ABSTRACT
Deconstruction captures and elucidates the complexity of translation in relation to the variability and complexity of its nature and practice. It also engages a ceaseless movement, making it possible to expand the related spaces to discover traces and alterity. Despite the disconcerting observation of his devastatingly relativist overtone and open-endedness, Derrida does not uphold complete free play, as is repeatedly pointed out by himself and other scholars. It can be argued that the context of translation plays a regulating role and intends to unravel what Derrida calls translation as both possible and impossible, both respectful and abusive. Inspired by his profound contention that translation is in a way more about “what is not there” than“what is there,” this chapter maps some of the multiple implications of meaning and various modes of representation in translation, in which different meanings can be played with so as to give rise to spaces for exploring and expanding the range of translation strategies and methods. The profound impact of deconstruction on the traditional Chinese concept of fidelity in translation is also discussed.
