Relocation Of Gadamer's Philosophical Hermeneutics In Translation Studies

Born after phenomenology and before reception theory, hermeneutics has two turns in history: from theological hermeneutics to general and then to ontological. In 1927, the publication of Being and Time marked the establishment of ontological study of hermeneutics, which laid a solid foundation for Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics. Since 1970s, hermeneutical theories have been applied to translation studies. The three main principles of philosophical hermeneutics: prejudice, the fusion of horizons, and history of effect have revealed the opening and dynamic nature of textual meanings, which becomes a challenge to traditional translation theories, leading to a profound revolution launched by the Cultural School and deconstructionists.Focusing on the role that transltion plays in the context of target language, the Cultural School believes that the target text is independent from the source; while deconstructionists emphasize"intertextuality"between, in an attempt to eliminate the boundary. They insist on the dominant role of the target text, aiming to thoroughly subvert the traditional master-slave relationship. They hold that translation is nothing but misunderstanding, standards of translation must be a castle in the air, and all texts are merely"translations of translations of translations…,"etc. Opponents argue against their ultraism, criticize philosophical hermeneutics, the primacord, which is accused of denying intentions of the text as well as the author, and predict that Gadamer is destined to succumb to agnosticism and thoeries of untranslatability.Based on previous researches, this thesis adopts a descriptive method to analyze the three English versions of a Traditional Chinese Medicine canon Huangdi Neijing Suwen in the light of philosophical hermeneutics, and in turn find out to what extent it is effective when applied to translation studies. Efforts will be made to disclose relations between the three principles of philosophical hermeneutics and misreading, retranslation, and the plurality of interpretation. Besides, some ambiguous terminologies are supposed to be redefined and controversies figured out, and if possible, solved. The author aims to describe the interaction between the writer, the source text, the translator, the translation, and the reader, explore the essence of translation, and relocate Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics in translation studies.Chapter one takes an overview of hermeneutics, crucial ideas of philosophical hermeneutics and their application to translation studies. Chapter two covers a brief introduction to Huangdi Neijing Suwen, including its main contents, language styles, and the history of its transmission, then a comparative analysis of the three English versions based on philosophical hermeneutics, during which phenomena like plurality of interpretation, misreading and so on will be problematically studied. With the above analysis and comparison, the effectiveness of philosophical hermeneutics in translation studies is expected to be proved. Chapter three is a relocation of Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics in translation studies, considering its values and limitations.