A Study Of Translator’’s Subjectivity In Literary Translation

As the most dynamic factor in a translation process, translators have a decisive impact on the final translating effect. However, in traditional translation circle, translators’ identities have long been covered and even been considered as servants of the original author. In the 1970 s, with the advent of “cultural turn” in translation studies, researches on translators as well as translator’s subjectivity had become hot topics in translation studies. Scholars domestic and abroad devote themselves to define the concept and connotation of translator’s subjectivity, so as to deepen the studies of translation theory and thus to guide translation practice. Among these researches, the rewriting theory not only admits a translator’s existence during the translation process, but also expounds factors influencing the exertion of translator’s subjectivity. In fact, translator’s subjectivity is not only about a translator’s subjective initiative, but also about his creativity. Taken into consideration this translation theory, different interior and exterior factors give rise to diverse translator’s subjectivity and thus emerge diverse translated versions.This thesis pays close attention to the history and current situation of translator’s subjectivity, especially on its origin and development. Making the rewriting theory as a theoretical basis, the author mainly focuses on its recognition of translators’ identities and its empowerment for translators to bring into play their translator’s subjectivity. The rewriting theory believes that translation is a rewriting activity influenced by ideology, poetics and patronage. On the one hand, it affirms a translator’s role in the translating process. On the other hand, it interprets factors affecting the elaboration of translator’s subjectivity. Hence, this thesis is committed to inquire into the issue of translator’s subjectivity with the rewriting theory as a theoretical basis.Speaking of translation studies, researches on translated versions have an exceptional meaning for translation practice. The Analects is a classics recording statements and actions of Confucius and his pupils. It is not only the core of Confucianism, but also the heritage of traditional Chinese culture. With the enhancement of China’s national strength as well as the influence of Chinese culture, more and more scholars have put their strength into the translation of The Analects. However, it is a phenomenon that the translated versions of The Analects are uneven in quality. It is the manifestation of translator’s subjectivity that leads to the diversity of translated texts. Therefore, this thesis chooses the two English versions of The Analects respectively by Ku Hungming and Arthur Waley to carry out a comparative study. By focusing on their purposes of translation and their dispositions of certain words and phrases, the author of this thesis attempts to explain these differences from the perspective of translator’s subjectivity. Through the comparative research, it is clear that translator’s subjectivity is an effective angle for translation criticism and for the comparison of translated texts.The significance of this thesis lie in three points: Firstly, it expounds the manifestation of translator’s subjectivity during a whole translation process; Secondly, it provides a new angle for the studies on the translation of Chinese classics; Thirdly, it is feasible to use translator’s subjectivity as a perspective to explain the diversity of the translations of The Analects.This thesis mainly adopts a descriptive method to conduct an inquiry into the embodiment of translator’s subjectivity during the translation process. In addition, in dealing with the two English versions respectively by Ku and Waley, it applies a method of comparative analysis.In a word, by applying the two English versions of The Analects as a case study, this paper probes into the embodiment of translator’s subjectivity and considers that it is the exertion of translator’s subjectivity that causes the diversity of translations of The Analects. This research is intended to provide a new angle for the researches on the translation of Chinese classics and to deepen people’s knowledge and understanding of translator’s subjectivity.