A Contrastive Study Of Two English Versions Of "Teahouse"

The theory of translator’s subjectivity derives from the cultural turn of western translation studies in the 1970 s, which emphasizes the significance of culture in translation and the effect of translator’s subjectivity on translation. Since then,translator’s subjectivity draws more and more attention among translation researchers and delivers a new approach to translation criticism and translation studies.Lao She’s Teahouse, as a famous book with a high literature and cultural value,provides translators with much subjectivity in theirs translation. Nowadays, this book has been translated in different versions. Based on the theory of translator’s subjectivity,this paper selects the English version by Huo Hua and Ying Ruocheng as the research target and examines the translator’s subjectivity in their translation works. To show the importance of translator’s subjectivity in translation studies, the paper analyzes the demonstration of translator’s subjectivity from three aspects, namely, the selection of translation materials, understanding, and expression. Through comparative study, the paper concludes as: Translator’s subjectivity should be treated fairly, without the ignorance of its existence and the exaggeration of its function; It is wise to use various translation standards to evaluate a translation work rather than use a single standard to it;Translator’s subjectivity functions as a factor producing different translation versions;Translators should consciously give play to and control their subjectivity; Translator’s subjectivity expands the horizon for translation studies and provides new angles to the appreciation and criticism of the translation works; and, famous works in different ages should be encouraged to be re-translated.