On The Transformation Of Cultural Image Transmission In The English Version Of Tao Te Ching From The Perspective Of Memetics

Tao Te Ching is the first Chinese classics on philosophy with acomplete philosophical system and dialectical thoughts. Since the moderntimes, Tao Te Ching, second only to Bible, has ranked on the top of thelist of the most prevailing and popular classics translated by westernscholars in circulation. Therefore, the successful transmission of suchcultural image in this book is definitely an important task. Its translationcan exert a profound influence in Chinese culture transmission and shouldbe studied in a careful and earnest way. Meme can provide us with aplatform to better study the most important task of translation, namely theeffective transmission of cultural image, thus intercultural communicationcan be carried out smoothly and successfully.From the perspective of memetics, the study on the transformationof cultural image transmission in the English version of Tao Te Ching canbe conducted in a meaningful way. This thesis indicates that the essenceof translation activities is the process of languages performing memereproduction and transmission. Accordingly, constant and effectivetransmission of cultural image can be achieved by properly dealing withthe relationship between domestication and foreignization based onmemetics. Translation achieves cultural transmission between differentregions, countries or groups by inter-conversion of different languagemedia in a direct manner. This thesis points out that from the perspective of memetics, translation activities can be viewed as the process of memereproduction and transmission. The introduction of memes can ensure thepromotion of native culture. The accuracy and stability of reproductionas well as the transmission speed is the guarantee of the survival ofexotic memes under new cultural circumstances.This thesis is designed to make a comprehensive analysis oftransition of cultural image transmission in the English version of Tao TeChing from the perspective of memetics. By indicating and analyzing theessence of translation as a process of meme reproduction andtransmission, the author tries to explore how to properly deal with therelations between domestication and foreignization in order to achievethe effective transmission of cultural image and bring some inspirationsof English translation of Chinese classics.The main organization of the thesis is as follows: The first part ismainly about research objective and significance, methodology andcontents of the research, as well as the originality. The second part is abrief review on the current study of different English versions of Tao TeChing and memtics. It also puts forward the purpose and main idea of thethesis. The third part gives an introduction to the theoretical frame,namely, translation memetics, including the definition of translationmeme, the relationship between translation meme and translators,reproduction and transmission of translation memes and relationship of meme transmission and translation strategies. In the fourth part, theauthor finds out that the cultural image of Tao Te Ching, and discussesthe relationship between cultural image and translation and thecharacteristics of the step-by-step transmission of cultural image.Moreover, this part studies the translation strategy of transmission ofcultural image in the English version of Tao Te Ching and by analyzingdifferent English versions the author proves her point, namely, atdifferent periods of time there are different translation standards.Nowadays, Tao Te Ching has been warmly welcomed and widelyaccepted all over the world. Therefore, we should give the priority to thetranslation strategy of foreignizaton, and meanwhile not resistdomestication when necessary. The fifth part is the conclusion. Theauthor concludes her point of view and summarizes the thesis.