Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Education, Language and Art (ICELA 2021)

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Linguistic Patterns in English Versions of Tao Te Ching Reflect British Politics from 19th to 20th Century

Authors
Chen Gao1, †, Xiatong Li2, †, Peiyun Wu3, *, †
1Tianjin Foreign Languages School, Tianjin, China
2United World College Changshu China, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
3School of English and International Studies, China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing, China
†

Those authors contributed equally.

*Corresponding author. Email: wupeiyun@mail.cfau.edu.cn
Corresponding Author
Peiyun Wu
Available Online 1 February 2022.
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.220131.157How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Tao Te Ching; Translation; Non-action; Religious
Abstract

Foreign translations of the Tao Te Ching, one of the Chinese classics, are faced with the dilemma of how to provide a more relevant interpretation of the original text. Research has shown that differences in the interpretation of the same content are influenced by a variety of factors rooted in society, culture, personal beliefs, and personal experience. The aim of this study is to analyse the varying impact of differences in political stance on the language patterns used in the translation process. Based on a review of the currently approved literature on content descriptions and further analysis by Chinese scholars Chen Guying and Lin Yutang, their interpretations are compared with the introduced English versions. Three chapters (57, 60 and 65) showing the idea of ‘nothingness’, the idea of a return to truth and the presumed correct attitude to the relationship between man and God have been chosen as representative of a political thought based on Chinese culture. A comparison of textual interpretations indicates that changing political factors contribute to different tendencies to interpret the same content. The results suggest that political factors do have an impact on the interpretation of foreign literature.

Copyright
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Education, Language and Art (ICELA 2021)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
1 February 2022
ISBN
10.2991/assehr.k.220131.157
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/assehr.k.220131.157How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Chen Gao
AU  - Xiatong Li
AU  - Peiyun Wu
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/02/01
TI  - Linguistic Patterns in English Versions of Tao Te Ching Reflect British Politics from 19th to 20th Century
BT  - Proceedings of the 2021 International Conference on Education, Language and Art (ICELA 2021)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 864
EP  - 869
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220131.157
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.220131.157
ID  - Gao2022
ER  -