophical one, Ames has interpreted The Analects relationally and eventfully. Fourth, Ames was influenced by ethics when he made decisions in choosing his translation strategies.In conclusion, this thesis has made an attempt to study Ames’ philosophical translation of The Analects from the perspective of translator’s ethics. It also provides new and fresh starting points for the analysis of translation activities of other Chinese ancient classics.