Translator’s Subjectivity From The Perspective Of Cultural Export

Science fiction was born and raised in the West.Since the 19th century,the Western world,helmed by the UK and the US,has been continuously introducing excellent science fiction works to other countries.However,in the second decade of the 21st century,The Three-Body Problem and Folding Beijing,both translated by Chinese American writer Ken Liu,harvested the first Hugo Awards for Chinese sci-fi,which reversed to some extent what has long been called a deficit of Chinese sci-fi.These achievements reflect Western readers’appreciation of Ken Liu’s translations.With his outstanding translation skills,Ken Liu helped Chinese sci-fi that carries Chinese culture find a way to the Western markets.Folding Beijing is a novella with distinctive Chinese characteristics.It incorporates a large number of expressions and images exclusive to China and Chinese people.As a Chinese American,Ken Liu gave full play to his proficiency in both Chinese and English,building links between the two cultures.On the basis of previous researches on science fiction translation,the author tries to give new insights to the translation of Chinese science fiction works from the perspective of cultural export,and to explore in depth the translator’s subjectivity in Ken Liu’s translation of Folding Beijing.Through case study,the author finds that Ken Liu hopes to retain the Chinese cultural elements in their fullest forms as long as the readers’ understanding is ensured.In translating Folding Beijing,Ken Liu leveraged various translation strategies such as transliteration,transliteration with explanation,literal translation,literal translation with explanation and free translation.As a result,the "Chinese flavor" was retained.With this thesis,the author strives to provide inspiration and suggestions for translators interested in introducing excellent Chinese literature to anglophone readers and in exporting Chinese culture.