Research on Recontextualization Strategies in Translation of Quotations from Chinese Classics in The Governance of China from the Perspective of Skopos Theory

Abstract

From the perspective of Skopos Theory, this study compares the English translation of quotations in The Governance of China with Xu Yuanchong’s translation, and analyzes the recontextualization strategy adopted in the English translation of allusions in The Governance of China to adapt to the change of context. It has been found that when translating allusions in political texts, it is necessary to consider not only the historical context in which the allusions are produced, but also the contemporary context in which they are quoted. Under the fidelity rule, recontextualization should be carried out according to the speaker’s purpose, and various recontextualization strategies such as domestication, foreignization, and explicitation should be appropriately adopted in order to achieve the translation purpose and be widely accepted by readers.