COHERENCE IN LOGIC OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH IN THE ANALECTS

Abstract

Abstract— By comparing and analyzing both English versions and Chinese versions of the first paragraph of the Analects, the present study seeks to explore the extent to which the translated versions of the Analects achieve cohesion and coherence in logic with a view to figure out the most logical version of the paragraph. The findings are as follows: (1) Most of the English versions can be diagnosed as being incoherent and illogical or lacking explanatory notes, which consequently fails to provide foreign readers with insightful ideas and enjoyable reading experiences. (2) Many Chinese versions prove coherent in logic but the most authoritative ones separate the whole paragraph into three sentences. (3) The Chinese versions of Nan Huaijin’s (2014) and Liang Wendao’s (2016) can be adopted as the original text for both of them achieve coherence in logic. Although the new interpretation seems to contradict previous ones, a more logical translation is favorable in cultural promotion.