Abstract

This thesis, whose major topic is Translation Strategies in Lin Yutang’s Translation of Tao Te Ching from the Perspective of Power Discourse, discusses the following questions “What are translation strategies? What strategies does Lin Yutang in the translation of Tao Te Ching? Why he chose these strategies in translation from the aspect of Power and Discourse?” The answers are as follows: translation strategies are different methods that translators use during the process of translation according to different purposes such as the pursuit of fluency, the focus on the understanding of target readers, the emphasis on the essence of original texts, etc. Lin Yutang mainly adopted two translation strategies----domestication and foreignization in the translation of Tao Te Ching. Domestication and foreignization are two translation strategies that translators will apply when dealing with the cultural differences and linguistic incompatibility. The choice of translation strategies is influenced by several factors: the purpose of translation, historical background, the expectancy of target readers, etc. During the 19th century and the 20th century, China was a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society and cultural communication between the East and the West was dominated by the political and economic power. Therefore translation, being the tool of communication, can never be carried out on the basis of equality, as Foucault’s Power Discourse reveals that where there is discourse, there is power. Living in such a critical time, Lin Yutang made great contributions to the cultural transmission between China and the western world. He skillfully use the combination of domestication and foreignization in translating Chinese classics so that introduce traditional Chinese culture to the West. In order to let the dominated Chinese culture well understood and accepted by target readers, Lin applies domestication, while in order to maintain Chinese distinct customs and culture, he employs foreignization.

KEYWORDS:Domestication; foreignization; Power Discourse

摘  要

本文以权利话语背景下林语堂《道德经》英译的策略研究为题，讨论了什么是翻译策略，林语堂在英译《道德经》过程中采取何种翻译策略，以及林语堂为什么采取这几种翻译策略（从权力话语理论为依托来分析）这三方面的问题。通过讨论，本文得出的结论如下：翻译策略是指译者在翻译过程中受到多方面因素制约，如力求译文的通顺，注重于符合目标语读者的理解，或立志于传达原文的思想深度等，而采取的相应的翻译方法。在英译《道德经》过程中，林语堂主要采用归化和异化两种翻译策略。归化和异化是译者在处理源语言和译语语言文化差异时普遍采用的两种翻译策略。翻译策略的选择受到多种因素的影响，如翻译目的，历史背景，读者的期望等等。19世纪至20世纪的中国处于半殖民地半封建主义状态，中西方文化的交流也受到政治、经济的制约。因此，作为中西方交流媒介的翻译不可能在平等的基础上进行，就如福柯的权力话语理论所揭示的：哪里有话语，哪里就有权利。身处于该时代的林语堂为中西方的文化交流做出了巨大贡献。他灵活的运用归化与异化相结合的方法对中国古代经典著作进行翻译，从而将中国的传统文化推广至西方。为了使处于弱势的中国文化更好地为西方读者理解和接受，林语堂采用归化的翻译策略；而为了维持中国特有的风俗和传统文化，他采用异化的翻译策略。

关键词:归化；异化；权力话语