Since cultural turn, because of the great efforts made by both domestic and foreign scholars, the translator has walked from behind-the-curtain to the forefront gradually。 In addition, for various researches, the translator’s subjectivity has become a fresh perspective。 Therefore, this paper will study Zhang Peiji’s prose translation from the perspective of translator’s subjectivity。 For one thing, the author wants to enunciate that the translator’s subjectivity boasts a wide scope of application。 For another, the author strives to testify that it is Zhang Peiji’s subjectivity that contributes his triumph in prose translation。
Translation is a kind of communicative act which is very complex。 The translator plays an integral role in it and can’t be substituted。 The translator undertakes the responsibility of translating the works abroad into their native language and introduces them to his countrymen。 The translators carry out the task of code-switching between two perse languages, transmitting the substance and spirit of the source text into the target text。 The translator also provides a lively picture of the exotics and makes sure it can survive even after hundreds of years。 Thanks to the translator’s efforts, readers can widen their views and the indigenous culture and language can be more colorful。 At present, as the subject of translation, the translator’s status has been diffusely accepted。 However, at the very beginning, the translator’s identity and character as a creative subject is not admitted。 In contrast, it is after a long period of time did translators move from behind the curtain to the forefront, and because the translation activities develops gradually, translators become a visible subject from an invisible ghostly existence。
As the most active part in the translation process, the translator has been obscured for a long time。 For avoiding these kinds of situation, the thesis attempts to underline the crucial role that the translator plays, which is a challenge and disavowal to the conventional translation view。 Moreover, it makes great contributions to overturning the authority of the original text, liberating people’s thoughts and converting people’s attitudes with regard to the translator。 In addition, the translator’s subjectivity can react well in guiding prose translation。
The thesis not only involves a number of correlative theoretical studies on the translator’s subjectivity, but also puts them into practice。 A comprehensive analysis on Zhang Peiji’s prose translation is to be conducted from this perspective as it may handle some difficult problems in prose translation。 Facts have proved that Zhang Peiji’s subjectivity matters a lot in attaining ideal renditions。 What’s more, the thesis appeals to the translator’s sense of responsibility which will assuredly have a significant effect on producing excellent works and helping him to do a better job in the intercultural communication。论文网
II。 Overview of Translator’s Subjectivity
2。1 Definition of the Subjectivity of the Translator
For a long period of time, the source text is seen to be the “sheer standard” for conventional translation studies at home and abroad in the judgment and assessment of a translation work。 In consequence, translators are required to exhaust their ability to make the intervention of subjectivity become less and “reproduce in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source-language message, first in terms of meaning and second in terms of style”。 (Nida 55) Consequently, as for western translation studies and criticism, the Equivalent Theory has been brought up and deemed as the basic standard。 And China has the similar situation。 In 1897, the translation principle of “Faithfulness, Expressiveness and Elegance” was proposed by Yan Fu, which can be expressed as “Xin Da Ya” in Chinese。 Since its formation, it has exerted great impact on the development of translation practice for half a century, and it influences the modern translation studies even for today。 With regard to the classical point of view, ideal realm for translation “should be like a completely transparent pane of glass through which people can see the original without being aware of anything intervening。”(Fu 217) However, the translator encountered some difficulties, for example, the mediation of faithfulness and adaptation, spirit and letter is a huge problem。 Though bound by the fetters of equivalence, more modern views of translation have been accepted because they have the ability to transform and reproduce in the translating process。