A Comparative Study Of Four English Versions Of Tao Te Ching With Skopos Theory

This thesis is intended to combine Skopos Theory of translation with linguistic theory in the translation of Tao Te Ching. By comparing the four English versions of Tao Te Ching, we hope that we could find a better solution both in theory and practice in the translation of Chinese classics (TCC).At the very beginning, we summarize the historic and present state of TCC. Successively, we explain Skopos Theory about translation briefly. We clarify the aim of the TCC, i.e., helping cultural communication. We analyze the problems in the traditional translation theory in TCC. After analyzing the standard and strategies of traditional translation theory, we construct a new standard and strategy for TCC with the help of Skopos Theory, i.e., we should try our best to reflect the difference between the source language and the target language, hi order to do so, we suggest using neo-literal translation in dealing with language structure and alienation translation to translate cultural elements in TCC. Moreover, Xungu Xue is given priority in this thesis. It is an admirable method to avoid misunderstanding and mistranslation of the source text.