A Study On Knoblock’s English Version Of Xunzi From The Perspective Of Deconstructive Translation Theory

Xunzi is an encyclopedic thinker of Confucianism, whose work, Xunzi, is a classic of the Confucian School, and a research object of numerous Chinese scholars through ages. His philosophic thinking is well documented in this book, which makes it a gem of Chinese civilization. However, its translation and influence abroad are far less than those of Laozi, zhuangzi, and other Chinese classics. It was not until the end of 20 th century that the first full English version of Xunzi was published by an American sinologist John Knoblock, and it is currently the only full version in English world.Deconstructive philosophy is opposed to tradition, rationalism, and structuralism. The translation theory that is influenced by philosophy of deconstruction is named deconstructive translation theory. It objects to seeking absolute “fidelity” in translation process, and thinks that it is impossible to achieve absolute “fidelity”. Deconstructive translation theory calls for the expansion of translation concept, and proposes that attention should be focused on something “not present” that cannot be described by language.Instructed by deconstructive translation theory, this thesis studies the English version of Xunzi translated by Knoblock. Owing to the particularity of English translation of Chinese classics, it analyzes translation examples extracted from the English version of Xunzi from four aspects of deconstructive translation theory: 1) deconstructive concepts on meaning, 2) deconstructive concepts on goal of translation, 3) deconstructive concepts on text, 4) translator’s subjectivity, and generalizes eight translation strategies frequently used by Knoblock. Through the study, this thesis draws the following conclusions:1. Some concepts of deconstructive translation theory play a guiding rolein English translation of Chinese classics;2. Four main concepts of deconstructive translation theory are trulyembodied in the process of translating Chinese classics into English,and some translation strategies that coincide with deconstructive translation theory are beneficial to the improvement of the quality of translation.