LANGUAGE, CONTEXT AND IDEOLOGY IN THE TAO TE CHING

Abstract

This dissertation rests on the premiss that through textual analysis, one can derive a better understanding of a text. For textual analysis to be thorough, the language, context and ideology of the text must be closely examined. In applying the above principles to understanding the Tao Te Ching, the Tao Te Ching can be made more accessible reading and readers can derive a more accurate picture of Taoist thought and philosophy (see Chap 1 of dissertation - "AIMS AND SCOPE"). Chapter Two examines the language in the Tao Te Ching using Halliday's systemic functional framework of the clause as message, exchange and representation and reveals the significance of thematic structure, mood and modality patterns and process patterns respectively in relation to the Tao Te Ching. Chapter Three contends that a text does not exist in isolation but resides in the contexts of situation and culture. The historical context of the Warring Period and the cultural contexts of Chinese beliefs and the genre of Chinese oral tradition are examined and this helps to further illuminate Taoist concepts and sayings. Chapter Four recognizes that a text consists of an underlying ideology (values and beliefs) and examines the ideology of the Tao Te Ching using Selinger's concept of ideologies as action-oriented sets of beliefs. Recognizing also the relation between language and ideology, Chapter 4 also examines the language of the Tao Te Ching in relation to its ideology - positive language with the positive ideology of wanting to change society for the better. In short, this dissertation applies a multi-dimensional approach towards analyzing the Tao Te Ching and proposes a multi-dimensional approach towards textual analysis (Chap 5).