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Roger T. Ames’ Translation of Concept Words in Dao De Jing from the Perspective of Translation Ethics of Difference

Received: 12 October 2019    Accepted: 13 November 2019    Published: 19 November 2019
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Abstract

According to the theory of translation ethics, translators should respect the differences and enrich the target culture. The concept words in Dao De Jing embody complex meaning, representing the essence of Chinese philosophy. These words are hard to understand, but crucial to the interpretation of Dao De Jing. The concept words such as “Dao”, “Wuwei”, “Tian” and “De” are chosen to discuss their translations in this article. Roger T. Ames advocates translation has to be transformed into culturally creative interpretation in order to be faithful to the thought and way of expression. In the translation process of concept words in Dao De Jing, Roger T. Ames analyzes the meaning of concept words from their cultural background and adopts strategies of transliteration, creative translation and polysemy, attempting to keep the differences between Chinese and Western philosophy. Roger T. Ames translates the key words from the perspective of contrastive philosophy. Through discussion of the translation of Roger T. Ames and his cooperator, it is found that the strategy of showing the differences in translation may be hard for target readers to understand, but an effective way to intercultural communication in the long run.

Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.15
Page(s) 78-81
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Roger T. Ames, Translation Ethics, Dao De Jing, Concept Words

References
[1] Xin Hongjuan. Dao De Jing in English-speaking World: Textual Travelling and World Imagination. Shanghai: Shanghai Translation Press. 2008: 6-8.
[2] Liu Yuyu On the Problem of De-Eurocentrism in the English Translation of Chinese Classics —A Study of Roger Ames and Henry Rosemont’s Translation of Some Keywords in the Analects. Academic Research, 2019 (02) 30-36.
[3] Zhu Yiting. The Ethics Dictionary. Shanghai: Shanghai Dictionary Press. 2002: 14.
[4] Antoine Berman The Experience of the Foreign: Culture and Translation in Romantic German, 1992.
[5] Guangqin Xin. Translator Ethics? —A New Critique of Anthony Pym’s Thoughts on Translation Ethics Foreign Languages in China 2018 (07).
[6] Venuti, Lawrence. The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation. London & New York: Routledge, 1995.
[7] Pym, A. The Return to Ethics in Translation Studies. The Translator: Studies in Intercultural Communication, 2001, 7 (2): 129-138.
[8] Sun Zhili. The Responsibilities of Translator. Chinese Translators Journal, 2007 (4).
[9] Shen Lianyun. Respecting Difference-The Ethics of Contemporary Translation Research, Chinese Translators Journal, 2008 (2).
[10] YiFeng Song and Bo Cao. The Pluralism and Monism of Translation Ethics, Studies in Ethics, 2019 (01) 114-121.
[11] Lau, D. C. Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching. Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1963.
[12] Waley, Arthur. The Way and Its Power: A Study of Tao Te Ching and Its Place in Chinese Thought. London: Allen & Unwin, 1958.
[13] Pangpu. Pangpu Collcetion. Jinan: Shandong University Press, 2005.
[14] Yiqing Liu. The Foreignization of Translation as the Contrastive Philosophy-Centered on Ames. Journal of Capital Normal University 2019 (02) 140-147.
[15] Ames, Roger T. & Hall, David L. Daodejing: Making This Life Significant. New York: Ballantine, 2002.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Jihui Sun. (2019). Roger T. Ames’ Translation of Concept Words in Dao De Jing from the Perspective of Translation Ethics of Difference. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 5(4), 78-81. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.15

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    ACS Style

    Jihui Sun. Roger T. Ames’ Translation of Concept Words in Dao De Jing from the Perspective of Translation Ethics of Difference. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2019, 5(4), 78-81. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.15

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    AMA Style

    Jihui Sun. Roger T. Ames’ Translation of Concept Words in Dao De Jing from the Perspective of Translation Ethics of Difference. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2019;5(4):78-81. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.15,
      author = {Jihui Sun},
      title = {Roger T. Ames’ Translation of Concept Words in Dao De Jing from the Perspective of Translation Ethics of Difference},
      journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      pages = {78-81},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20190504.15},
      abstract = {According to the theory of translation ethics, translators should respect the differences and enrich the target culture. The concept words in Dao De Jing embody complex meaning, representing the essence of Chinese philosophy. These words are hard to understand, but crucial to the interpretation of Dao De Jing. The concept words such as “Dao”, “Wuwei”, “Tian” and “De” are chosen to discuss their translations in this article. Roger T. Ames advocates translation has to be transformed into culturally creative interpretation in order to be faithful to the thought and way of expression. In the translation process of concept words in Dao De Jing, Roger T. Ames analyzes the meaning of concept words from their cultural background and adopts strategies of transliteration, creative translation and polysemy, attempting to keep the differences between Chinese and Western philosophy. Roger T. Ames translates the key words from the perspective of contrastive philosophy. Through discussion of the translation of Roger T. Ames and his cooperator, it is found that the strategy of showing the differences in translation may be hard for target readers to understand, but an effective way to intercultural communication in the long run.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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Author Information
  • School of Foreign Languages, Hunan University of Finance and Economics, Changsha, China

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