A Prototype-theoretical Approach To Translation Principles

Prototype Theory, which was proposed in the mid 1970s by the American psychologist Eleanor Rosch, has now been employed to account for numerous linguistic phenomena. This thesis is intended to apply this theory to translation studies, with special attention attached to the exploration of translation principles.The present research is carried out on the basis of the clarification of name and nature of translation criterion and translation principle, and distinction of linguistic and psychological prototype, In light of the translation principles available, the thesis figures out the metaprinciples for establishing translation principles. The thesis proposes three principles that are based upon Prototype Theory: source-oriented principle, target-oriented principle, and integration-oriented principle. The first principle is a process from ST to SL, the second is from TL to TT, and the third principle is a blending process, for it is a process to integrate all the attributes involved in the translation process. Within these three principles, in addition to ST proper, one more significant factor should be taken into account, either, viz., subjectivity, at least including the writer of ST, the readers of both ST and TT, which is supposed to be regarded as the domain of psychological prototype. Moreover, they are tolerant to permit the changeability of TT as the development of the synchronically and diachronically improved interpretation and exemplars of ST. A case study of the analysis of the prototype-theoretical translation principles of Chapter Ten of Tao Te Ching is to demonstrate the feasibility of those three principles, which fulfill the due guiding function of translation activity.