The Embodiment Of Translator’s Subjectivity In The Two English Versions Of Tao Te Ching From The Perspective Of Deconstruction Theory

The Deconstruction Theory is based on interpretational philosophy and claims that the translator should solve problems from multiple perspectives so as to eliminate the center concept of Logocentralism and overthrow the western philosophical tradition of binary opposition. The Deconstruction translation theory occupies an important place in translation studies, which emphasizes not "seeking common ground" but "reserving difference" and thereby deconstructs the traditional translation theory of faithfulness and highlights translator’s central status, which has explored a new horizon for the contemporary translation studies.Tao Te Ching is full of life philosophy and dialectical thoughts with concise expression. It is the classics of Taoism in addition to the precious heritage of Chinese philosophy. Tao Te Ching has influenced not only the intellectual history of China, but also Chinese politics, culture, military and other aspects. The translation activities of Tao Te Ching are long-standing in the long history of cultural exchange of China and the West. Not only Chinese translators research Tao Te Ching, but the Western scholars are keen on translating Tao Te Ching. Tao Te Ching has so many versions, among which the English versions are more than one hundred.The theses related to Deconstruction mainly focus on analyzing the representatives and their theories. The theses that are combined with translation texts to explain translation theories are relatively fewer. Although there are many schools studying the English versions of Tao Te Ching, most of the studies are mainly based on exploring the interpretation which is more faithful to the original text by comparing different English versions. Therefore, the study of the embodiment of translator’s subjectivity in English versions of Tao Te Ching from the perspective of Deconstruction theory is of academic value.The thesis firstly introduces the author, content and influence of Tao Te Ching; Then, it summarizes the reason why translator’s status has been fundamentally changed by analyzing the translation theories of Benjamin, Derrida and Venuti; Lastly, it briefly introduces the authors of the two English versions of Tao Te Ching, expounds the connotation of translator’s subjectivity and uses examples to analyze the embodiment of translator’s subjectivity in the two English versions and translators’ domestication and foreignization strategies, which present the diversity of the English versions of Tao Te Ching.