1. Yue Jiang 蒋 跃 Xi’an Jiaotong University 西安交通大学外国语学院
Deconstruction translation theory and vagueness of language 解构主义的翻译观与语言的模糊性
Yue Jiang
蒋 跃
Xi’an Jiaotong University
西安交通大学外国语学院

2. 1.0 Introduction Deconstruction translation theory
Vagueness of language
Research questions:
What does D have to do with V?
So what?

3. Previous research 王宁. 后结构主义与分解批评.[J].文学评论 1987(6).
Timothy Williamson. Vagueness [M]. London & New York: Routeledge, 1994.
王宁. Derrida与解构批评的启示：重新思考 [J]. 清华大学学报（哲学社会科版），2005(2).
Kathleen Davis. Deconstruction and Translation [M]. Manchester：St. Jerome Publishing，2001:
Edwin Gentzler. Contemporary Translation Theories. London & New York: Routledge, 1993.
Lawrence Venuti. ed. Rethinking Translation. London & New York: Routledge, 1992.

4. 2.0 Background 2.1 Deconstruction Translation Theory (DTT)
2.1.1 Essence: deconstructs binary contrast , logocentrism and source texts
2.1.2 Definition: deconstructs closed structures, dispels the center and origin, eliminates the binary contrast, opens the original texts to readers by disregarding the boundaries.
1960s: Deconstruction – Post-structuralism
Its core is to deconstruct the closed structures, dispel its center and source and dissipate the binary contrast. It argues that once original texts are read from deconstructist perspective, the boundaries of the original texts are gone and what we see will be boundless and opened to us.

5. 2.0 Background 2.1.2 Representatives Jacque Derrida (1967/1972)
Michael Foucault ( )
Roland Barthes
Lawrence Venulti (1990s)

6. 2.0 Background 2.2 Vagueness of language
2.2.1 Essence: Vagueness is an intrinsic property of natural language
2.2.2 Definition: the unclear boundaries or overlapping upper or lower extensions between words and concepts that are adjunct to each other in terms of degree or grade.

7. 2.0 Background 2.2.3 Representatives Pierce (1902) Zadeh (1965)
Williamson (1994)
Lakoff (1971)

8. 3.0 Comparison 3.1 Both deconstruct logocentrism
3.2 Both deny a clear-cut boundary between entities (gradual change in the grade of membership)
3.3 Both find language is unstable and variable
3.4 Both argue for indeterminacy and opening of language and source texts

9. 3.0 Comparison
3.5 Both agree that language and source texts are unstable and variable
3.6 Kempson’s categories of vagueness (1977) can be found in almost all DTT in different terms, such as referential vagueness, indeterminacy, lack of specification, disjunction/polysemy of words and expressions

10. 3.0 Comparison 3.7 Different terms for similar notions
3.8 DTT seldom mentions vagueness language but actually incorporates the idea pervasively in its theory

11. 4.0 Vagueness and DTT 4.1 Semantic indeterminacy and iterability
Boundaries of meaning are vague and not clean-cut (Derrida, 1981).
4.2 Translation process is unstable: open (Davis, 2001) to differing and delaying
4.3 Vagueness and intertextuality and translatability, e.g. color, age, time words, (Derrida, 1976/Wu, 1987, 1996)

12. 4.0 Vagueness and DTT 4.4 Indeterminacy of source texts
4.4.1 Derrida’s neologism différance (1972c/1982), a combination of differ and delay, to show spatio-temporal movement of language and translations
4.4.2 All language generates meaning through a systemic movement of play of differences.

13. 4.0 Vagueness and DTT
4.4.3 There can be no pure, totally unified origin of meaning of source texts.
4.5 Life of source/original texts depends on readers and translators. Translation and reading give life (afterlife) to source texts are dead without translation.
4.6 Meaning of source texts depends on translators and readers and thus changes with time according to different translators and readers of different times/ages.

14. 5.0 Translation standard of Deconstruction theory
5.1 pluralistic as translations are pluralistic.
5.2 unstable and undetermined. There is no pure, eternal standard for translation evaluation
5.3 changeable and variable to keep up with the time
5.4 vague because natural language is innately vague, which decides the indeterminacy and iterability of source texts and translations.

15. 6.0 Conclusion
Deconstruction translation theory is profoundly influenced by vagueness of natural language, reflects many notions of vague language studies and is theoretically founded upon vagueness of language, without knowing it though.

16. Correspondence: yuejiang58@163.com
Mailing address: School of International Studies, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an , China
Thanks.