On Translator’s Subjectivity In Rewriting Theory

Andre Lefevere, as one of the prominent representatives in the "Cultural Turn" of translation, proposed that "translation is rewriting" and further expounded the three factors manipulate the translation process and results-patronage, ideology and poetics. This theory spurs a new wave of translation studies and makes great contribution to cultural translation that attracts a large number of experts at home and abroad. In the traditional translation theories, translators are always put in the subordinate place. But starting from the "Cultural Turn", the role of translators has drawn more and more attention and scholars have done many researches about the subjectivity of the translator in the combination of philosophical hermeneutics, power discourse theory and skopos theory, and the studying focus began shifting from linguistic range to non-language factors such as society, culture, history and even larger domains.This thesis, based on the three components of rewriting theory, aims to explore the demonstration of his subjectivity, to further enrich the connation of rewriting theory, and to deepen the research of the translator’s subjectivity. Taking the comparison study between Arthur Smith’s Chinese Characteristics and Pan Guangdan’s translation as case study, and the Republic of China as research background, this thesis discusses how the translator gives full play of his subjectivity under the manipulation of patronage, ideology and poetics in the rewriting theory and has influences on text selection, translation strategies and writing style during translation process.This thesis comes to the conclusion that translator’s rewriting of the original text is the result of his subjectivity under the influence of external factors and finally reflects on translation process and final outcomes. However, a translator has to play his subjectivity in specific social environment. Especially in current historical condition that intercultural communication becomes increasingly frequent, a translator should demonstrate his subjectivity properly not only by grasping profound bilingual ability but also by building up correct values towards the source text and the translation. Only the relation between external factors and texts can fully be recognized and handled, a translator is able to give a full play of his subjectivity and then produce qualified translation in the contemporary increasingly frequent translating activities.