On The Différance In The English Translations Of Dao De Jing

Studies at home and abroad of the English translations of Dao De Jing have adopted different theories and approaches. However, most of them focus on the comparison of different versions so as to find out which one is the best while a study of the variety of the English translations of Dao De Jing, its causes as well as its inspiration to translation strategies have rarely been discussed, particularly from the diachronic perspective. Indeed, my paper intends to probe how this variety plays a vital role in understanding both the elements that affect the translator and the profundity of the mysterious text Dao De Jing. It is closely related to the Deconstruction in the post-modern philosophy. My idea is based on the différance theory advanced by Derrida, which has also laid one of the basis for Deconstruction. This theory absorbed the idea of difference of signs by Saussure and the difference between being and beings from Heidegger. Derrida combined the two theories with a creative change of a word différence into différance to reveal the instability and mobility of a meaning. It maintains that a sign can never have a definite meaning without the signs around it or its context. The shaping of the different meanings is a dynamic process of delay or postponement, in which meaning changes as the time defers. In view of this, the present thesis intends to introduce this theory and apply it to the diachronic description of the variety or the différance in the English translations of the key terms such as Dao(道) and De(德), Xu(虚) and Jing(静). The analysis in my paper shows that the différance in translation is indeed the plural ways in which translators interpret meaning and the process in which the original text enriches itself so that a new after-life (Benjamin 1973) is given birth in the target culture. My thesis also aims at figuring out the elements that cause the différance through a diachronic and contrastive study of the English translations. More importantly, with an analysis of the inter-subjectivity in translation différance and a reflection of the différance theory, my thesis assimilates nutriment from the Habermas's theory of communicative action and strives to expound a new translation thinking:"Multi-inter-subjectivity translation strategy"that is an effective means for constructive and positive introduction of Dao De Jing. Since the différance theory now still remains to be further interpreted, more merits will be found and the current study will be elaborated. The author also expects that his study will lead more and more researchers to pay close attention to the study of the différance phenomenon in translation and the"Multi-inter-subjectivity translation strategy"so that in the application and reflection of this theory , we will enable it to be more valid both in the interpretation of phenomenon and the enrichment of translation strategy.