Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-3-2022
Publication Title
Chinese Literature and Thought Today
Abstract
What is a Chinese classic, and why do we translate one? These innocent questions lead Sabina Knight and Kidder Smith into a mandala of paradox, metaphor, and tautologies. En route they must negotiate a field of errant nouns, shifty images, and undisclosed participants. Relying on maps drawn by Borges, A. A. Milne, Quine, and Zeno, they find themselves in a landscape where little is certain and much is in transit—from here to here. The generic passports of poetry, prose, and philosophy have been stamped Invalid. So everyone acts like a resident alien. The authors discover that what they don't know is as useful as what they do. And, strangely, translations materialize.
Volume
53
Issue
1/2
First Page
117
Last Page
129
DOI
doi.org/10.1080/27683524.2022.2081050
Recommended Citation
Knight, Sabina and Smith, Kidder, "A Tautology or Two While We Translate Chinese Classics" (2022). World Literature: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/clt_facpubs/8
Comments
Archived as published. Open access article.