Article published In: Translation and Interpreting Studies
Vol. 19:3 (2024) ► pp.432–455
Reading Confucius in translation
An empirical study of western academic readers’ responses to English translations of The Analects
Published online: 22 November 2024
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.22030.tao
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.22030.tao
Abstract
This article examines the communicative effectiveness of translated versions of The Analects from
an Anglophone perspective using a questionnaire-based survey targeting English-speaking academics. Sinologists, translators, and
readers specializing in East Asian philosophy provided insights about their preferences, reading expectations, and opinions
regarding the translations’ influence. The findings indicate a preference for translations that they considered to be not entirely
fluent, but rather more accurate and in an easily accessible and readable form. Other important considerations include the content
of translations and the translations’ influence on their value systems and cultural orientations. The study also suggests that
collaborative efforts in translating Chinese classics could enhance quality, meet readers’ needs more effectively, and promote
East–West cultural exchange. Recommendations are made for translators and publishers to support a more balanced interaction among
scholars, translators, and readers in China and the Anglophone world, enriching Confucian studies with a communicative
approach.
Article outline
- Introduction
- Literature review
- Methodology
- Ethical considerations
- Questionnaire design
- Respondents
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions
- Acknowledgements
References
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