操纵理论视角下《道德经》英译的对比研究——以林语堂、理雅各译本为例

A Comparative Study of English Translations of Tao Te Ching from the Perspective of Manipulation Theory—A Case Study of Lin Yutang’s and James Legge’s Versions

摘要: 为探究不同外部力量如何干预中国古典典籍的英译实践，本文以勒菲弗尔操纵理论为分析框架，选取理雅各、林语堂两个具有代表性的《道德经》英译本作为研究对象，采用案例对比分析的研究方法，从意识形态、诗学、赞助人三个维度对比考察两个译本的改写现象。研究发现，受社会与个人意识形态制约，两位译者对“无为”“知足”等核心概念做出差异化诠释；目标语诗学规范驱使二者在词汇选择、句式处理、修辞保留上呈现出学术直译与通俗归化的分野；赞助主体的性质差异，即宗教–学术赞助与商业大众赞助，进一步造成译本整体定位与改写策略的差异。译本的改写是意识形态、诗学、赞助人多重力量动态博弈的产物，该对比研究也可为中华传统哲学典籍对外译介提供实践参考。

Abstract: To explore how different external forces intervene in the English translation of ancient Chinese classics, this paper adopts Lefevere’s Manipulation Theory as the analytical framework. Taking two representative English versions of Tao Te Ching translated by James Legge and Lin Yutang as research subjects, it employs a comparative case study approach to examine the rewriting in the two translations from three dimensions: ideology, poetics and patronage. The study reveals that constrained by social and personal ideologies, the two translators offer divergent interpretations of core concepts such as wu wei (non-action) and zhi zu (contentment). Target-language poetic norms drive a distinction between academic literal translation and popular domestication in their lexical choices, sentence construction and retention of rhetorical devices. Differences in the nature of patronage—namely religious-academic patronage versus commercial-popular patronage—further lead to disparities in the overall positioning and rewriting strategies of the translations. Rewriting in translation arises from the dynamic interplay of ideology, poetics and patronage. This comparative study also provides practical references for the overseas translation and dissemination of traditional Chinese philosophical classics.