A Study On Mistranslaton In The Three English Versions Of The Analects From The Perspective Of Yan Fu's Faithfulness Criterion

As to translation criteria, different scholars may have different opinions. But in China, the most influential criteria for translation are Yan Fu's three principles, including faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance. Yan Fu was not only a great translator in modern China, the first person who introduced the Western thinking, culture and system into China, but also the pioneer in China putting forward an integral criterion for translation. In the preface to his translation of Evolution and Ethnics, Yan Fu put forward his three principles for translation. And ever since then, these three principles have been taken as the translation criteria and have been very influential in China, and played a very important role in Chinese translation theory and practice.In the long course of the development of Chinese civilization, Confucianism has played a very important role in constructing and forming the traditional Chinese culture. Confucius, as the most representative person of Confucianism, his words, deeds and ideas have exerted great influence on Chinese culture and the mind of Chinese people. The Analects is a collection of the words and ideas of Confucius and his disciples. The ideas that are contained in The Analects have been passed on from generation to generation and have penetrated into all the aspects of Chinese society and the mind and values of Chinese people. Because of its important social role and profound historical influence, The Analects began to be translated into foreign languages and disseminated in European countries as early as the 17th century.The biggest problem in translating such traditional Chinese classics as The Analects is how to understand the original work. In fact it is even difficult to translate the ancient Chinese written language used in the Confucius'time into modern Chinese because of the change of time and language. Let alone to translate it into English. Due to the great differences between Chinese and English languages and cultures as well as the changes of meaning of many ancient Chinese characters used in The Analects, there are many mistranslations appearing in the current English versions of The Analects. This thesis is a study on mistranslation in the three English versions of The Analects from the perspective of Yan Fu's faithfulness criterion. In the study of mistranslation in the three English versions of The Analects, firstly, this thesis, according to the causes of mistranslation, focuses the study mainly from two levels, i.e. linguistic level and cultural level, classifying mistranslation in the three English versions of The Analects into two categories, namely mistranslation from the linguistic level and mistranslation from the cultural level. And then according to the specific causes of mistranslation in the three English versions of The Analects, makes a further classification of the above two categories of mistranslation. In the conclusion this thesis suggests some ways on how to reduce mistranslation in the translation of such traditional Chinese classics as The Analects.