A Study on the English Translation of Vague Language in Tang Poems from the Perspective of Deconstruction: A Case Study of Xu Yuanchong’s Song of a Pipa Player

Qianqian Zhang

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¹ Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou 510520, Guangdong, China,

erd 2025 , 7(6), 192–198; https://doi.org/10.26689/erd.v7i6.11043

© 2025 by the Authors. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )

Abstract

The extensive use of vague language in Chinese classical poetry poses significant challenges for translation. Xu Yuanchong’s English translation of Song of a Pipa Player focuses on reconstructing and reproducing the poem’s imagery, striving to convey its linguistic and rhythmic beauty. This paper analyzes the English translation of vague language in Song of a Pipa Player based on deconstruction translation theory. The theory emphasizes the importance of context and the translator’s subjectivity, providing valuable guidance for translating vague language in Tang Dynasty poetry.

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