A Corpus-based Analysis of “Three Beauty” Theory in Xu’s Translation of The Analects

Abstract

Corpus-based translation research has been widely concerned in the field of linguistics and translation studies. This research method improves the objectivity and scientificity of translation analysis. The Analects is a collection of essays in the form of quotations in the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China. It is one of the classic works of the Confucian school and has a great impact on the traditional Chinese culture. Based on the self-built English translation corpus of The Analects, the data statistics and comparative analysis of Xu Yuanchong’s translation are carried out from three levels of vocabulary, sentence and text using the corpus statistical software AntConc (4.2.0), and the embodiment of Xu Yuanchong’s “Three Beauty” Theory in his English translation is illustrated by using the method of combining qualitative and quantitative analysis.