On The Multiplicity Of Version In Literary Translation-in The Light Of Philosophical Hermeneutics And Reception Theory

The coexistence of different versions and constant retranslation of one original work are very common in literary translation. This thesis investigates and justifies this phenomenon in the light of Philosophical Hermeneutics and Reception Theory.There is an intrinsic relationship among Hermeneutics, Reception Theory and literary translation. According to Philosophical Hermeneutics and Reception Theory, openness and indeterminacy are the nature of all literary texts, and the meaning of a certain text is gradually realized by readers' involvement. The indeterminacy of the meaning of a literary text leaves adequate room for different interpretations and various versions as well. As a writer of the target text, the translator has his own purpose and style, which gives rise to certain peculiarity of his translation. Translation is not only an individual activity but a social one. Any translations is made in an certain society with its dominant ideology and poetics, which can exert great influence on translation, hence different translations of the same literary work are made under different social environments.The appearance of plural versions to the same literary work is unavoidable and the combination of them is the one closest to the original. In translation there is no definitive and perfect translation, so retranslation is always necessary.